The European Commission has awarded 298 516 euros to the D2S@Ulysseus project, an Erasmus+ action aimed to modernise education, adapt pedagogies and upgrade educators’ digital competencies by harnessing digital technologies for learning. The initiative was presented by the Ulysseus European University‘s partner universities in the framework of the extraordinary Erasmus+ calls for proposals launched in August 2020 by the Commission to support digital education readiness and creative skills to enhance online, distance and blended learning – including supporting teachers and trainers, as well as safeguarding the inclusive nature of digital learning opportunities.

D2S@Ulysseus seeks to equip all learners with digital transversal skills to live, work, learn and thrive in a world increasingly mediated by digital technologies, using digital technologies and Open Badges for the recognition and validation of these skills. Beginning in March 2021, the project will have 24 months to achieve the following outputs:

• Fostering a high performing digital education ecosystem, which seeks to upgrade digital pedagogical competencies of educators in order to deliver high quality inclusive digital education and to ensure that all learners can participate actively in digital education.
• Enhancing students’ digital soft skills, aiming at developing transversal skills that therefore provide competitive advantages for students entering the labour market.
• Creating the Ulysseus Digital Soft Skills Passports, allowing participants to the online courses to translate their learning experiences into skills and bring to the fore these competences on the labour market.

Project outcomes and activities are expected to make an impact at local, national, European and international levels, supporting the agenda of developing high quality and inclusive education and training for learners. By the D2S@Ulysseus action, educators and staff members will acquire new competences and knowledge about distance learning’ pedagogical tools, therefore facilitating more personalised, flexible and student-centred learning. On the other hand, the project will impact students employability — including those with special needs or disabilities —  as they will develop key, transversal and digital competences providing competitive advantages for students entering the labour market. Partner institutions and their ecosystem will also benefit from the D2S@Ulysseus project by improving capacities, extending course catalogues, sharing good practices and fostering cooperation opportunities.

As founders of the European University Ulysseus, the University of Seville (Coordinator, Spain), the Université Côte d’Azur (France), the University of Genoa (Italy), the Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® (Austria), and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland) are fully engaged in Digital Transformation, and specially in Digital Education transformation through the development of a European Virtual Campus as stated on its Mission Statement. Also sponsors of the D2S@Ulysseus project, Ulysseus‘ partner universities are committed to rethink the actual education and training systems to fit in the digital era and reflect on to which extent they meet the demands of a rapidly changing and increasingly digital world.