Undoubtedly the progress of any nation highly depends upon the proficiencies of its younger generation (Taleba & Hassanzadehb, 2015). Modern learning organizations and modern learning techniques have been continuously emphasized by the EU to harness the capabilities & exploit the potential of generation Z in the diverse areas of education in relation to ICT (Reding, 2003).

Previously, various researchers have focused on harnessing and exploiting new technologies that equip learners to learn with flexibility, comfort, and interaction. Nowadays learners are equipped with smart handheld or desktop devices to enable them to access digital learning materials with ease. Smart education and Modern Smart Learning organizations have become a concept that has acquired huge attention and is considered to be a necessity in this modern age. (Zhu, Yu, & Riezebos, 2016) 

To overcome these changing trends and prepare the masses for a modern and technically advanced job market the European Union’s educational support program Erasmus+ has been working extensively on fostering many research, exchange, and development programs. KNOWLO project is one such program funded & supported by Erasmus+. 

The aim of the KNOWLO Project is to develop a framework that helps traditional VET & HEIs transform into modern learning organizations. 

This paper aims to offer crucial support to any traditional learning organization on the path of transforming into a modern learning organization. This paper can be treated as a case study towards identifying various aspects of consideration when undergoing transformation. 

The KNOWLO project has 5 results to develop namely R1 to R5 where R1 is a Transformational Framework, R2 Self-Assessment tool for organizations, R3 Learning & sharing platform for VET & HEIs, R4 Resource Database, and R5 promotion of a Smart sharing culture. 

This paper highlights crucial criteria developed under Result 1 for the transformational framework. 

A SMART learning organization is a place where resources such as academics and intellect are used to their optimum (Vveinhardt & Minkute-Henrickson, 2015). One of the challenges is how to self-assess if an organization is traditional or smart to foster a knowledge-sharing culture. 

The most common tool to assess is a survey that involves a crucial set of criteria necessary for the transformation. 

A smart learning organization can possess various aspects of a traditional learning organization, however, the aspects that make it smart are features such as organizational self-awareness, communication, diversity, inclusion, emotional intelligence, and digitalization (Uskov et.al, 2019). 

According to (Botella et.al, 2017) emphasis has mostly been given to student self-assessment in terms of their educational competencies and ability with digital learning and psychology. According to (J.W.Gikandi et.al, 2011) it is stated that online instruction, in general, is considered more beneficial compared to traditional mode. However, it is stressed that teaching and learning processes require to be centrally assessed so that they can provide learners with opportunities to demonstrate their abilities and capabilities of an organization to foster such developments. 

The systematic review by Al-Kurdi et.al (2018) highlights the fact that there are limited contributions in the understanding of knowledge-sharing culture in HEIs in comparison to other sectors. According to (Taylor & James, 2001) Organizational transformations do not happen automatically, it needs proactive human mediation. Stakeholders’ participation often benefits such transformations in organizations. Lee (2018) claims that the impact of knowledge sharing on people has not been given due consideration. Hence, the KNOWLO project is committed to working in these areas, helping learning organizations with a framework that comprises all the essential criteria necessary for a Smart Learning organization. 

This article contributes to this research segment by presenting real-time results of an ongoing Erasmus+ funded educational project, where the "International College of Cosmetology (ICC) in Riga, Latvia", is the project coordinator, with project partners from Latvia, Slovakia, Italy, and the Czech Republic. The project is ongoing and is subject to be finalized by December 2023. As of current the data collected and analyzed is for Result 1, the development of smart framework criteria. The data gathered has been analyzed per different regions of the EU, enabling us to understand which EU regions are lagging behind technological transformations and other aspects of the transformation model. The social-emotional intelligence model (Channell, 2021), the Technology Acceptance Model, and various other Models have been used to define the framework criteria. It substantiated that those various aspects of the criteria demand the incorporation of various paradigms. Research involves 2 purposeful samples: in total 265 stakeholders as survey respondents from VET & HEIs from the partner countries. KNOWLO Consortium partners details: 1. International College of Cosmetology (Riga, Latvia), 2. Eurofortis It (Riga, Latvia), 3. Catholic University of Ruzomberok (Slovakia), 4. Harmony Academy (Tarnava, Slovakia), 5. Schola Empirica (Prague, Czech Republic), and 6. Euroreso (Italy). Research question: Are the teachers exercising the use of Modern Technologies in teaching to its maximum? Research methods: 1) data collection – stakeholders’ survey (closed-ended questions) for quantitative results and for qualitative results interviews. Five, structured Interviews of stakeholders’ from HEIs in Latvia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic were done. The Interviewees were a professor from the Catholic University of Ruzomberok, Slovakia, a Language School manager from Harmony Academy Slovakia, and a Communication & Marketing Manager from the International School of Latvia, and the remaining two were adult learners from the International College of Cosmetology in Riga Latvia. Mixed methods of research were used. For qualitative data analysis, narrative analysis was used and for the quantitative data – descriptive statistics were used! Research process: Stakeholders’ who participated in the KNOWLO survey were specifically targeted according to the project proposal and guidelines. Respondents answered questions that highlighted Organizational self-awareness, sustainable goals, Digitalization of learning practices in a Global Context, communication, cooperation, and people. The structured interviews helped understating, the stakeholders’ self-assessment patterns and tools exercised to evaluate results. Research period: November 2021 – November 2022.

As stated above, this report only represents the development of Result 1, Transformational Framework. Key criteria established for the Stakeholders survey under R1 for the framework are 1. Organizational self-awareness, strategy, and development 2. Learning, communication, and cooperation 3. Organization and its people 4. Clients 5. Sustainability and Product Orientation 6. Digital transformation, global context, and value creation, and 7. Results & Benchmarking. As each established criterion answered respective questions, criteria number 6. Digital transformation, in a global context, and value creation, are analyzed in this report in context with the research question (Are the teachers exercising the use of Modern Technologies in teaching to its maximum?). The results analyzed highlighted that teachers from the Czech Republic were more likely to agree, that they use technology to its maximum whilst teaching than teachers from Italy. The Czech Republican teachers were not convinced that the assessment of students prior to training digitally can help in utilizing technology to its maximum. Stakeholders from all the partner countries agreed on two things unanimously there is not enough technical equipment in the organizations and not enough government funding to support the use of technology to the fullest. The Knowlo framework that will help traditional HEIs & VETs transform into modern learning organization starts with digital transformation, the qualitative results show that stakeholders agree that new methods/forms of learning and individual approach to learners is essential. Other aspects that the stakeholder's survey highlight 60% believe that organizational vision must be clear to all 60% that constructive feedbacks help an organization excel 67%. KNOWLO project is ongoing and after the successful completion of the Project, an effective self-evaluation tool and framework will be made available for learning organizations seeking transformation from traditional to Modern learning organizations

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