Social Enterprises Promote Digitalisation

On 25 January 2022, the provincial network of social enterprises arbeit plus NÖ and the Ilse Arlt Institute for Social Inclusion Research of the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences presented the project results of Digi+ in the St. Pölten UAS’ Small Assembly Hall.

The event marked the end of a two-year project that was funded by the Lower Austrian Chamber of Labour within the framework of the project fund 4.0. The outcome is a digital toolbox designed to help in job search.

Digital Competences to Promote Inclusion on the Labour Market

The goal of the project Digi+ was to promote labour market inclusion by acquiring digital competences in social enterprises in Lower Austria. For this purpose, the project team developed new fields of action for social enterprises.

 The association arbeit plus NÖ and the St. Pölten UAS created a digital toolbox together to support social enterprises in their work. These enterprises provide active support in the form of consultation, employment, training and qualification to help unemployed people to (re-)enter the workforce. The project is funded by the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) and the Province of Lower Austria.

“Social Enterprises Can No Longer Do without Digitalisation”

On 25 January 2022, the project partners held a final presentation. “Digitalisation has become an inherent component of our lives – and social enterprises can no longer go about their daily activities without it”, says Maria Nirnsee of the association arbeit plus NÖ at the beginning of the event. Alois Pölzl of the association B7 Arbeit und Leben Oberösterreich (B7 Work and Life Upper Austria) held a keynote on the topic of “Digitaler Nutzen für Alle?” (Digital Benefit for All?).

Digital Toolbox to Empower Workers

“The toolbox is a first result of Digi+ and serves to empower key workers, clients and other interested persons”, says Alois Huber, St. Pölten UAS lecturer and experienced social worker.

“The development of digital skills was further accelerated by the pandemic”, adds Johannes Pflegerl who heads the Ilse Arlt Institute for Social Inclusion Research. “This is why we need decisive efforts to include the persons who are in danger of being left out. This project makes a very important contribution to achieve this objective.”

The digital toolbox is available in a format that meets accessibility needs and is free of charge: werkzeugkiste.arbeitplus.at. It offers four learning modules: on how to get started in the digital world, how to use the internet correctly, how to ensure digital security, how to find a job online, and a lot of other advice and information.

By now, arbeit plus NÖ has made the sustainable use of the digital toolbox its new objective. At present, the project team is negotiating with funding bodies to offer digital assistance to social enterprises.

Further information:

• Project digi+
• Association arbeit plus NÖ, contact: noe@arbeitplus.at; maria.nirnsee@arbeitplus.at, 0676-88044888
• Ilse Arlt Institute for Social Inclusion Research