More information
Description
AGENDA Ltd, in partnership with the Icelandic organization EINURD, join efforts to develop and implement innovative approaches to stimulate employment and business in the municipality of Valchi dol. The project partners in cooperation with the Municipal Administration, employers, vocational schools and the Directorate of the Labour Office in Valchi dol will set up an innovative COOPERATION CENTRE (CC), through which effective conditions will be created for the recruitment, training and successful employment of job seekers. AGENDA and EINURD will develop a Charter for quadrilateral cooperation, defining the rights, responsibilities, ethical principles and work rules of the local partners, Mentoring and Training Program, and Internship Program. This toolkit is innovative not only at the municipal level but also at the national level. It will provide additional opportunities to promote vocational education in the region. Through it, we will differentiate and improve the methods of recruitment, attraction and management of staff, the systematic support of trainees and their employers throughout the entire training period. In the implementation phase of the project activities, AGENDA will open two job positions for coordinators in Valchi Dol Municipality. At the start of the project, representatives of EINURD will visit Valchi dol and will introduce their project partner and stakeholders to the best practices in establishing local community councils, centers for cooperation, training and support for businesses, internship and apprenticeship schemes in Iceland. Two information events will be jointly organised - for job seekers and job providers and six training modules for employers. At the end of the project, we will conduct a three-day visit to Iceland, to present the developed toolkit, the results of its implementation, and to promote the contribution and financial support of the Programme, the Programme Operator and the Small Grant Scheme donor countries.
Summary of project results
Solving the problem with the lack of personnel, labor migration in the municipality and the timid innovations at the local level to use educational institutions as an incubator of personnel in those branches of the economy that are the main livelihood of the municipality by creating a Cooperation Center. The main target group of the Center are students who have not yet completed their education, with the aim of keeping them in the municipality, integrating them into the labor market and stopping the depopulation of Valchi dol municipality.
Innovative toolkit has been developed in partnership with the Icelandic organization EINDRUD that includes a Mentoring and Training Program, an Internship Program, a Cooperation Charter and Rules of Procedure for the Cooperation Center. The main goal of the project is to stimulate the cooperation between the local government, state administration, employers and educational institutions to increase economic activity, employment and the attractiveness of Valchi Dol municipality for work and life.
As a result of the project, two jobs were created, a Cooperation Center was established with 10 members – employers, employers’ organizations and schools. The project contributed to the increased capacity of the implementation team as a result of the implemented exchange of experience with the partner from Iceland and transferred good working practices in the field of dual education and internship programs.
Summary of bilateral results
In November 2023, representatives of the partner EINURD - Iceland visited Valchi dol and Varna and held joint meetings with representatives of Valchi dol municipality, the local community and other stakeholders. During the visit, meetings, presentations and discussions were organized to acquaint the project promoter''s team with the experience and good practices in implementing innovative training and qualification tools in Iceland. In addition, the partner also conducted the planned training of the project promoter''s team. They introduced the Icelandic educational system for professional qualification and the successes achieved in the country, and also presented the good practices related to the open educational resources - youth programs for empowerment, inclusion and social entrepreneurship. Special studies conducted by the partner on successful social and emotional innovations, applied mechanisms for empowerment and networking, proven experience in running entrepreneurship courses, educational and qualification modules for representatives of vulnerable groups, working in vulnerable communities, cooperation with employers were presented by the partner.