SHINE 2Europe, in partnership with nine European organizations led by the National School of Public Health of the University of Lisbon, is pleased to announce the launch of the international project HERA – Helping Empower Women through Reskilling and Advancement, an innovative policy experimentation initiative funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme. Starting in March 2025, HERA aims to empower women over 45 by promoting their reskilling and lifelong learning to face the challenges of the digital and green transitions.
The project will be implemented through HERA Labs, collaborative ecosystems that will enable women to assess their skills, develop retraining paths and prepare for job opportunities in sectors with a shortage of skilled labor. The project’s innovative methodology combines HERA Labs with Innovation Hubs and Mutual Aid Groups, creating a self-sustaining support system that encourages women to take control of their career transitions. The project’s impact will be amplified through a Virtual Community Portal, which will use Artificial Intelligence to offer skills assessments, career guidance and access to continuous learning opportunities.
This project is part of SHINE 2Europe’s strategy to support the twin transition, combining digital transformation and sustainability. SHINE has already been working in this area through initiatives such as NewEcoSmart, which fosters sustainable and digital practices, and Priority45, in which a specific curriculum was created to support people over 45 in adapting to the job market. In addition, SHINE is currently implementing the FITT-NESS project, which fosters regional business ecosystems for the implementation of inclusive environments and smart, ecological housing. HERA thus emerges as a continuation of these efforts, with a focus on women, promoting their active participation in the economy and society.
In line with the European Skills Agenda and the European Pillar of Social Rights, HERA aims to drive policy changes to reduce the gender gap in employment. SHINE 2Europe is the project’s Dissemination Lead and will actively contribute to the formulation of policy recommendations and their large-scale implementation, collaborating with policymakers and strategic partners to address labor market challenges.
‘HERA works on empowerment and participation as key values for a more inclusive society, ready to respond to emerging challenges, of which there are many! This project reflects our ongoing commitment to adult education and active citizenship, implementing innovative and sustainable solutions for the future,’ stated Carina Dantas, CEO of SHINE 2Europe.
The HERA consortium includes organisations from eight European countries: Portugal, Greece, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Cyprus, coordinated by the National School of Public Health – Universidade Nova de Lisboa. The virtual launch meeting is scheduled for 15 April 2025, followed by the first face-to-face meeting in Lisbon on 20 and 21 May. The project will last 30 months and is scheduled to end in August 2027, with a budget of around 1 million euros.