12 February, 2024

As Associate Partner on the Erasmus+ SMARTER SMEs project, the Hincks Centre were delighted to share their experience and knowledge of designing and delivering digital badges and micro credentials.

Speaking online from Cork to the partner meeting in Braga, Portugal, Helen McGuirk spoke about the value of life-long learning through accredited modules and programmes. She spoke about Hincks’ digital badges on Entrepreneurship for Educators, funded by Ireland’s Higher Education Authority’s National Forum, and the challenges and benefits of aligning micro credentials to the NQF/EQF. 

The SMARTER SMEs project - Strategic Mindset And Redesigned Technological Environment Regenerate SMEs - aims to contribute to the digital transformation of SMEs in the EU. Specifically:

• Raise awareness among SME entrepreneurs about emerging technologies and the value and benefits of digital transformation, including functional ecology;
• Development by SME entrepreneurs of a digital transformation strategy;
• Improvement of the skills of professionals from SME associations useful for managing the digital transformation mentoring processes of their members.

Thanks to Siobhan Finn, CEO at CEAI - Community Enterprise Association Ireland, for the invitation.

Helen McGuirk

Head, Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence

SMARTER SMEs has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.