The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) organized with success the multiplier event on “Smart Work and Open Learning“, which took place in person on Friday 22^nd September 2023, in Patras (“My Way” hotel). It is a dissemination event about the results of the “WorkingSmart: Smart working and Open Learning” European project, implemented by DAISSy-HOU, as the Greek partner, that marks the completion of the project activities.

The WorkingSmart project aims to challenge EU SMEs to consider the empowering culture created by new technologies and smart working with different approaches to work and life styles between women and men. The project will define the profile of the Smart Work Manager/Advisor and train him/her to be able to address resistance to change within and outside EU organizations, primarily resistance not (only) to the technical dimension of change, but also to the social and cultural dimension of change (personal relationships) that will accompany digital change.

The multiplier event was addressed to entrepreneurs, managers and executives, employees and freelancers and was very popular, attracting the interest of more than forty (40) participants, members of the project’s target groups and areas of activation.

The sessions were launched by a welcome address by Christos Pierrakeas, Professor of the University of Patras, Deputy Director of DAISSy, and a presentation of the activities of the Research Group, emphasizing on its vision and mission.

Then, Vasiliki Takouli, Project Manager of DAISSy, presented the Working Smart project and analyzed its actions, objectives and results, as well as the specific role of DAISSy, which developed part of the educational material and also contributed to the creation of the professional profile of the Smart Work Manager/Advisor, being one of the main objectives of the project.

Accordingly, Hara Kokkinou, DAISSy Researcher, presented the professional profile of the Smart Work Manager/Advisor, analyzing the way of creating and thinking based on the desired profile as well as its goal.

This was followed by a presentation by Rizo Chaliabalia, DAISSy Researcher, on the Working Smart online platform and the training material, included in the project results, to be used for the training of candidates wishing to familiarize themselves with remote working. It is noteworthy that, during the updating of the training material, ten (10) representatives of the stakeholders took part in this process and contributed to the documentation by providing constructive comments.

Εmphasis was put to the interconnection of WorkingSmart with Agile2Learn, a related European project that is also being implemented by DAISSy-HOU as the partner in Greece, which was presented by Katerina Nikolakopoulou, Researcher of DAISSy, analyzing its content.

The sessions were finalized by reflecting on the activity, that led to a fruitful discussion on the introduction of distance working and the ways of motivating SMEs to integrate it, into their operating framework. The atmosphere was pleasant and the comments were positive, regarding both the usefulness of such projects and the willingness of active participation, in future initiatives of this kind.

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University is thankful to the participants and all those companies that contributed to the success of the dissemination event, through their continuous support.

The WorkingSmart is a two-year project co-funded by the European Union, under the Erasmus+ programme. It is implemented by a consortium of six (6) partners from five (5) countries (Spain, Italy, France, Slovenia, Spain, Greece) with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU as the Greek partner.

For more information about the WorkingSmart project and other DAISSy Research Group activities:

• Website : https://daissy.eu/, https://www.workingsmartproject.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/workingsmartproject/
• Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr