Kick off meeting Leonardo da Vinci Project

Kick off meeting

Leonardo da Vinci Project

“Guidance and Counselling

Tools for equal opportunities in the European enlarged labour market

Pistoia, 29th _{October 2004} Minutes of the meeting

Morning session

Technical meeting of the partnership

Welcome and opening

session Ms Giovanna Roccella, Assessore for Employment Education, Training and University Policies welcomes the attending members expressing the importance of the project for the implementation of concrete actions in favour of the equality of opportunity in the job market. She stresses the importance of transnational partnership especially if widened to new member countries, with reference to this the Province of Pistoia has established a long lasting cooperation with Eu member states especially in the field of guidance and counselling.

After a short description of women in the labour market of the Province, she then wishes success to the partners, sure that the joint work will enrich each organisations.

Presentation of the Contractor

Mr. Mauro Gori, Head of the department for Labour and Social Policies, as project manager introduces the Contractor and highlights the activity of the department, that is in charge for employment policies of the 22 municipalities forming the territory of the province.

After the 1999 reform of the Employment services the province became responsible for employment and placements, besides the traditional responsibilities of information and guidance provisions. As a consequence the Province has set up a network of employment services, local contact points, employers’ association, social partners and private consultancy agencies to provide regular, up-to-date and prompt information, counselling, guidance and assisted placement.

He confirms that it is will of the Province aims at the introduction and experimentation of the best practices that will come out from the project.

Presentation of the

partners: BEST Institute (Austria): Mr. Helmut Kronika introduces BEST Institut für berufsbezogene Weiterbildung und Personaltraining GmbH - short BEST Training - was founded in 1990 as an independent vocational qualification institute. Its main activities comprise labour market related qualification and integration and vocational guidance for unemployed people.

ROC Nijmegen (The Netherlands): Ms Cissy Johann introduces ROC Nijmegen, the largest provider of full-time and part-time education in the Dutch province of Gelderland, the centre provides both general education up to pre university level and vocational training. The composition of the ROC's student population is changing constantly, with increasing numbers of 'dedicated' target groups participating in its educational programmes. One of such a target group are women opting for traditional masculine jobs.

Woman Training Center (Estonia) Ms.Lena Blum describes the activities of the center that started functioning in the early 1990s prompted by the need to provide women orientation, help find new employment opportunities and face new challenges under the dramatically changed socio-economic conditions accompanying introduction of a market economy. During the years of its operation the Women's Training Centre has expanded its areas of activity

providing training, counselling, networking and spread of information, together with support in mobility programmes.

CISL-Women coordination.(Italy) Ms.Maria Teresa Ronchi says that she represents the regional coordination committee for Equal opportunities of the trade union CISL, one of the 3 national employees association. She recalls the main conquests of the women coordination inside the trade union, as far as representation in the board is concerned and also the ant-discrimination provisions in the regulation of the Union. Apart from that the Union is of courser involved in many initiatives and activities aimed at the promotion of Equal opportunities in the collective contracts. She I declares her interest in the project and will contribute to the diffusion of the results.

CGE Latvia (Latvia) Ms Inete Ielite says The Coalition for Gender Equality in Latvia, a non-governmental organization, was officially founded on May 9, 2000. The Coalition presently includes 75 individuals and organizations among its members, and its aims are: the promotion of a better understanding of gender equality in Latvia, the support of state’s institutions in development and reaching the gender equality objectives that are set out in national laws and policies; the shaping of public opinion on gender equality, especially among the youth; the realization of de facto gender equality in all spheres of life.

Artemisszio Foundation (Hungary) Ms.Vera Varhegy describes he foundation that was established in 1998 for the improvement of intercultural relationships, and for supporting the social integration of the underprivileged. The founders are young anthropologists, who search the possibilities for joining scientific research and social activities. The foundation's objectives are to foster and build cultural, scientific, and personal partnerships between Hungary and other European countries, and to promote equal opportunities for groups in a disadvantageous social position within Hungary. Among the activities of the foundation, there are trainings, compilation of training materials, execution of research projects, encouragement of mobility in Europe, field-work, organisation of events.

Tietgen Skolen (Denmark) Ms.Regitze Kristensen informs the audience that Tietgenskolen was born in 1954 from the merging of 3 business colleges of the Town of Odense. Currently the college educates 21000 students per academic year, offering a great variety of programmes some of them opened to international students and delivered in English. The School offers Adult Education and caree counselling service.

IFOA (Italy) Ms. Alessia Planeta representing the project coordinator describes IFOA’s activities. IFOA, established in 1972 is “an Institute for Training, Education and Research”, with 2 premises in Reggio Emilia (Head office and Educational Building) and 10 branches in Italy. The Institute is a non-profit company and its main activities are the design of training course to match the request of the labour market, through the links with hundreds of companies all over Italy

IFOA has an entire department devoted to counselling and service to enhance working opportunities and has developed a great experience in equal opportunities issues..

Description of the

Infopack Ms. Alessia Planeta, project coordinator IFOA, informs the partners that from mid November their contact for IFOA will be Ms Giorgia Sessi, who is attending the conference. She then describes the content of a ring folder prepared for each partner. She says that the folder contains the basic workpapers that are needed both for the management of the project and for the development of contents. The ring folders contains a copy not signed of the contract between the partner and the promoter, including the annexes (budget per headings and per source of funding and list of tasks).

The administrative and financial handbook 2004 has been included to help the project manager with the financial management of the project. A smaller guide specifically focused on each partners’ budget and specification with financial information relevant to the project has been added to this official tool .

The last section contains those documents considered important for a good start and a smooth running of the project:

1. the summary (section B.5 of the application),

2. a glossary, to be implemented with the contributes of all partners, which explains the technical terminology of equal opportunities. The language are Italian and English. All partners are invited to add the translation into their native languages of the words listed in the glossary and/or adding others.

3. The list of products as officially stated in the approved project 4. the work packages: those table are both a monitoring and a project

management tool as they describe the activities per phase per partner, detailing the number of foreseen working days, and the expenditures per heading. The tables describe the expected results and/or products. The work packages will be completed by adding the procedures for conflict management/problem solving

5. The draft index of the desk research that will be further explored on Saturday 30th

The Infopack is conceived as a toll for the project manager to facilitate qualitative and financial monitoring, ensuring a fast tracking of the project’s progress. The financial

management of a Leonardo Da Vinci project

Cristiana Porcarelli, tutor of the Italian Leonardo da Vinci National Agency, introduces herself and her colleague, Mr.Rossano Arenare, the latter in charge of the monitoring of project activities. Ms. Porcarelli briefly explains that as project tutor she will be in touch with the contractor and the coordinator, supporting them with any problem it may arise.

She then illustrates the financial management provisions of a Leonardo da Vinci project (see slides in the CD Rom).

She stresses the fact that the financial handbook issue 2004 is the only reliable source of information for administrative management of a Leonardo Da Vinci project.

She then describe each of the headings of a Leonardo da Vinci budget thoroughly describing the financial provision for it.

She also reminds that at the end of a project a final report, including a financial report must be sent to the National Agency, and that each expenditure must be accompanied by relevant supporting documents.

Therefore she invites the partners to clearly identify an administrative referee to be made familiar with the project right from the start.

The workplan: description of the activities and their timetable

Francesca Lusenti, responsible of the product development for IFOA describes in details the activities that can be divided into 4 phases (besides the dissemination, transversal phase)

I. Analysis of the policy measures adopted in the in partner countries in the field of vocational guidance

II. Research and analysis of practices concerning counseling and guidance in the European countries involved with regard to the different target groups

III. Identification of best practices suitable for transfer and devising of an ODL training package for operators acting in the field of vocational guidance in the accessing countries, on the basis of the best practices identified

IV. Testing of the training packages with a small group of people already experienced in the field of vocational guidance and counseling

The evaluation plan Ms Planeta explains that the plan is conceived to help the project management with the quality control of:

1. management/implementation of process (achievements of results per phase)

2. products (with reference to beneficiaries and users)

- field study

- training package

- report

3. joint work (communication and relation among partners) Monitoring tools

Some of those tools/ provision will be agreed upon at the kick off meeting, while others will be detailed later.

1. Work Packages:

These tables synthetically record: the workplan, the products/results expected with some quality indicators, the budget allocation per phase per partner and the deadlines for the submission of documents/products 2. Dissemination and communication plan

Since the project proposal some tools were envisaged to disseminate project achievements and information and to communicate among partners.

The choice is to share and to discuss about every product without any imposition on behalf of promoter and coordinator, such aiming at genuine transnational products.

3. Provision for financial control (in the contracts)

6 monthly statement of expenditures as a condition for the transfer of Leonardo contribution

4. Quality indicators per phase

Each of the 4 implementation phases will be detailed before it starts, specifying quality indicators per process/product and proposing solutions to prevent and solve conflicts/problems

5. Questionnaires and /or interviews

- to be filled by the partners (intermediate and final) in order to evaluate the project management,

- to evaluate the quality of products with reference to users, - to evaluate the pilot testing of the training package The communication and

dissemination plan

Alessia Planeta points out that dissemination is one crucial feature of the Leonardo Da Vinci programme and it has progressively gained more and more importance. In the project proposal it had to be carefully described a dissemination plan aimed at the diffusion of the project products and results. The EU Commission is stressing the concept of valorisation as a step ahead dissemination. The communication and dissemination plan proposed to the partners tries to take into account this latest recommendation.

The actions and tools to be used were described into the approved proposal 1. Web site

The web site is considered an interactive tool rather than a showcase only. Of course the web site will allow to enter the Learning environment for the pilot testing of the training package.

The aim is stimulating and encourage discussion on many topics with people outside the partnership, the forum is intended as virtual meeting place to exchange information, opinion and experience

2. Newsletter

It will be used to spread information, updating on the project and to send news that can be useful to all partners and to a target audience which will include decision makers companies organisations etc. A specific mailing list will be created on purpose

3. Leaflet

A leaflet will be ready by the end of 2004 to make available a set of general and basic information on the project aims, partners and activities. The leaflet is conceived to be widespread and to raise interest around the project.

4. Conferences

The conferences aims specifically at stimulating the discussion among public officers, decision makers, all those who are actors in the mainstreaming process.

The kick off meeting is held in Italy, besides, 2 final events targeted at dissemination will be held in Italy and in Hungary, the latter will be specifically aimed at involving people form accessing countries and new member countries not represented in the partnership.

To ensure a real valorisation of the project achievements it is necessary to involve an audience as wide as possible and to do it throughout the entire project life.

The partnership aim is to contact and inform decision makers and potential users/beneficiaries of the products and methodologies devised.

The partners can reach various sectors/organisation: public bodies, social partners, education and vocational training organizations, women organisation, companies and so on.

Ms Planeta says that the contractor expects all the partners to identify since the beginning of the project some target group to whom we will address our information and from whom we will require feedback.

Saturday October

30

_9:00-11:00

Technical meeting of the partnership

Glossary. Discussion on the draft documents to be used for the first phase of the project

The partners gather to discuss the glossary each of the words are described and explained until a common understanding is reached.

The partners agree to complete the glossary making it a working tool, the glossary will include technical terminology referring to training.

Ms.Lusenti and Ms.Planeta ask for comments on the draft index of the desk study, the partners find it reasonable and think that covers the right topics to be investigated, of course it is clarified that the number of pages in indicative only, the more thy can produce the better it is. IFOA will be in charge of collecting the material and producing the overall desk research.

Ms Lusenti explains that the phase 2 involving interviews and questionnaires will be further detailed before it starts and that IFOA will provide instructions,

questionnaires and guidelines for the interview. The deadline, as reminded is the end of January.

Practicalities Ms.Planeta ask the partners to provide her with names for the project referee and the person in charge of administrative management.

She then notes that the budget for translation is quite low so he partners are invited to translate the material internally as much as possible.

She ask those partners who have not yet brought the contracts to send the signed copy as soon as possible. She commits herself to send the minutes and the presentation shown in 15 days

Kick off meeting

Leonardo da Vinci Project

“Guidance and Counselling

Tools for equal opportunities in the European enlarged labour market”

Pistoia, 29th _{October 2004}

Palazzo Della Provincia, Piazza S. Leone 1 (Blue Room).

Afternoon session

Conference

Welcome Giovanna Roccella, assessore for Employment social labour and Universities policies, underlines the importance of the project on the actions undertaken by the Province to promote Equal opportunities.

She quotes some data on the employment situation of women in the Provinces: the percentage of female employment is 46,4 % within the 25 biggest companie in the Province. This is a positive datum because this is one of the highest percentages in the Tuscany region.

An issue still to be explored, in her opinion, is equal opportunities in career progression and perspective when coming back to work after maternity leave. Women at work:

Employment policies of the Province of Pistoia from a gender

perspective

Mauro Gori, responsible of the Labour service of the Province,shows the audience some data on the labour market for the year 2004 (first semester). Though the general situation is positive, especially as far as employing women is concerned, the trend of conclusions of employment shows a higher percentage of women leaving their jobs rather than men, this makes him wonder about how many of those cases are due to volunteer resigning or are somehow forced by the company management.

Another issue to be addressed is the career opportunities for women, stiil employed in low-medium level roles.

Women at work: Results and new aims for equal opportunities

Marica Bruni, Counsellor for gender issues, describes her role, created by a law dated 1991 but empowered only in the year 2000.

The main aim of the Counsellor is to actively promote Equal opportunities, especially through the activation of legal actions to protect and guarantee women rights at the workplace.

Ms Bruni notes that this role would desrve an increased visibility in Europe, but joint actions are impeded by the absence of a figure like that inmany European Countries.

Women at work: obstacles and opportunities in an enlarged Europe

Maria Ludovica Bottarelli, Italian Delegate to the European Women Lobby, recalls the legal background of EU policies on Equal opportunities, regretting that the new Treaty signed in Rome considers Equal Opportunities a transversal issue, a correct consideration, that cuts anyway the financial resources to specific programmes and actions.

She also recalls the numerous actions promoted by the Lobby to promote the insertion of specific provisions of law to protect women against violence and any type of discrimination

Women at work: Entrepreneurship in the Province of Pistoia

Barbara Lucchesi, from National Union for the Craft Sector and Small and medium enterprises, informs the audience about the situation of women

entrepreneurs in the Province, describing the role of the “sportello donna” a help desk created to provide information and support to women wanting to start their

own business. Women at work:

A successful experience in the Pistoia Province

Daniela Mezzani tells the experience of the Project “maternity and work…an additional opportunity”, funded by the ESF ob.3, measure E.1 aimed at facilitating the enter and permanency of women in the labour market.

The project allowed the creation of 3 centres for education and play for children with flexible time to leave the children. The centres were located in remote areas and have given 4 mothers the opportunities to find a job, that otherwise could have never been accepted.

The Project “Guidance and Counselling: Tools for equal opportunities in the European enlarged labour market” aims and activities

Alessia Planeta, coordinator of the Project describes aims, partnership and actions of the Leonardo da Vinci Project: “Guidance and Counselling: Tools for equal opportunities in the European enlarged labour market”.

She then informs the audience that all of them will receive the project newsletter. In conclusion Ms Inete Ielite, from the Latvian Coalition for Gender Equality, thanks the Province on behalf of the whole partnership and wishes a good joint cooperation