New Skills, New Opportunities: Women in Latin America

ongoing

The NOVA project aims to improve training flexibility and expand employment opportunities for Latin American women by developing and implementing an innovative and practical digital VET curriculum that addresses the key competences required by businesses in the 21st century. It also improves their employment prospects through a comprehensive package of employability services, strengthening the connection between VET providers and the labour market. In this way, NOVA upgrades and strengthens the capacity of VET providers, improving the quality and relevance of vocational training for women, fostering their inclusion, retention and academic success. Specifically, NOVA aims to: -Identify the most in-demand 21st-century skills among companies in Colombia and Ecuador. -Select the most relevant skills based on their importance in the labor market. -Develop a community of practice among the target group to support project outcomes. -Design and test a VET-C program to adapt training content to market needs. -Equip women with relevant employability skills and support the social and labor inclusion of low-skilled women in Colombia and Ecuador through flexible, accessible training. -Encourage companies in Colombia and Ecuador to become drivers of change, promoting gender equity and women's representation across economic sectors. -Strengthen the role of the i-Mentor as a key figure in guiding and supporting female VET students, fostering retention, motivation, and labor market access. -Enhance networking opportunities by connecting VET graduates with potential employers. Through these actions, NOVA contributes to a more inclusive society, bridging the gap between training and employment for women.