Presenting the curriculum: Virtual Assistant Skills and Entrepreneurship

The curriculum Virtual Assistant Skills and Entrepreneurship was designed as part of the international project FIGHT-DIGIT, which sets out to reduce youth unemployment through the development of digital skills and interactive education. Funded through Erasmus+ KA210-VET, the project brings together partners from Germany, Croatia and Estonia and contributes to strengthening digital and entrepreneurial capacity in vocational education and training for the labour market.

Aims of the curriculum

The curriculum is directed at:

• Equipping unemployed young people for self-employment in virtual assistance.
• Developing an entrepreneurial mindset among educators and young people.
• Building the capacity of VET educators to use new educational materials.
• Creating interactive online courses that allow gamified learning.

Structure of the curriculum

The curriculum is organised into four main chapters:

1. The basics of virtual assistance and entrepreneurship
   This part focuses on understanding the concept of virtual assistance, the importance of digital skills, and developing the communication and collaboration abilities that remote work requires. Educators are introduced to the basics of the gig economy and to ways of inspiring entrepreneurial thinking in young people.
2. Building and running a virtual assistant business
   Covers the practical side of starting a business, including generating business ideas, market analysis, writing a business plan, financial management and marketing strategies suited to a digital environment.
3. Growth, innovation and sustainability
   This part focuses on strategies for scaling a business, following market trends, sustainable entrepreneurship and ethics, and building professional networks.
4. Introduction, teamwork and closing the training
   The chapter includes recommendations for opening and closing training sessions, and methods for teamwork.

How the programme is organised

The curriculum is designed as an intensive 10-day training programme for VET educators. Each working day provides for six hours of workshops combining theory and practical exercises. Its flexibility allows sessions to be adapted to the specific needs of the users.

Conclusion

The curriculum Virtual Assistant Skills and Entrepreneurship is an innovative approach to educating unemployed young people. Combining theoretical knowledge, practical exercises and interactive learning methods, the programme equips young people to enter the labour market in a digital environment. It is available in several languages, including Croatian, which ensures wide accessibility and long-term impact.