The UPBEAT employability programme, launched in the summer in collaboration with the Estonian Refugee Council, Startup Refugees, and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, aims to increase the competitiveness of young people with refugee and migrant backgrounds in entrepreneurship and the labour market through learning about artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Kirke Piirikivi, Livelihoods Officer at the Estonian Refugee Council, people with refugee and migrant backgrounds often face challenges in entering or participating in the labour market due to a mismatch of skills or other barriers. "This can lead to high unemployment rates and increase social welfare costs and social tensions in society," Piirikivi explained.
The programme is primarily aimed at 15–29-year-olds with refugee and migrant backgrounds in Finland and Estonia who are interested in entrepreneurship. The project’s goal is to promote a more inclusive society by offering people with refugee backgrounds opportunities to develop their entrepreneurship and business planning skills using AI technologies.
As a result of the programme, participants will be able to create AI-based digital tools to better navigate the business and work environment. A training programme will also be developed to enhance entrepreneurship and business planning skills.
As part of the programme’s initial steps, information was gathered with the help of partners to better understand the landscape of entrepreneurship training in Finland and Estonia. A survey was also conducted among refugee-background entrepreneurs. The programme will continue with curriculum planning and the development of AI-based digital tools. At the end of November, project partners met in Tallinn to analyse empathy maps based on created personas, plan the learning journey, and design training topics.
The programme is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme with the support of the European Regional Development Fund.
