Institute for Postgraduate Studies News RSS Feed

FIERE: Furthering Innovative Entrepreneurship Regions of Europe

UNWE — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 14:19:22 GMT

FIERE is an innovative project, co-funded with the support of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Grundtvig Programme, which aims to enhance regional public and voluntary organisations with innovative entrepreneurship skills that can facilitate bottom-up regional development and tie-in with top-down regional development policies, across six European countries. Since January 2014, the seven partners of the project (Tipperary County Council (TCC) – co-ordinator – Ireland, Allweb Solutions S.A. – Greece, Institute For Postgraduate Studies (IPS) – Bulgaria, Waterford Institute Of Technology (WIT) – Ireland, Commercial and Industrial Association of Barcelos (ACIB) – Portugal, Einurd EHF – Iceland and CESIE – Italy) have been managing the project's local and international activities and exploring the role of entrepreneurship skills in their respective regions.

After the kick-off meeting in Ireland, a pilot survey on users’ entrepreneurship skills was carried out by all partners. Subsequently, in June 2014, partners met in Palermo (Italy) for the 2nd Partnership meeting during which the survey was adjusted and finalised.

Partners then interviewed 450 respondents from 223 regional public, private, community & enterprise and voluntary organisations in all six partner regions to find out their current level of entrepreneurship skills training.

According to the composite Europe-wide report, resourcefulness, resilience and analytical thinking were the most common skills cited as important for the organisation, the individual employee and as important skills to be trained in. Moreover, across all regions and sectors the worth of an entrepreneurial skills training programme was valued very highly.

The Composite Report and the National Reports on users’ needs analysis are available and downloadable at this link: http://fiereproject.eu/index.php/reports/.

The results of this survey are now being used to develop an entrepreneurial skills training programme aimed at increasing the capacity and capability of individual employees to behave, think and act more entrepreneurially.

In February 2015, partners met in Sofia (Bulgaria) for the project’s 3rd Partnership meeting. During the meeting, based on the findings of the user needs analysis survey, partners defined the contents of the entrepreneurial skills training programme and discussed possible ways to deliver it in each country, starting in June 2015.

The training programme will be supported by a trainee and a trainer handbook (which will be available in all partner languages) focusing on three main skills:

Creativity and innovation;
Resilience and leadership;
Analytical thinking and resourcefulness.

Furthermore, practical examples of how such skills have benefitted a series of regional public and voluntary organisations across Europe will support and integrate the training programme. These case studies have been developed to give an overview of how innovative entrepreneurship skills have been applied in different geographic contexts and sectors. The case studies will be contained in a booklet that will soon be published online.

In the upcoming months, the training course content will be finalised and partners will start recruiting participants for the FIERE pilot training workshops.

The Europe-wide pilot training will consist of innovative entrepreneurship workshops. These will be trainer-led modules and sessions on the basic concepts of innovative entrepreneurship and on skills such as: creativity and innovation, resilience and leadership, analytical thinking and resourcefulness. Particular attention will be paid to country-specific material. The sessions will be supported by materials and by the case studies that will challenge trainees to discuss about the application of innovative entrepreneurship skills in their respective regions and organisations.

The entire training will be free of charge for attendees, will last approximately 8 hours and be held in one day or over several days, according to local needs.

Target groups for these pilot workshops will include: regional policy planners, municipalities and other local authorities, community and voluntary organisations staff, human resources officers, business networks and chambers of commerce members.

THE TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS UNDER THE FIERE PROJECT WAS CONCLUDED

UNWE — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 14:45:00 GMT

FIERE's seven partners have finished undertaking a survey in their regions to find out what are the needs in the field of innovative entrepreneurship education. Partners have administered the user needs survey online, by email and face-to-face and have each drafted a national report to assess survey results. А composite training needs analysis report will be now created, which will be used for developing a training programme under the project.

The FIERE survey aimed at identifying the demand for and provision of innovative entrepreneurship skills at a regional level in Bulgaria was carried out by the IPS project team in the Southwest Region (SWR) of the country. The overall number of organisations surveyed in SWR was 34, while the total number of interviewees was 50. The organisations surveyed operate in the areas, such as SME support (general, finance, accounting, law), consultancy, youth support, higher education, adult training, community services, information and communication technologies, local development, local authority, etc.

SECOND PARTNER MEETING UNDER THE FIERE PROJECT

UNWE — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 09:20:00 GMT

On 20 and 21 July 2014 in Palermo, Italy the second partner meeting under FIERE (Furthering Innovative Entrepreneurial Regions in Europe) Project took place. The project is implemented under the Lifelong Learning Programme, Grundtvig sub-programme, Project No. 540477-LLP-1-2013-IE-GRUNDTVIG-GMP, with the participation of IPS at UNWE.

During the meeting a discussion was held on the separate work packages within the project framework and there was presented the concept of the Bulgarian team for the implementation of the work package for which IPS was a lead partner – namely the activities under WP 2 “Development of a training programme”. During the meeting the lead partners under the respective work packages presented the results achieved so far related to the project organisation and management and the implementation of dissemination activities. There were reported the results of the conducted pilot interviews in connection to the implementation of WP 2 “Training needs analysis”. A decision was taken the following meeting to be held on 12 and 13 February 2015 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

FIERE Project - FURTHERING INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL REGIONS OF EUROPE

UNWE — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 11:39:44 GMT

Since the beginning of 2014 the Institute for Postgraduate Studies at the University of National and World Economy is involved in the FIERE (Furthering Innovative Entrepreneurial Regions of Europe) project. The project consortium includes seven partners from Bulgaria, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy and Portugal with a lead partner the South-East Regional Authority (Ireland). The project is implemented under the Lifelong Learning Programme, Grundtvig sub-programme and takes place from the 1^st of January 2014 to the 31^st of December 2015.

The FIERE project aims to support local communities and regional economies by specifically focusing on the development of entrepreneurial and innovative skills of people, employed in organisations, operating at regional level, incl. regional authorities, chambers of commerce, clusters/networks, etc. to enable them to develop innovative and entrepreneurial policies and programmes. The focus of the FIERE project is on providing innovative entrepreneurship education to members of a wide range of regional organisations but with a particular focus on addressing the needs of sub-regional community and voluntary organisations that are seeking to develop their locality’s economic and social potential.

The main planned results of the project implementation include conducting training needs analysis among the project target group, elaboration of innovative entrepreneurship trainee and trainer/mentor handbooks and investigation of best practice innovative entrepreneurship skills case studies. Moreover in each FIERE partner region it is planned development of regional network of 20 adult education providers and provision of course to 40 individuals representing regionally-based community and voluntary organisations and other regional entities.

The Institute of Postgraduate Studies at the ReferNet Annual Regional Meeting

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 07:55:58 GMT

On March, 22^nd, 2012 at the Large Conference Hall of UNWE began its work the ReferNet Annual Regional Meeting of the countries in South and Central Europe. At the two-day Forum where was also marked the 10^th Anniversary from the establishment of the ReferNet attended some specialists from the member-states of the EU, representatives of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, the Syndicates, the Non-Governmental Sector. More

”Creative Strategic Foresight - Study Programme” - CSF

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 07:52:08 GMT

The Institute of Postgraduate Studies to the UNWE has begun working on a new project titled Creative Strategic Foresight – Study Programme (CSF) financed by the European Commission on the Programme for Lifelong Learning, Erasmus - Multi-Lateral Projects. The project objective is to be worked out and tested a study module which can combine the creative activity with strategic thinking and the applied researches with education. The project will be realized during the period October, 1^st, 2011 – September, 30^th, 2013. See the presentation

A Project on The Creative Strategic Foresight – Study Programme

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 07:31:15 GMT

The study module is directed to assist the students-Bachelors in the development of their competencies to assess and foresight the changes in the business environment, to encourage the creative capabilities of students in the strategic thinking so they can be able to adapt the information and innovations. More

The Institute of Postgraduate Studies Took Part in the Information Meeting Named Together-More Informed since Today

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 07:20:30 GMT

On February, 9^th, 2012 at the UNWE was held the consecutive information meeting named Together – More Informed Since Today where students had the opportunity to learn and ask questions related to their professional development by up building their education through a parallel training. At the meeting they saw illustrative examples about the additional professional qualification at the Institute of Postgraduate Studies and also about the information and consultative work of the Inter-University Center for Career Development. The event was organized by the Students Council. More

Courses for Internal Auditors

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 07:07:58 GMT

The Center for Management of Quality and International Projects organizes short-term courses on Saturday and Sunday for Internal Auditors of the Systems for Management of Quality in compliance with the requirements of the International Standard ISO 9001:2008. Accreditation: Moody International and the International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA).

Price for students: 200 BGN.

For more information: Elena Kotcheva, tel: 868 92 04; 0888 000 234

National Conference on the Strategies and Policies for Longlife Learning

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 06:32:45 GMT

On December, 15^th, 2011 the Institute of Postgraduate Studies at UNWE jointly with the Institute for Preparation of Officials at the International Organizations, the Confederation of Labour called Support and the City of Karnobat Municipality carried out a National Conference on the Strategies and Policies for Longlife Learning. The Conference is a part of a project implemented by the financial support of the European Commission on the Programme for Longlife Learning (www.comfort-bg.eu). More

Warmth and Coziness for Students at the Institute of Postgraduate Studies

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 06:09:06 GMT

On December, 6^th, 2011 was solemnly marked the completion of activities on renovation of the building of Institute of Postgraduate Studies. Prof. Borislav Borisov – Rector of UNWE and Assoc. Prof. Marcho Markov – Vice-Rector of UNWE and Director of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies - opened symbolically the new heating installation at the Institute. More

The Institute of Postgraduate Studies Won a Project for Education of Specialists at the Scientific Research Clusters

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 06:06:33 GMT

The Institute of Postgraduate Studies at UNWE won a centralized project on the Seeding Innovation: Training for Research-driven Clusters (InnoSee), (Education of Specialists at the Scientific Research Clusters), financed by the European Agency for Education, Audio Vision and Culture, the Programme Leonardo Da Vinci, activity for Development of Innovations. The project objective is to create a platform for harmonization and improvement of the quality of managers and officials education at the scientific research clusters.

On November, 3^rd and 4^th, 2011 was conducted a meeting for opening of the project by the participation of all the partners countries.

The Institute of Postgraduate Studies Won A Certificate of Incorporated Management System

UNWE — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:52:04 GMT

On October, 28^th the Institute of Postgraduate Studies at UNWE was bestowed a Certificate from the Italian Certificating Organization ANCCP (Agenzia Nazionale Certificazione Componenti e Prodotti srl) in Livorno, Italy.

The Certificate is on the project EGO – Enterprise Gender Oriented financed by the Programme Leonardo Da Vinci, Transfer of Inovations to the EU and it certifies that at the relevant institution is incorporated a management system related to the gender discrimination. The Institute of Postgraduate Studies at UNWE is at the 7^th place in Europe from total 10 institutions incorporated the EGO standard designating the lack of gender discrimination. More

CREDITS FOR STUDYING IN IPS AT UNWE

UNWE — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:25:29 GMT

Continue your studies in IPS at UNWE and get credits for the training!

Since the academic 2010/2011 year IPS at UNWE awards credits to students under the rules for determining the conditions and procedures for implementing a system for accumulation and transfer of credits in UNWE, corresponding to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the participation of our country in building an European Higher Education Area.

Memorandum of Cooperation between the IPS and the European Institute for Security and Environment

UNWE — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:00:00 GMT

On 22.10.2010, IPS and the European Institute for Security and Environment (Germany) signed a Memorandum for environmental protection. The document plans cooperation in the implementation of innovations, management systems and know-how in the area of water sector, development and implementation of systems for water management and practical systems, promotion of EU experience and best practices in technical standards and regulations, and the incorporation of economic concepts in Bulgaria. The two institutions will exchange experience in education and training of staff and students.

"Economics and Management of Water and Sanitation Sector”

UNWE — Tue, 11 May 2010 08:39:28 GMT

On 04.11.2010, the Institute for Postgraduate Studies – a Division of UNWE, launched for the fourth year a course, entitled "Economics and management of water and sanitation sector”. Among the participants there are managers and employees of water and sanitation companies across the country, the water and sanitation industry companies and independent designers. The course was opened by Assos. Prof. Dr. Marcho Markov - Vice Rector for Continuous Education in UNWE and Director of IPS, and the first lectures were given by Mr. Dimcho Mihalevski, former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.