The European landscape is rich with cultural heritage and vibrant tourism potential, yet many young individuals find themselves at a crossroads, Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs). But what if we could bridge this gap, empowering NEETs with the skills to not only access employment but also to actively shape the future of their communities through culture and tourism? This is precisely the ambitious and inspiring goal of the SMART-HUBs Project.
SMART-HUBs: A Vision for a Sustainable Future
The SMART-HUBs project is an innovative cross-border initiative designed to do just that. It’s about enhancing employment access by developing NEETs’ skills and capabilities, sustaining the economic-SMART transition of cultural-tourist destinations, and fostering the “contaminations” of Creative and Cultural Industries’ (CCIs) HUBs. In essence, it’s about harnessing the power of culture and creativity to create a more inclusive and prosperous future.
What Does SMART-HUBs Entail?
At its heart, SMART-HUBs is a dynamic, multi-faceted program aiming at:
Empowering NEETs
The project directly targets NEETs, providing them with a unique pathway to skill development and employment in the cultural and tourism sectors.
Creating A Digital Learning platform
A central pillar of SMART-HUBs is its digital learning platform. This isn’t just an online course; it’s an immersive experience that combines education with cultural engagement. Imagine, for example, learning about cultural preservation or developing digital marketing skills by creating engaging content for a local museum.
Improving Essential soft Skills
The platform will be designed to instill entrepreneurial, green, and digital skills that are the fundamental building blocks for sustainable economic growth, particularly crucial for underserved regions that stand to benefit most from this initiative.
Fostering Collaborative Cultural Preservation
SMART-HUBs recognizes the invaluable role of cultural institutions. By collaborating with libraries, museums, and other cultural organizations, the project digitizes important artifacts. This not only safeguards heritage but also makes it accessible online, significantly fostering local and international tourism interest.
Creating Physical Hubs: Hands-On Learning in Action
Beyond the digital aspect, SMART-HUBs establishes six physical hubs strategically located across Greece and Italy. One of them will be based in Matera. The SMART-Hubs will be designed as learning environments where target groups can truly immerse themselves. Here, they will engage in practical workshops, gain invaluable on-the-job training, and experience cutting-edge immersive technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).
The Impact We Envision
Some of the most significant outcomes of SMART-HUBs will be Increased Employment Opportunities and innovation in the sectors of tourism and Cultural and creative industries. This initiative will empower individuals, providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to secure meaningful and sustainable employment, thereby enhancing their socio-economic well-being and contributing to the overall economic health of the participating regions.
The project will leverage technology to bring history and artistry to life, making cultural heritage more accessible and captivating than ever before.
By strategically integrating new media technologies – such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and interactive digital platforms – SMART-HUBs will drive significant innovation within both the cultural and tourism sectors and boost employment by equipping individuals with traditional and digital skills for sustainable growth in tourism.
Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this journey!
Documents to better know the project
Following you can find documents to better know the project goals, works, outputs:
Communication Guide for Project Beneficiaries »
