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Prometeus

 PROMETEUS  – Promoting social economy in Romania through research, education and training at European standards  
 
The project aims to promote the social economy in Romania (cooperatives and social enterprises )as an instrument for generating jobs, economic development and social inclusion. Its main objectives are:
  • developing  scientific research  and university teaching in the field of social economy in Romania;
  • raising the visibility of the Romanian social enterprises in order to increase  public support needed for their development;
  • promoting favorable public policies for the development of social enterprises in Romania;
  • developing  and raising  performances of 120 Romanian social enterprises through training programs and consultancy.
 
The main results of the project are:
  • 8 national studies including surveys on representative samples developing data comparable with those at European level on the various types of organizations and fields of action of social economy: cooperatives, mutuals and credit unions, social service providers, work integration, employment and training, rural organizations (cooperatives, farmers association and commons), religious organizations;
  • publication of the studies including an overall report  on "Social economy in Romania";
  • development of specialized higher education at the Faculty of Sociology, University of Bucharest and dedicated course materials based on the European experience and adapted  to the national context;
  • preparation of public policy documents on social economy and organizing  debates involving leaders in social economy, specialists and policy makers at local and central levels;
  • a training program for 20 trainers - consultants for social enterprises and cooperatives;
  • a capacity building programme for 120 managers of social enterprises in Romania including training and consultancy in management of social enterprises and publication of a guide on management of social enterprises;
  • 10 regional and national fairs of the Romanian social enterprises; 
  • annual National Conferences of Social Economy in Romania;
  • the establishment of the Social Economy Institute in Romania – national research and training center with  a web based information clearing house on social economy issues in Romania (including a database of social enterprises and cooperatives).
 
Activities to be carried out by Euricse:
 
1. Training in Trento
Euricse will organize two training programmes (3/4-weeks) each addressed to around 20 participants focused on a number of crucial issues concerning the upsurge, development, and performance of social enterprises and cooperatives. Both programmes will be carried out in the first year of the project. The approach adopted will be multidisciplinary (embracing the following discipliners: economics, business, sociology, law, political science) and reference will be made to various experiences to be found at EU-27 level.
 
The course is structured to:
 
  • review the various approaches to define social enterprises and social entrepreneurship
  • advance participants’ understanding of the historical roots of social enterprises with special regard to their explanatory factors in different socio-economic contexts
  • provide an overview of the legal frameworks and public schemes that can be adopted to support social enterprise development
  • provide practical examples across sectors and countries of social enterprises’ impact upon socio-economic development.
 
2. Study visit
At the end of each training programme, one week of study visits to innovative social enterprises operating in the North of Italy will be organized.
The study visits will focus on social enterprises and cooperatives operating in the regions Trentino (Trento), Veneto (Castelfranco Veneto) and Lombardia (Bergamo and Brescia). Innovative social cooperatives (type A and type B) will be included with a view to various fields of activity (elderly and child-care; youth activities; work integration services). Different interesting best practices will be analyzed, with a view to the role displayed by second level organizations in supporting the development of new social enterprise initiatives. Attention will be paid to the history of each organization, role played by founding members, organizational structure, and changes occurred, funding opportunities, aspects of strength and weakness in general.
 
3. Research internships 
Euricse will host 4 research interns, who will investigate specific topics related to social enterprises and cooperatives. During their stay in Trento, Euricse researchers will provide the 4 beneficiaries with the methodological tools required to develop research activities in Romania with specific attention to both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Each intern will be followed by one tutor who will be chosen among Euricse research staff. Each researcher will be hosted for 1 months in Trento.
 
4. Technical assistance 
Euricse will provide a technical support for the development of research activities in Romania. The support will be long-distance and will concern the definition of research aims, research methodologies to be adopted, and organizational aspects so us to ensure an effective and efficient management of research activities in Romania.
 
5. Workshops in Romania
Two Euricse staff members will participate in two events. Topics and aims of the workshop will be defined.
 
EU Programme: Operational Programme for Human Resources Development Romania OPHRD Romania – European Social Fund and Romanian Government 
 
Period: 36 months 
 
Starting date: 1st September 2010
 
Coordinator: Civil Society Development Foundation, Romania (FDSC – www.fdsc.ro)
 
 

 

 

 

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