1. Božidar Šišević Human Resource Centre, Employment Agency Montenegro Bucharest 7 March 2009 FOSTERING HUMAN CAPITAL FOR LABOUR MARKET NEEDS AND COMPETITVENESS Report of Working Group 3

2. Introduction  The importance of human capital is agreed  So countries should try to invest more  But how can we increase the returns on investment in Human Capital in South Eastern Europe

3. Many questions raised 1.How can we build better links between research, education and innovation? And stimulate university-enterprise cooperation? 2.How can education systems support productivity, quality, efficiency, innovation and creativity? 3.Is education and training provision in South Eastern Europe giving enough attention to entrepreneurship? 4.How can we bridge the digital divide in ICT skills? 5.How can we make better use of the available human capital? 6.What can be done to tackle the specific challenges for South Eastern Europe? Can we identify practical steps? 7.Can existing reform instruments be better used to foster human capital? 8.Where can we find the resources to foster Human Capital Development in South Eastern Europe in particular in the light of the financial crisis?

4. 9073106271814027213 TOTAL MONTENEGRO Unfilled vacanc ies Labour outflo w Number newly emplo yed Labour demand (published vacancies) Municipality The present situation (an example) How far are we a knowledge economy?

5. Employment in 2008 by industries and unfilled vacancies

6. Training and specialization

7. Islands of excellence  ICT: VET sector Romania working with industry on the basis of a real private-partnership  Entrepreneurship learning: European Charter for SMEs => Regional Centre for entrepreneurship learning Zagreb  Business incubators CRO and MAC

8. Ideas for improvement  We need the real picture in the region (e.g. 40% unemployed BiH, but also informal economy),  Need to understand needs of companies and how they behave  Work on the basis of SEECEL to support entrepreneurship education (underway) and training need analysis  Relax barriers for movement of students and young researchers for European cooperation

9. Ideas for improvement  ICT focus on teachers, human networks (but not formal) and promote blended learning  ICT cooperation with industry at national level with education system  Practical placements at universities or practical courses after graduation of universities and schools  Incentives to stimulate enterprises to work with universities and schools  Revive networks of school-university- enterprise cooperation

10. Conclusions  Scope for regional cooperation is limited now but can start with understanding regional situation better  Problems are serious, and ideas not enough substantial to make things moving in the right direction  But we made a start