5. 9. 2017 | Bled Strategic Forum, PR, Youth
There lived an incredible group of individuals who wanted to make a difference in society. They answered the call from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and one weekend they all gathered together for a magical event called ‘Youth Bled Strategic Forum’. They came from many faraway lands – Japan, Brazil, Egypt, Moldova, Montenegro, Australia, Serbia, EU countries and others, to attend this event held in the region of central Slovenia – green Ljubljana at ABC Accelerator. In fact, more than 30 creative minds, tech and social entrepreneurs and researchers gathered for 48 hours to collaborate to create stories and raise awareness on the pressing issues related to the nexus of economy, ecology and electronics in times of (dis)connected reality.
Concrete issues were tackled over the weekend. Groups were created with a mix of professions, including start-up CEOs, researchers, governmental officials, innovators, web designers, social and tech entrepreneurs. Led by a design-thinking coach these groups were tasked with creating a ‘tale for the ages’ regarding their chosen venture. For 48 hours, participants of the 7th Young BSF were networking and bonding, thinking outside the box and making magic. Participants really got to work on Saturday morning in an Opening Reflection with H.E. Dr Miro Cerar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, that encouraged the participants not to forget the values behind any positive change in society and to be courageous, bold, innovative, open, but also to be tolerant and cooperate with each other.
Participants prepared a manifesto with 10 actionable policy recommendation for the changing world in three sessions on electronics, environment and economy that were initially presented to the Mayor of Ljubljana Mr Zoran Janković and subsequently at the Bled Strategic Forum. In addition to that, participants walked away knowing that they were helping to make the world a better place. Participants left the event inspired, buzzing and motivated. New partnerships were formed and friendships created. They travelled back to their faraway lands motivated and inspired…
1. Prepare For The Challenge Of Industry 4.0
2. Technological Inclusiveness
3. Problem-Based Learning
4. Universal Technological Ethical Code
5. Incentive-Driven Agriculture Policies
6. Green Urban Planning
7. Sustainable Consumption
8. Increasing The Efficiency Of Public Services
9. Trust Building Through Improving Transparency
10. Enhanced Cyber Security
1. Prepared for the Challenge 4.0: Each stakeholder – policy makers, implementers, educators, non-technological businesses, media, and users should be continuously educated to enable them to adequately participate rather than just observe Industry 4.0. Plans and resources should be made for relevant, efficient and timely training and learning by the best providers in education – public and/or private.
2. Technological Inclusiveness: While technological achievements are common and widely used in more developed and affluent parts of the world, it is not the case across the globe. To address the emergence of regional technological asymmetries and the distinctive form of inequality that it brings, we propose the establishment of a Universal Basic Technology System to act as a redistribution mechanism similar to that of the Universal Basic Income. The system should be financed by a combination of smart taxation and an incentive-focused tax relief policies, built around key stakeholders, both corporate and individual.
3. Problem-based Learning: For the humankind to remain and be a positive factor in the ever-more frantic societal change, we call for an Education Reform employing problem-based, life-long learning with an emphasis on character-building. Such reform would help raise responsible and proactive citizens, capable of critically assessing new issues and responding to them in a swift manner which remains inclusive and sustainable.
4. Universal Technological Ethical Code: We unanimously recognize the development of clearly defined ethical standards as one of the main challenges of our hyper-technologised and often borderless societies. To avoid the misuse of power around scientific breakthroughs, both on the part of states as well as non-state actors and individuals, a clear set of rules and guidelines need to be established. They would direct all areas of human activity heavily impacted by digital and other newly emerging technologies.
5. Incentive-driven Agriculture Policies: Many traditional human activities are facing the challenge of an aging population and disappearing knowledge pools in certain industries. Agriculture, particularly at local level, is a pertinent case in mind. To motivate producers in the agricultural sector to continually educate themselves and strive for sustainable production, we suggest a revision of subsidy policies and smart incentive-oriented approaches that enable local production to better dovetail with the industrial food sector. Such approach would result in higher quality of products while also ensuring a more secure form of income and sustainability for producers at all levels.
6. Green Urban Planning: It is projected that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be urban. Cities, regardless of their size, should strive to increase and balance the size of their green areas. This can be achieved by traditional means, such as re-opening old and creating new parks in different forms, as well as using previously idle spaces, as is the case with rooftop gardens. This would provide a valuable example for city-dweller to also engage in responsible and sustainable production within the confines of their own homes and communities. Green urban planning should become an highly-ranked integral part of policy contemplations both at the state and municipal level, while also becoming a fulcrum of private undertakings.
7. Sustainable Consumption: It is important to stress that how we consume is just as important as how we produce. Since the bulk of the global consumption stress is rooted at the level of the individual consumer, the only way for us to lessen the ecological footprint of human consumption is to become more and better aware of the impact of our everyday activities. People should be encouraged to engage in moderate and ideally environmentally neutral consumption, something that can also be supported by innovation and awareness raising campaigns undertaken by both public and private actors, as well as on international level.
8. Increased Efficiency of Public Services: Today, large portions of the public sector seem to be trapped in a pre-digital era. This is perhaps most evident in the case of bureaucratic services, which many people consider to be the epitome of inefficiency and tediousness. It is even more remarkable when we consider the innovation and optimisation potential of modern technology on administrative processes and the fact that technology-based solutions are regularly adopted in the private sector to great avail. In addition to existing digital solutions, newly emerging technologies, such as virtual reality and blockchain should also be considered seriously and in a timely manner to enable e-governance systems to be fit to serve the needs of people in the 21st century.
9. Trust Building through Improving Transparency: Lack of trust both in public institutions and private organisations is undermining people’s ability to tackle contemporary challenges across the global policy spectrum effectively. As technology develops, this problem is likely to worsen, unless ethical standards are introduced along with scientific advancements. To this end, existing as well as emerging technologies should be taken up with the aim of improving the transparency of all societal and economic processes, through open data, big data and more. While process tractability is likely to be affected to an extent, particularly regarding privacy, we still regard these measures worthy of consideration given their trust-building potential.
10. Enhanced Cyber Security: In a world where not only virtual but also physical infrastructure is governed using digital systems, the enhancement of cyber resilience is paramount. To avoid intrusions and disruptions at an individual level as well as curtail systematic risk, a two-pronged approach is required. Firstly, we need to reinforce our technical capabilities by investing in nascent technologies, such as machine-learning and artificial intelligence, which will help us have the necessary level of control in an ever-more complex world. Secondly, restrictive standards should be put into place – they would clearly define which actions are permissible within the cyber realm and crucially how to deal with violations. Cyber security standards should be agreed at a global level and would need to be binding for all relevant stakeholders.
Support the Manifesto at: http://bit.ly/ybsf17manifesto
4. 9. 2017 | Bled Strategic Forum, Danube, PR, Youth
The Young Bled Strategic Forum that took place between 1. and 3. September was built on premise from Vladimir Bartol’s novel Alamut: Nothing is true, everything is permitted and the put in context of the industrial revolution 4.0.
The fourth industrial revolution changes the way of life and at the same time blurs the line between physical, digital and biological spheres. It is impacting all disciplines, economies and industries, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. The countries of the Danube region are also suffering from the digital revolution as they still do not have enough competencies to cope with challenges that are brought by digital transformation.
The group of young prominent individuals from the Danube region countries: Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova and Slovenia, presented their competitive business models on electronics, environment and economy in the fusion of virtual, digital and real.
The participants met Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar who warned them of two aspects of science: it can lead to positive achievement or it can lead to various disasters. He stressed that digitalisation should be “digitalisation with a human face and purpose.”
Three days of intensive workshops with the design thinking method ended with nine policy proposals ranging from agriculture and public services as well as green urban planning to sustainable consumption, education, technological inclusiveness and cybersecurity, forming the manifesto. The manifesto will be presented to decision makers and other stakeholders on the Bled Strategic Forum.
28. 6. 2017 | Erasmus+, PR, Youth
An international mobility project in the scope of Erasmus + programme of the European Union “Be Ready for European Values” under the title “Non-Formal Education System in Slovenia” has concluded yesterday with an awarding ceremony.
During the 10 days of the youth exchange on non-formal education through soft methods and non-formal approaches, the participants also got a chance to gain an insight into the system of non-formal education in Slovenia, provided by the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth, Employment Service of Slovenia, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Nefiks Institute, Youth Council of Slovenia, Slovenian Student Union, Movit Institute and Youth Office of the City of Ljubljana. Students also visited IEDC Bled School of Management, EMUNI University in Piran as well as Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana to learn about recognition of non-formal education on different faculties. Visit to the House of the European Union (EU) in Ljubljana highlighted the opportunities for youth in the EU and added the European perspective to the matter.
Throughout the youth exchange the participants underwent preparations for the European Parliament simulation exercise, which was held at the Ljubljana City Hall on Tuesday. Participants had to prepare their opening speeches and arguments for or against non-formal education’s recognition and validation comparable to formal education. The simulation was opened by Zoran Jankovič, Mayor of the City of Ljubljana and Katarina Gorenc from the Youth Office of the City of Ljubljana explained why is Ljubljana youth friendly municipality. The simulation exercise that was chaired by Sabina Carli began with opening speeches and continued with arguments pro and contra. At the end, the document on non-formal education’s recognition and validation comparable to formal education with few amendments was accepted by the great majority.
After the simulation conclusion, the participants were addressed by H.E. Mr Miodrag Mugoša, Ambassador of the Montenegro in Ljubljana, that awarded the certificates.
The project “Be Ready for European Values” contributes to active participation of youth in social, economic and political development of Montenegro through promotion of EU values, by improving the quality of youth work and non-formal education in Montenegro, and by fostering cooperation with Slovenia and practical transfer of know-how. The project aims to develop a non-formal educational system in Montenegro that would raise awareness and enhance practical skills that are needed for more marketable and proactive role in the labour market.
Centre for European Perspective is conducting the project in cooperation with the Centre for Monitoring and Research from Montenegro, Centre for International Studies from Croatia, University of Donja Gorica from Montenegro and Art Communications from Montenegro.
The program is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU under the Key Action 2: Capacity Building in the Field of Youth – KA2: Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices.
21. 6. 2017 | Erasmus+, PR, Youth
Centre for European Perspective is hosting an international mobility project “Be Ready for European Values – Non-Formal Education System in Slovenia” with 50 young participants from Montenegro. The mobility program, funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union under the Key Action 2: Capacity Building in the field of Youth – KA2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, includes a week-long exchange in Slovenia.
Project aims to develop innovative non-formal educational system in order to raise awareness about democratic life and practical skills needed for marketable and proactive role in the labor market, opening perspectives for entrepreneurial ideas and work at the EU and national level.
Project activities in the scope of Youth non-formal education system in Slovenia are designed to support the development of knowledge and evidence-based youth policy in Montenegro. Participants will undergo intensive lectures, workshops, study visits in Ljubljana, Kamnik, Piran and Bled and simulation exercise, which they will plan and prepare throughout the week.
While learning about non-formal education through soft methods and non-formal approaches, the participants will also get a chance to gain an insight into the system of non-formal education in Slovenia, provided by the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth, Employment Service of Slovenia, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia. The interplay between formal and non-formal education will be further discussed at the IEDC Bled School of Management in Bled, EMUNI University in Piran and Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana.
In addition, youth organisations, NEFIKS Institute, Slovenian Student Union, and National Youth Council of Slovenia, will indicate the role of civil society organisations and NGOs in the non-formal learning processes. The Information Office of the European Parliament and the European Commission in Slovenia, and MOVIT INSTITUTE will add the European perspective to the matter. The project will conclude with an address by the mayor of the City of Ljubljana, a presentation by the Office for Youth of the City of Ljubljana and an awarding ceremony with the Embassy of the Republic of Montenegro.
A special part of the exchange will be dedicated to the preparation of the simulation of youth-led decision making process, where youngsters will discuss the tools and mechanisms of recognition of non-formal education in the formal education institutions.
“Be Ready for European Values” contributes to active participation of youth in social, economic and political development of Montenegro through promotion of EU values, by improving the quality of youth work and non-formal education in Montenegro, and by fostering cooperation with Slovenia and practical transfer of know-how.
The project is conducted in cooperation with the Centre for Monitoring and Research (Podgorica, Montenegro), which is coordinating the umbrella project, Centre for International Studies (Zagreb, Croatia), University of Donja Gorica (Montenegro) and Art Communications (Montenegro).
The program is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU under the Key Action 2: Capacity Building in the Field of Youth – KA2: Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices.
15. 5. 2017 | Danube, PR, Youth
Centre for European Perspective has made a step towards enhanced cooperation among young Danube experts in Maribor, between 10th and 12th May 2017. Young and potential entrepreneurs were invited to international conference PODIM that shows a great example of multi-level governance – cooperation of municipality, state and private sector that share a common goal.
PODIM conference is a leading start-up conference in Alps-Adriatic region that has been first time organized 37 years ago! In this time, it developed from a smaller entrepreneurial conference to leading gathering in the region. It shows how actors from various fields and levels can work together and reach much more than they ever could alone.
CEP as PA10 coordinator hosted 20 young entrepreneurs from ten Danube countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine). They were selected on the basis of the PODIM Challenge call that initially received 131 entrepreneurial ideas. Young entrepreneurs had to present their idea, team and business plan. Among over 200 start-ups from the Danube region and wider, four teams (from Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine) got into the semi-finals where 20 best start-up ideas pitched in front of the experts and investors. Slovakian start-up – Unigraph & Ingen.io that developed a layer of artificial intelligence to analyse texts and understanding, based on internal knowledge graph, which stores information about each facility in the world in which we live – got into finals and was voted as second best in the PODIM challenge.
Participants had a chance to listen to the inspiring and content-rich speeches and workshops, delivered by serial start-uppers, investors, initiators from all four corners of the world. They met with the investors through one-on-one meetings, they widened their horizons at the consulting and coaching sessions and discussed their ideas with the young people with a similar entrepreneurial mind-set. At the same time they had opportunity to meet Slovenian national start-up organization as a facilitator of cooperation within Slovenia, municipality representatives as well as various stake-holders from private and public sectors.
29. 3. 2017 | PR, Youth
The European Integration Office, adjacent body of the Government of Serbia, presented the development projects in year 2016. Among others projects, the internships promotion project that was organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and CEP was presented.
In the framework of the project, a printed Internship Manual was developed in order to guide the organisations that aim to establish the internship and traineeship programmes in the countries that share the perspective to join the European Union. Its objective is to inspire both the sending institutions and the institutions who are recipients to develop such programmes and contribute to the regional education and cooperation on the way to the EU.
CEP was selected as a programme partner who served as a contact point in Slovenia, intermediary between the European Integration Office in Serbia and the institutions, and the identifier of the organisations that are eligible to take part in the programme.
Find the manual here: GIZ SEIO Internship Manual
