Office workers and managers are faced with multiple challenges in their evolving working environment. Enterprises and organizations are increasingly taking ICT into use in their operations, streamlining their business processes and communication, i.e. becoming eBusinesses or eOrganizations. For the individual employee this calls for new skills and knowledge, the change being seen either as an opportunity for advancement or a threat to job security. For eBusiness and the human capital to develop effectively, people and organizations need to be aware of and understand the new work methods and the technical platform and to believe in the potential benefits. Believing there are returns to gain is a motivation to change. The eBCM-VET project will address these challenges by developing an eBusiness vocational education and training programme in a holistic way by referring to the eBusiness Community Model, eBCM.

The specific aims of the eBCM-VET project are to:

• analyze and respond to the need for education and training in the field of eBusiness within target public and private communities;
• design relevant education and training methods and respective materials and;
• select and utilize in a pilot project the technique and venue for delivering the knowledge and experience to the target group.

The expected short term impact of the project is raised awareness for what kind of eBusiness vocational training and education is needed for the target group and sectors, and what are the available methods, knowledge and materials for fulfilling that need. The project will also provide for a recognized methodology for assessing status of the current and final target group and sectors, with respect to eBusiness knowledge and readiness. Further, there will be guidance on how to advance the knowledge and skills level of the target group to reach the benchmarks within the respective sectors.

The long term impact of the project is the social and economical benefits from the increased capabilities of target group in the area of eBusiness, resulting in improved efficiency of business processes and thereby the increased net output of the relevant sectors.

The eBCM-VET project is carried out with the support from the European Community under the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci Vocational Education and Training Action Programme and has a two year project period, starting in November 2005.