6 -7 March 2009BucharestRomania

The new Task Force of the RCC on Fostering and Building Human Capital was put in charge to promote coherency and coordination between education, higher education and research by creating a platform of dialogue and cooperation of actors involved in these sectors

This was the first international conference organised by the TF FBHC

It convened decision-makers from: European institutions and international organisations, Ministries of Education, Science and Research, Labour and Social

Affairs from SEE countries, Non-governmental organisations active in the field of human capital

building, Education experts, researchers, RCC and international donors.

shift from assistance to cooperation and partnership in support of the reform agenda

identification of education, science and research and the development of human capital under the name “Fostering and Building Human Capital”

To respond to the changing landscape by creating a forum for debate on the role of human capital for the development of sustainable knowledge economies and societies in the region as well as for the region’s inclusion into an Enlarged Europe

Assist in moving policy making from fragmentation of education, vocational education and training, higher education and research to an integrated and systemic one considering the comprehensive dimension of the human capital;

Discuss ways to deal with the need for and the growing impact of the “knowledge triangle” on economic and social development in South Eastern Europe;

Provide information about relevant international and European developments with regard to human capital contribution to sustainable economic and social development;

Raise awareness to support articulated and coherent actions and practices at all levels, in particular amongst policymakers;

Facilitate co-operation among key actors in the area of human capital in the region.

Moved from General policy lines to discussing practical

implementation International to local experiences Describing the work of already established

cooperation networks to discussing future topical networking needs and possibilities

Separate important areas to joint understanding Providers’ perspective to stakeholders’ views

Mobilized a wide array of perspectives brought in through the diversity of participants

Moved through five areas crucial for human capital development

Human capital contribution to the development of learning regions where innovation-friendly environments are created and knowledge is converted into innovative products and services

Using research evidence and trends as prerequisites for creating effective policies for building human capital;

Human capital contribution to sustainable development

Fostering human capital for labour market needs and competitiveness

TVET and HE modernization as a response to challenges for building human capital in a changing society

The first part of the conference demonstrated the cooperation potential and synergetic possibilities of established networks and institutional structures through the contributions from the, TF BHC, ERI-SEE, EC DG research, SEE-ERA.NET, WBC-INCO.NET, ETF, CoE, OECD, UNDP/RCC, and the Croatian Employment Association

All contribution highlighted and reflected the movement from discussing typical sectoral topics to seeing education and research as powerful instruments for building human capital

A rich overview on what has been and is being done on: Developing cooperation in SEE from 1999

onwards Creating possibilities for future oriented

knowledge management Supporting LLL, supporting the development

of competencies, qualification frameworks Improving research capacities and increasing

scientific knowledge Overcoming the digital divide Education – labor market partnerships, active

employment measures, adult learning Bridging policy-practice gaps, developing new

teaching practices, sharing experiences from the region

System reviews, student assessments and networking to support economic growth

Impressions from the workshops: Almost all wshs extremely dynamic and rich in

inputs All welcomed the diversity of participants

(countries, backgrounds) All felt the relevance of topics All topics addressed in a multi-layer and multi-

perspective approach All experienced new insights All felt the need to continue elaboration in a

cooperative setting

Multiplicity of potential connections and perspectives: some connections/perceptions could not be embraced discussion was not easy to focus

Participation somewhat dominated by actors in education: Research was not discussed everywhere ‘Users’ view not heard enough

Innovation and creativity only implicitly addressed Through multiple perspectives and novel focal topics But creating environments conducive for innovation and creativity

calls for further commitment

ICT not capitalized upon enough

Need to systematize the richness of experiences and ideas elicited by the wshs in order to move the discussion further

Efforts are already underway: To use data in taking policy decisions, Recognition of human capital as driving force for regional development Participation of increasing diversity of stakeholders

Reaching out has started from all sides, all parties

Developments have diverse “motivators” : initiated by innovative partnerships at local level Initiated by comprehensive strategic approaches Joint projects Private/public partnerships Institutional reforms (TVET)

Developments have various approaches – need to collect and analyse

Islands of excellence: business incubators (CRO, MAC) Regional Centre for entrepreneurship learning Zagreb ICT: VET sector Romania working with industry on the basis of a real private-partnership TVET under PHARE LLL

Yet there are substantial deficits: in capacity to absorb and use information, weak links between policy makers, practitioners and researchers, governments and civil society

“Culture of cooperation”, “culture of evidence – based decision making” (social capital)

Innovation-friendly management procedures of administration - need for easing up bureaucratic/administrative procedures for creativity and innovation to spur

Lack of broader institutional partnerships (cross-sectorial, geographic, with civil society)

Lack of relevant institutions (e.g. adult education providers) Lack of framework (legal and financial) Lack of financial investement into education and research, lack

of flexible budgetng procedures

High quality regional research relevant for human capital development (bridging the gap between international and national research)

Lack of valid meta-analysis of existing research in the region

Developing human capital calls for future thinking - obligation to mobilize and empower

all instruments for this, stress policy over politics

Listening to stakeholders in policy making, using education, science and research as active measures for human capital development

Cooperating with civil society in policy making Creating comprehensive instruments for stakeholder participation and ownership:

In generating evidence In institutional development Local and regional development National policy-making Developing vison of future

Taking into account PEOPLE Students Workers Business Employers Parents

Taking into account relevant global trends based on evidence

Situating and mobilising research in the new context as relevant

partner for development:

Bridging language gap between researchers, policy makers, and business

Making meaningful connections between research and education: Bringing research into everyday school practice Bringing education into research priorities Teaching through research Researching through teaching

Better use of EU funds and EU programs (FP7) to link research and education development

Capacity building and combating brain drain, Teacher training still on the list, but new priority areas:

using evidence, interpreting research, seeking partnership

Exchanging experience, ensuring peer learning and developing joint best practice

Making existing experience visible and disseminate it Fostering the exchange of experience in SEE Create mechanisms for sustainable cooperation and dialogue Fostering cross border regional development Addressing common challenges together as a region - regional policies? (SD,

RD, ) Raising the academic attractiveness of policy research as a field of scientific research.

Regional common benchmarks/indicators

Foster mobility of students, researchers

Create collaboration forums as a platform for cooperation between labor market and education

Use existing networks, e.g. Task Force to lobby at national, regional at EU level; ERI SEE, SEE-ERA.NET capacity building

Based on impressions Based on evidence

lowquality

high quality

20

Which path?

Social benefits

Personal benefits

RESEARCH

SCHOOL

Development Policies

2025

21

Agencies

Enterprises

REACHING OUT HAS ALREADY STARTED, SYNERGIES ARE VISIBLE

CONFERENCE WAS CAPTURING ALL COMPLEXITIES

ALL ACTORS EAGER TO MOVE TO NEXT STEPS

Thank you for your attention