Evaluating upskilling tools for digital, green, and entrepreneurial competences: A multicriteria approach to advancing Europe's green and digital transition

Abstract

Advancing green and digital transition is a key topic on Europe’s agenda, aligned with the UN’s SDG goals. In this context, this study investigates existing support tools and programs for upskilling digital, green, and entrepreneurial (DGE) competences with the goal to select and reuse the best ones available within the project partner group (11 partners from 9 European countries). The data collection process started with the identification and thorough elaboration of 90 upskilling tools/programs, each differing in their contributions to DGE competences, and in other varying features. The collected database contains more than 30 qualitative and quantitative features per upskilling tool/program. An expert focus group then defined the tool selection criteria and their grading, highlighting the importance of learning outcomes recognition and the development of multiple DGE competence areas, in particular. After the grading process, alternative assessments were analysed using the PROMETHEE II method, resulting in a ranking of the 15 most useful DGE tools/programs. In addition to validating the framework set up for the MCDM that takes into account the complexities of (international) training needs of diverse target groups, the study demonstrated significant application potential. Namely, these tools, both the initial list of 90 and the selected 15, all having confirmed their effectiveness and success in previous projects addressing SDG 4 and SDG 9, are now promoted to (new) relevant stakeholders and prioritised in capacity-building actions in international settings. As such, the collective exercise based on strong scientific foundations had clear practical value.