The Erasmus+ co-funded JUST project is excited to announce the release of the final deliverables of Project Result 2, offering a suite of practical resources designed to facilitate the creation and implementation of partnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). These resources, which represent the JUST model for University-Business Cooperation (UBC), are now available for free on the project’s website at this link.

JUST, an acronym for “Joint University and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Training,” tackles the critical need for enhanced collaboration between universities and the business sector, particularly SMEs. The project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, includes a diverse consortium of 9 partners from Belgium, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, and Slovakia, combining expertise from universities, businesses, business agencies, and the tertiary sector.

Innovative tools to enhance collaboration

The JUST project has developed six key resources to support and streamline UBC:

• Selection Criteria - Guidelines for HEIs to effectively select SMEs for collaboration, ensuring alignment of objectives and capabilities.
• Collaboration protocols - Step-by-step protocols outlining how HEIs and SMEs can establish and maintain productive partnerships.
• Cooperation Model - A comprehensive model depicting successful collaboration structures and strategies between universities and businesses.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - A customizable template for formalizing agreements between HEIs and SMEs, tailored to meet specific partnership needs.
• Code of Conduct – Ethical guidelines and best practices to ensure professional and respectful collaboration throughout the partnership.
• Cooperation Model and Working Methods - Detailed working methods and operational practices based on successful case studies and lessons learned from across Europe.

These resources provide a robust framework for building and maintaining effective HEI-SME collaborations, addressing common challenges and leveraging best practices to enhance student employability and drive innovation within SMEs. By offering these tools, the JUST project aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering a more integrated and dynamic educational and business environment.

For more information, please visit www.just-training.eu or contact the project team at just.training.eu@gmail.com. Stay updated with the latest developments by subscribing to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/JUSTchannel.