Hi!

The accommodation and food sector is undergoing a rapid digital transformation. Yet, many micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) face significant challenges in adopting advanced technologies due to structural barriers, limited digital skills, and resource constraints.

To address this gap, the European project USMED – Upskilling workers of SMEs with low Digital intensity has been launched. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme, USMED brings together partners including the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Femxa, the Digital Economy Lab (DELab) at the University of Warsaw, the “Carol I” Commercial College in Constanța, KUBI, and the Turkish Culinary Federation.

As a key milestone, USMED has developed a Digital Skills Assessment Tool specifically designed for workers, students, trainers, and operators in the accommodation and food sector.

The Digital Skills Assessment Tool: What it is and what it is for

Our Digital Skills Assessment Tool is a free, interactive platform that allows users to evaluate their digital competence based on their role - ranging from frontline staff to management and vocational training professionals.

By completing a guided questionnaire, users receive:

• A personalised digital skills profile

• Insights into their current training needs

• Recommendations for tailored learning pathways.

The tool assesses both technical and transversal digital skills (e.g., digital communication, cybersecurity, and problem-solving), making it highly relevant for those working in high-service-intensity environments.

The Research Report: The scientific foundation of the tool

The development of the tool is grounded in a comprehensive Research Report, developed by the DELab team at the University of Warsaw. This report documents the methodological framework used to design the tool and provides a detailed analysis of the digital skills gap within the accommodation and food sector across seven partner countries: Germany, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Turkey.

Findings were drawn from sector-specific focus groups and the analysis of over 5,000 job postings, offering key insights into the digital competencies required by the labour market and the challenges faced by SMEs in accessing relevant training.

If you are a professional in the accommodation and food sector and would like to assess your digital competences, contact us: https://www.projectusmed.eu/en/contact.