ERASMUS+ SMART Project

Project “Fostering university-enterprise cooperation and entrepreneurship of students via SMART Caffes/SMART” started its implementation in October 2017

Project coordinator: Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki (Greece)

Belarusian participants: Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives, Minsk Innovation University , Belarusian Innovative Foundation

Partner countries: Armenia (3), Belarus (3), Moldova (4)

EU countries: Greece, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Bulgaria

Project period – 2017-2020.

Official website of the project: https://www.smartcaffe.eu/

GENERAL OBJECTIVE of the project is to advance employment and self-employment potential of graduates from EaPC and enhance innovativeness of companies by fostering students’ entrepreneurship, creation of business start-ups and open innovation approach in collaboration between universities and enterprises. The project will achieve this by developing a co-creative, motivating and supportive environment – SMART Caffes network which will encourage and foster students’ entrepreneurial intent and at the same time support open innovation approach.

The following project products are expected to be sustainable long after the end of the EU funding:

7 SMART Caffes (SCs) and their network; ;
4 new trainings elaborated for teaching stuff of SCs;
8 new trainings elaborated for students enrolled in SCs;
IT multifunctional platform SMART_CHANNEL;
Book: from Idea to running business;
Market for Ideas;
Running EaPC students’ start up competition and annual regional conference;
Revised curricula.

NEWS

December 21, 2021 a monitoring of international activity by representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, the Republican Institute of Higher Education and Belcoopsoyuz was held at the University.
During the monitoring achieved results of implementation of SMART project and promising directions of work of SMART-cafe organized at the University were presented.
The monitoring participants visited SMART-cafe, got acquainted with its material and technical base, and also communicated with the students involved in the work of SMART-cafe.

December 17, 2021 Department of Global and National Economics organized International Internet Conference for students and undergraduates “Actual problems of global economy and management” at SMART-cafe of BTEU. The conference was attended by bachelor and master university students from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
December 15, 2021 visit of the Deputy Chairman of Gomel City Executive Committee Aleksina Elena took place. During the visit she met with the student youth of BTEU, visited SMART-cafe and met with the students involved in the work of SMART-cafe.
December 8, 2021 Department of Global and National Economics of BTEU organized an international student management Olympiad at SMART-cafe. Teams of students from 6 universities of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine took part in the Olympiad.

December 1, 2021 a meeting of director of Gomel Technopark Lipovskaya Y.V. with university students was held. During the meeting director of the Technopark told about possibilities and conditions for development of small business in the Republic of Belarus, activities of incubators for development of small business, procedure of creating and operating subjects of innovation infrastructure in the Republic of Belarus. Students were also introduced to the possibilities of SMART-cafe of BTEU.
Interview with the Rector of the University for the First City TV Channel you can watch following the link
November 4, 2021 Chairman of the Board of Belcoopsoyuz Oleg Matskevich and the First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Belkoopsoyuz Aleksandr Skrundevsky visited BTEU. During the visit Chairman of the Board got acquainted with material and technical base of the University, took part in meeting of the University Council, and also visited Center of Entrepreneurial Initiatives “SMART-cafe” organized at BTEU. Head of SMART-cafe Vitali Doroshko presented results of the SMART project at BTEU, promising areas of SMART-cafe’s work, as well as all the opportunities provided to the students involved in its work.

October 13, 2021 meeting of the Council of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of Gomel Region with participation of the Deputy Chairman of Gomel Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Privalov was held at Center of Entrepreneurial Initiatives “SMART-cafe” of BTEU.
September 24, 2021 Erasmus+ National Office held a regional seminar “Best Practices of Erasmus + Projects in the Gomel Region”, which took place at Belarusian Trade and Economic University of Consumer Cooperatives.
Representatives of the universities of Gomel and Gomel region participated in the Seminar. The head of International Relations Department of BTEU Aksana Smirnova made a presentation “Experience of implementing SMART project at BTEU”. The guests were also given a sightseeing tour of the university and presented the possibilities of the SMART-cafe.

September 30 – October 09, 2021 final activities of the project took place in the Republic of Moldova in frames of the SMART project of Erasmus+ program. Representatives of partner institutions were hosted by the State Agrarian University of Moldova (Chisinau) and Alecu Russo Balti State University (Balti). Head of International Relations Department Aksana Smirnova, student of group Z-21 Anastasia Kuzmenko, as well as student of group I-31 Yurkevich Konstantin (online) took part in the events on behalf of BTEU.

September 20 – October 01, 2021 the final series of SMART trainings on entrepreneurship was held at BTEU. More than 40 students took part in trainings.
Following the results of participation in the trainings all students received certificates.
September 27-28, 2021 a regional competition of students’ SMART business ideas was organized at Minsk Innovative University in frames of the SMART project of Erasmus+ program.
BTEU was represented by students Konstantin Yurkevich (group I-31), Markelov Vasily (group M-31) and Matusov Daniil (group M-21), as well as head of Center of Entrepreneurial Initiatives “SMART-cafe”, head of Department of Information and Computer Systems Doroshko V.N.
During the competition, students presented 2 projects of business ideas “Smart Weekends” and “AG-Techservice Industrial FoodNet. Food especially for you”.
Following the results of participation BTEU team took the 2^nd place in the nomination “Digital Business/Best Business Idea”.

SMART entrepreneurship training at Center of Entrepreneurial Initiatives “SMART-cafe” of Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives.
We are pleased to inform that applications for participation in the 4^th final series of SMART trainings on entrepreneurship are now being accepted!
Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur and struggling to come up with a solid idea to transform it into a business, or do you have starting ideas or creative potential but lack skills and resources to realize that potential? Maybe you need a creative and supportive team? Don’t miss your chance to join SMART Entrepreneurship Training, a team of experienced and knowledgeable trainers who will share knowledge, experience and resources to help you expand your business, your ideas on regional or even global market. Detailed information is in information letter.

September 02-03, 2021 Varna University of Management (Bulgaria) organized online-Hackathon in frames of the SMART project of Erasmus+ program. 19 teams from 7 partner universities of Armenia, Belarus and Moldova took part in the event.

Students presented their solutions in the following clusters:

Design and development of new products or services at Albena JSC to respond to COVID-19 related challenges.
Development and entering new markets as a result of record sales drops due to the pandemic and related travel restrictions.
Design of new communication and promotion measures and strategy at Albena JSC to reflect the COVID-19 caused developments and concerns.
Talent management and employee retention in the tourism sector in times of pandemic.

Evaluation of student ideas and solutions was carried out by independent experts from Bulgaria. Following the results of online-Hackathon 4 winners were determined (1 in each cluster). BTEU team took the 1^st place in cluster “Talent management and employee retention in the tourism sector in times of pandemic”.

May 24 – June 07, 2021 the third series of trainings on entrepreneurship was held in frames of implementation of the SMART project of Erasmus+ program. 36 university students of various forms of education took part in the trainings. This time the trainings were held in a hybrid mode (online and face-to-face). Following the results of participation in the trainings all students received certificates.

May 22, 2021 SMART-cafe BTEU and Department of Global and National Economics organised a smart weekend in the city of Vetka in frames of SMART project of the Erasmus+ programme. The smart weekend was attended by Rector of the University Lebedzeva S., lecturers and students of the University, entrepreneurs and practitioners.
Educational and tourist project “Smart Weekends” is being implemented as part of activity of SMART cafe in BTEU. The project is aimed at raising cultural level and general outlook, expanding knowledge about historical and cultural values of Gomel region, developing agro-ecotourism, popularizing Belarusian culture, strengthening interaction of students and lecturers with practitioners, business representatives, as well as building and deepening personal social capital.
The smart-weekend program in Vetka included a visit to the secondary school N1 in Vetka named after A. Gromyko, a meeting with pupils, a visit to Vetka Museum of Old Believers and Belarusian Traditions named after F.G. Shklyarova, as well as the seminar Smart-talks “Smart farming” on the farm “Dobulyak O.”.
Head of SMART-cafe Doroshko V., director of company “ViPiTrans” Sulivonskiy S., head of the farm Dobulyak O. took part in seminar and made presentations.
Following the result of the seminar, certificates were awarded to speakers and participants.

April 02, 2021 the Minister of Taxes and Duties of the Republic of Belarus Nalivaiko S. visited Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives. During the visit, the Minister also came over SMART cafe and met with head of SMART cafe Doroshko V. and students involved in activity of SMART cafe.

Attention! Attention! Attention!
BTEU and Center for Development of Entrepreneurial Initiatives “Smart Café” invites young people, students and undergraduates to take part in entrepreneurship trainings in frames of SMART project of the Erasmus+ programme (www.smartcaffe.eu).
If you want to create your own business project, launch a startup, perceive principles of development of your business, learn how to manage your time, work in a team, create business plans, these trainings are perfect for you!
Duration: May 24 – June 07, 2021
Participation form – online
Language: Russian
Participation is free
Based on the results of participation, all participants are issued a certificate.
You can register for participation in the trainings following the link: https://forms.gle/VUsMZK4WviUF2N7P8

February 12, 2021 a meeting of students with the Head of SMART cafe, senior lecturer of the Department of Global and National Economics, Ph.D. in Economics Doroshko V. took place at BTEU.
The students got information about SMART cafe, its capabilities, as well as were invited to take part in trainings. Also students were introduced to regional and republican organizational and financial instruments to support youth entrepreneurship.

December 23, 2020 a dialogue platform “Belarus is us. Digital Society” took place at BTEU. Deputy of House of Representatives of National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Dovgalo I., President of Association “Dima Maghrib” (Kingdom of Morocco) Hassan El Mardi, and Head of Department of Practice Analysis and Methodological Support of Preliminary Investigation of Directorate of Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus in Gomel Region Kuzmichev S. attended the event.
The head of SMART cafe, senior lecturer of Department of Global and National Economics, Ph.D. in Economics Doroshko V. made a presentation of SMART cafe activity.

November 17, 2020 in frames of the World Entrepreneurship Week, work of SMART-caffe and implementation of cooperation agreement with Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law an online round-table meeting on the topic “Promotion of business through Internet technologies” was held in which teachers and employees of Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives and Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law took part.

November 6, 2020 Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration of Lebanese Canadian University, Doctor of Business Administration Nahed Taha Rizk conducted an online lecture to students of BTEU on the topic “How to be an entrepreneur?” as part of SMART cafe and implementation of cooperation agreement with the Lebanese Canadian University.

October 16-31, 2020 the second series of trainings consisting of 4 modules was held as a part of SMART project at the premises of Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives. 35 university students of various forms of education took part in the trainings. Following the results of participation in the trainings all students received certificates. According to survey, participants of the training highly appreciated professionalism of the lecturers, as well as, the content of the training program. There are 2 more series of trainings ahead. Everyone is welcome! Follow the information on our website!

October 15, 2020 a national online seminar “Improving the quality and practice-orientedness of higher education: by experience of implementing Erasmus+ projects”, section No. 4 “The main directions and prospects for formation of research, innovation and entrepreneurial infrastructure of the University 3.0” was held in frames of the Erasmus Program Days.
The seminar was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, employees of the National Erasmus+ Office and representatives of higher education institutions. Head of International Relations Department of BTEU Aksana Smirnova and senior lecturer of Department of Global and National Economics, Ph.D, Head of SMART-cafe Vitali Daroshka. delivered a presentation “On the progress of SMART project at BTEU”.

September 30, 2020 in frames of implementation of Erasmus+ SMART project Department of Global and National Economics organized an interdepartmental seminar on the topic “Formation of entrepreneurial competencies among students with the aim of activating entrepreneurial potential of youth”. The seminar was attended by administration of the University, deans, heads of departments, lecturers, students and business representatives.
During the seminar results of SMART project implementation and promising areas of work of the creative center SMART-cafe, organized on the basis of the University, were presented. Issues related to activation and support of youth entrepreneurship were discussed, financial instruments to support start-ups and youth initiatives were considered, as well as, the role of the University and the program “Youth and Entrepreneurship” in this process, and ways of forming entrepreneurial competencies of students were presented.

September 24, 2020 monitoring of SMART project took place on the basis of Minsk Innovation University. The project team, as well as, students of Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives took part in the monitoring in online mode. The monitoring was carried out by administrators of National Erasmus+ Office in the Republic of Belarus Minyukovich E. and Labkova I.
During the monitoring achieved results of the project were presented, besides participants had the opportunity to discuss further plans of the project.

September 21, 2020 online SMART working meeting of partners was held. 30 representatives of universities and member organizations of the project consortium took part in the online meeting.
In the course of meeting reports on completed tasks of the project were presented, progress indicators designed to contribute to effective implementation of the SMART project were discussed. Partners shared problems arising at the institutional, national and regional levels, as well as ways of solving them.

September 01, 2020, an official opening of the SMART cafe took place at the Belarusian Trade and Economic University of Consumer Cooperatives in the framework of the SMART project.
SMART cafe is a platform for effective support of students, researchers and external users in generation, development, promotion and commercialization of their innovative ideas and launching business projects at the initial stage; encouraging and stimulating business activity of students, development of entrepreneurial thinking, infrastructural support of local competitions in the field of entrepreneurship.

Dear colleagues, students and all stakeholders! We are happy to present IT multifunctional platform “SMART Channel” http://smartchannel.org.
SMART-Channel is an international virtual platform aimed to support young entrepreneurs, create a co-working space and promote the open innovation with leading companies.
6 reasons to register on the SMART-Channel platform:
1. Unique innovation challenges
2. Support for startups
3. Free access to online courses
4. Acceleration programs
5. Recruitment opportunities
6. Coworking space

June 23, 2020 online SMART coordination meeting was held.
During the meeting project partners presented reports on achieved results, discussed relevant issues of the project. A work plan for the next six months was drawn up and approved.

June 12-13, 2020 the first group of students took part in the final Module 4 of trainings “Supporting” on the following topics: “EU opportunities: programmes, funds, initiatives and available resources”, “Ongoing calls for potential beneficiaries: how to apply. Supporting service”, “Local resources: field visits in the host country to visit services” took place at BTEU.
This module was a final one in a set of trainings within Erasmus+ SMART project. All participants were awarded with certificates.
To all participants of the trainings (38 people) we wish a good luck and successfully put learning into practice!
3 sets of trainings lie ahead for those who wants to raise one’s competence in area of entrepreneurship. Follow our updates.
See you in September 2020 in our SMART cafe!

June 08-09, 2020 at the premises of BTEU the first group of students took part in the training on Module 3 “Smarting” on the following topics: “Start-up finances”, “Marketing and branding”, “Business model development”, and “Intellectual property rights and legal basis”. All trainings were held within Erasmus+ SMART project.
The final training Module 4 “Supporting” will take place on June 12-13 at BTEU.

June 04-05, 2020 the first group of students participated in a training on Module 2 “Managing” on the following topics: “Communication and conflict management”, “Time management and planning”, “Creative problem solution” and “Risk management”. The training was conducted at BTEU by academic staff trained within Erasmus + SMART project.

March 05, 2020 Head of the International Relations Department Aksana Smirnova took part in a meeting with representatives of Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Belarus, which was held on the basis of Gomel Technopark. The meeting was attended by cooperation officer in the field of education, science, youth and culture Tatyana Pronko, a research and innovation expert Evgeny Vodichev, as well as representatives of Francisk Skorinа Gomel State University, Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel and business community of Gomel. Best practice of Gomel universities in the field of developing entrepreneurial education and innovations, expert support of scientific student works and start-ups, cooperation with Gomel Technopark, as well as possible directions and activities of the European Union support programme for Belarusian universities, which is currently being established, were discussed during the meeting.
The meeting participants were presented with Erasmus+ SMART project, its goals and objectives, as well as the results achieved. In addition, the attendees were informed about the opening of SMART-Cafe on the basis of Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives.

February 26, 2020 an institutional working meeting of SMART project group was held at BTEU. Issues concerning further implementation of the project at the University were discussed, related to conducting trainings for students, preparing a study materials, functioning of Smart-Caffe.

February 25, 2020 within implementation of Erasmus+ SMART project and 5th Week of Belarusian Entrepreneurship a meeting of students with M. Kharkevich, founder of advertising agency and director of consulting agency (Gomel), who shared his practical experience in advertising and consulting, outlined the basic positions necessary for an entrepreneur.

December 13, 2019 within implementation of Erasmus+ SMART project a contest of students’ startups “Championship “MiP-BTEU”. 9 students’ projects were presented during the event. The places are as follows:
1st place – mobile app “Timetable for students”;
2nd place – mobile app “Artificial Intelligence in analyses of private budget”;
3rd place – chain of mini-cafes “Foody pot”;
Also the following project were presented at the Championship: “A fly is a friend for a person”, “Amiplastik”, “Eatable surprise”, “MiP-Urid”, “Food track with unusual meal”.

November 19-21, 2019 within implementation of Erasmus+ SMART project, Rector of BTEU, Prof. Sviatlana Lebedzeva and specialist of IRD Aksana Smirnova took part in a study visit to VIVES University of Applied Science (Belgium).
During the visit participants studied the best practices of VIVES University in the field of economic and entrepreneurial education, the organization of start-ups with the aim to encourage students and young researchers for active use their intellectual potential to generate innovative ideas. Participant also visited the VIVES Innovation Center and Support Center of Young Entrepreneurs in Brugge, the Hangar-K incubator for young entrepreneurs and the hackerspace @VIVES in Kortrijk, as well as the independent creative agency Production Office in Antwerp.
Within the visit a working meeting of partners with the coordinator and co-coordinator of the SMART project was also held. During the meeting, topical issues of the project implementation, directions of development of innovative-oriented activities of SMART-Caffes were discussed.

October 21-24, 2019 Associate Professor of Marketing Department Viktoriya Kuzmenko and senior lecturer of Foreign Languages Department Larisa Kaznachevskaya too part in the final training module “Business development – how to enter the market”, organized by representatives of International Hellenic University (Greece) at Minsk Innovative University. This training module is focused on academic staff and specialists of universities.

September 18, 2019 the trainings for students “How innovations work. Generation of ideas ” and “Minimum viable products” took place at BTEU. The training was conducted by the institutional coordinator of SMART project, Dean of the faculty of advanced training and retraining Iryna Trusevich. Experienced entrepreneurs from Gomel and Vitebsk also shared their experience with students.
This training was the first one in a series of trainings in the framework of the implementation of Erasmus+ SMART.

August 30, 2019 an institutional working meeting of SMART project was held at the Belarusian Trade and Economic University of Consumer Cooperatives. Issues concerning further implementation of the project at the University were discussed, related to conducting trainings for students, preparing a study materials, creating of Smart-Caffe.

June 23-29, 2019 SMART partners meeting took place at Erevan Brusov State University of Languages and Social Science.
During the meeting project partners presented an interim report on the results achieved during the first year of the project implementation to the coordinator and co-coordinator, discussed a work plan for the second year of the project and work to be done for preparation of teaching materials and their implementation in the educational process, taking into account best European practices.
During the visit, the best practices of Brusov Yerevan State University and Gavar State University in the field of economic and entrepreneurial education, organization and conduct of startups were studied.
Within implementation of project activities and study of youth entrepreneurship experience, visits to Armenian Startup Academy (Yerevan), Fund for Armenian Science and Technology (Yerevan) and Center for Youth Cooperation (Dilijan) were made.
With the aim of SMART project dissemination, as well as in order to popularize Belarusian education on the international area, the rector of BTEU Professor Sviatlana Lebedzeva gave an interview to Armenian television, which can be viewed by clicking on the link.

May 26-31, 2019 trainings for academic staff and specialists of Erasmus+ SMART project consortium from Armenia, Belarus and Moldova were organized at Varna University of Management (Bulgaria).
Trainings on Module 2 were held by skilled trainers of VUM on the following topics: Time Management, Creative Problem Solving, Conflict Management.
Rector of the University Sviatlana Lebedzeva., institutional project coordinator, Dean of the Fuculty of Advanced Training Ityna Trusevich, Head of the Department of World and National Economics Marya Tsimoshenka, Associate professor of the Department of World and National Economics Natallia Yatsevich took part in the trainings from BTEU.
At the end of the training, participants were awarded with certificates.

March 18-21, 2019 representatives of BTEU participated in the training on Module 1 – Starting within Erasmus+ SMART project took place at Minsk Innovative University (MIU).
Trainings were held by representatives of University of Applied Science VIVES ZUID (Belgium).
During the trainings participants had an opportunity to increase their competencies in the following areas: Innovation and creative thinking, design thinking, idea generation, individual techniques and creative thinking techniques, creating value propositions using the VPS technique, user visualization to create a new product and innovation, choice ideas, market analysis and market approach (new topics), transfer of ideas.

February 25-28, 2019 a training on Module 4 – Support within Erasmus+ SMART project took place at Minsk Innovative University (MIU) with participation of representatives of BTEU and Erasmus+ National Office.
The training were held by the specialist of Catholic University of San-Antonio – UCAM (Murcia, Spain), international project manager Andrés Abad Pacheco. During the training the participants got acquainted with the programs, funds, initiatives, available resources of the European Union, and opportunities for participation in international projects.
A field visit to the Delegation of the European Union to Belarus took place as part of the trainings . During the visit the Head of the Cooperation Programs Department Berend de Groot and project coordinator Tatyana Pronko spoke about the EU education programs available for Belarus, about experience of the EU Delegation to Belarus, and projects implemented with the support of the Delegation.

November 22, 2019 a monitoring of SMART Project took place at Minsk Innovative University with participation of representatives of Erasmus+ National Office in Belarus.
Dean of the Faculty of advanced training, institutional coordinator Iryna Trusevich and specialist of International Relations Department, project manager Aksana Smirnova participated in the monitoring from the side of BTEU.
During the monitoring, the results achieved during the first year of the project were presented, as well as further work plan was discussed.

November 13-15, 2018 partner meeting of SMART project took place at Catholic University of San-Antonio – UCAM (Murcia, Spain). Rector of the University Svitlana Lebedzeva, First Vice Rector Natallia Snytkova, Accosiate Professor Natallia Yatsevitch, and specialist of International Relations Department Aksana Smirnova took part in the meeting.

During the meeting partners discussed a concept of the SMART-caffee model basic needs and the necessary equipment for its operation. The project work plan as well as training schedule were discussed.

Within the meeting representatives of the University took part in a training on development of teaching programs for youth entrepreneurship taking into account best European expertise, studied experience of UCAM in the field of economic and business education, organisation and conducting of startups; as well as experience in preparation, submission and implementation of international projects funded by the European Union.

March 1, 2018 a videoconference of SMART project partners took place. Belarusian partners and coordinator of the project “Agrarian University of Moldova” participated in the videoconference.
Partners discussed the implementation plan for the first year of the project, as well as, actual issues of the project implementation.

February 13-16, 2018 a kick-off meeting of partners of the project “Fostering university-enterprise cooperation and entrepreneurship of students via SMART Caffes/SMART” of ERASMUS+ programme was held on the basis of Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki (Greece) .
During the meeting partners discussed issues related to preparation of the work plan for the first year of project implementation, and organized a workshop on development of Smart Cafes.
Representatives of Belarusian Trade and Economics University of Consumer Cooperatives took part in the kick-off meeting of project partners distantly.

November, 13-15 2018 partner meeting of SMART project took place at Catholic University of San-Antonio – UCAM (Murcia, Spain). Rector of the University Sviatlana Lebedzeva, First Vice Rector Natallia Snytkova, Accosiate Professor Natallia Yatsevitch, and specialist of International Relations Department Aksana Smirnova took part in the meeting.

During the meeting partners discussed a concept of the SMART-caffee model basic needs and the necessary equipment for its operation. The project work plan as well as training schedule were discussed.

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