The on-site training at TU Dresden (TUD) was held from March 24 to March 28, 2025, and was accessible via a hybrid Zoom format. The training commenced with welcome speeches from Sven Riddell, Coordinator of the DeSIRe TUD Training, and Dr. Lusik Vardanyan, Coordinator of the DeSIRe Project. A short presentation of the DeSIRe Project website, developed by TU Dresden, was delivered by Ms. Valeriya Racheeva.
The first training session focused on Module 3, “Essential Entrepreneurial Skills: Initiative and Proactivity,” presented by Valeriya Racheeva from WEFOUND World Women’s Startups and Entrepreneurs Foundation. The session also included the presentation of the Empower Handbook. The training continued with a session on “Entrepreneurship Part 2: Creating Your Own Business Concept,” where Valeriya Racheeva provided recommendations for Module and MOOC design. Participants were assigned the task of designing Modules 2 and 3 and MOOCs 1 and 2 by the end of the week. A tour of the Saxon State and University Library (SLUB) followed.
The second day opened with a session led by Pro-Arbeit, TUD Partner, focusing on the dissemination of the EDIFY Project with an emphasis on soft skills and EDI, relevant to Module 2. This session was conducted by Bettina Vonderheid and Amira Bieber. Sven Riddell presented the Edify MOOC brochure and research MOOCs available on Google Drive. The afternoon featured an interactive session by the TUD Staff Diversity Unit, where Katrin Saure from Diversity Management introduced special educational needs (SEN) and EDI approaches. Individual reviews of Edify MOOCs by Armenian and Georgian participants followed, along with a dinner for project leaders.
The third day began with a session on organizational culture at LSK/TUD, led by Katja Ullmann. This was followed by a training session on “MOOC 1 – Effective Business Communication and Negotiations,” conducted by Sven Riddell. The session involved both theoretical presentations and practical applications. Participants then engaged in a campus tour and visited the TUD Museum. A social networking dinner rounded off the day.
On the fourth day, Gerard Cullen conducted a training session on “MOOC 2 – Understanding and Developing Organisational Culture.” Discussions on project quality assurance issues and the continuation of MOOCs/Modules design tasks followed. The afternoon concluded with a project coordination meeting led by the Project Coordinator.
The final day focused on group work activities, starting with a session on MOOC EDI design techniques and content development strategies, facilitated by Dr. Lusik Vardanyan. Participants worked on module descriptions, lesson plan templates, and MOOC designs. The day included a session on “MOOC Effective Business Model (Module 3).” Certificates were distributed, and participants engaged in independent work sessions to prepare for multiplicator training. The training officially concluded at 17:00.
The on-site training at TU Dresden provided valuable insights into entrepreneurship, EDI, and MOOC development. The interactive sessions, hands-on activities, and project coordination meeting facilitated productive discussions and collaborations among participants. The training successfully met its objectives, enhancing participants’ skills and fostering international cooperation within the DeSIRe Project.