Speeding up the Circular Economy in the EU through AI addresses environmental challenges while promoting economic sustainability and social responsibility, as noted by the European Parliament in May 2021. AI has significant potential for job creation, innovation, and equitable resource distribution, playing a vital role in the digitalization of European micro and small businesses. It enhances efficiency, improves customer targeting, supports data-driven decision-making, and fosters product innovation, helping businesses remain competitive in the digital age. However, the small service sector, particularly in tourism, hospitality, and retail, lags in adopting circular economy practices and AI, needing digitalization to be sustainable and socially accountable. The use of customer-ready AI tools can empower these businesses to boost their circularity and improve their Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit). SMART CIRCLE aims to cultivate SMART and CIRCULAR entrepreneurial mindsets aligned with EU priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by developing innovative VET pedagogy and Open Educational Resources (OERs). This initiative equips VET learners—future workers in the small service sector—with the competencies necessary to thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment.
What is SMART CIRCLE?
SMART CIRCLE is a project focused on creating a new, innovative approach to vocational education and training (VET). It aims to equip learners, particularly future workers and aspiring entrepreneurs in the tourism and retail sectors, with essential skills in smart and circular entrepreneurship. The project intends to support these learners in contributing to the transition to a circular economy and encourage the adoption of human-centric AI within small service industries.
What is project goal?
The goal of the SMART CIRCLE project is to design, develop, test, and promote a forward-thinking VET pedagogy, along with training resources, to prepare learners for careers that drive the circular economy. It emphasizes the importance of human-centric AI tools that can positively impact the small service sector, supporting the shift toward sustainable and efficient business practices.
What is project objective?
The primary objective of the project is to provide VET learners with the skills and mindset necessary for smart and circular entrepreneurship. This includes:
Developing digital training tools and resources to demonstrate the benefits of customer-ready AI for small service businesses, boosting efficiency and sustainability.
Creating and validating a VET curriculum that covers critical competencies for fostering a circular economy mindset.
Building and sharing a comprehensive collection of open educational resources (OERs) to accelerate the transition to circular economy practices and AI adoption in small service sectors.
For whom?
SMART CIRCLE targets vocational education and training (VET) learners, teachers, and small service businesses in tourism and retail across Sweden, Romania, Spain, the Netherlands, Türkiye, and Czechia. These sectors face challenges in adopting sustainable practices and integrating AI into business models. SMART CIRCLE provides essential skills, knowledge, and resources for:
VET Learners: Entrepreneurs and future employees in tourism and retail, gaining skills in circular entrepreneurship and AI-driven solutions.
VET Teachers/Trainers: Educators in VET equipped with new competencies and tools to teach circular and smart entrepreneurship using the project’s curriculum and digital resources.
Small Service Businesses: Particularly in tourism and retail, benefiting from enhanced digital readiness and circular economy practices for competitiveness and sustainability.
