1. Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growt h Regional Coordination Meeting, Brussels, 31 March Remus PRICOPIE, Chair of the TF BHC of RCC

2. RCC Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital: Summary: 1) Overall objective of initiative 2) Membership and structure 3) Main activities and achievements 4) Value added of regional programme to national efforts 5) Relevance to Europe 2020 objectives of smart, sustainable, inclusive growth 6) Key Challenges facing initiative/sector 7) Planned Activities 8) Finance – secured and funding gap

3. 1)Overall objective of initiative The aim of the Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital is to promote coherence and coordination between education, research and science by creating a platform for dialogue and cooperation of actors involved in these sectors. The subsequent goal is to maximize the benefits of investment in human capital development through its contribution to sustainable economic and social development by ensuring coherence with other actions promoted at regional and national level.

4. The mandate of the Task Force includes in particular the following: Raising awareness on the importance of education, higher education and research Agenda setting in these policy areas Promotion of regular dialogue, information exchange and coordination of activities Coordination with other priority areas of the RCC Promotion of priorities, partnerships and activities in line with the Memorandum of Understanding from Istanbul, as well as the priority of fostering an building human capital of the RCC.

5. 2) Membership and structure Membership of the Task Force comprises of Members of the RCC Board, the Secretary General of the RCC, the signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministers responsible for Education, Science and Research in South Eastern Europe signed in Istanbul on 4 May 2007 (Istanbul MoU), the Task Force Education and Youth (TFEY), the Members of the Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) and the Members of the Steering Platform on Research for Western Balkan Countries. C haired by Romania and Co-Chaired by Austria and Croatia T he Secretariat is currently located in Vienna

6. 3) Main activities and achievements: Conference on Fostering and Building Human Capital for Sustainable Knowledge Societies in South Eastern Europe (Bucharest, 6-7 March 2009) - was attended by more than 200 decision- makers and representatives from numerous European institutions. Mobility programme for capacity building in regional cooperation - through which short-term placements of middle-level civil servants are organized at relevant institutions in the region and which contributes to sustainable development of capacities and know-how. Regional workshop on Evidence Based Policy Making" (Vienna, 9-10 November 2009) – organized by KulturKontakt Austria, the OECD and the ERI SEE under the umbrella of the TFBHC and offered a platform to continue the discussion process initiated in Bucharest. Meeting of Senior Officials from the Istanbul MoU Region on Overcoming the economic crisis: The role of human capital development (Zagreb, 18 November 2009) – offered a platform for discussion on the identification of possible regional project ideas. Regional Workshop for Senior Officials and Experts on Cooperation around Clusters of Knowledge as a kick-off event for cluster cooperation (Sarajevo, 14 – 15 December 2010) - enabled a platform for discussion on existing cluster proposals in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET) and National Qualification Framework (NQF) development. Exchange of information through a TFBHC website and eNewsletter

7. 4) Value added of regional programme to national efforts – by the ongoing projects, which support the exchange of information on different policy options and help the advancement of the reforms of the national educational & training systems: Mobility programme for capacity building in regional cooperation: - Launched in 2008 with 13 participants thus far from SEE ministries responsible for education, science and research - Due to the growing interest of the participants and the institutions for the Mobility program even more applicants are expected this year - In 2011, 18 hosting week grants will be awarded for placements in 7 different cities and more than 20 institutions Regional Clusters of Knowledge, in close cooperation with the Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe – ERI SEE: - in view of creating a platform for mutual learning, disseminating examples of good practice, increasing quality and performance, bridging the shortage of expertise and supporting reforms in national education and training systems overall - to intensify regional cooperation and to identify and develop concrete regional project proposals to enhance coherence between different approaches in the region on common themes of interest: a) Modernizing the Vocational Education and Training (VET) System – improving performance, quality and attractiveness of VET - under the lead of Romania b) Development of National Qualification Frameworks - under the lead of Croatia c) Evidence Based Policy Making in Education: Turning Research into Practice – Learning from PISA - under the lead of Serbia

8. 5) Relevance to Europe 2020 objectives of smart, sustainable, inclusive growth - The convergence with EU strategy (Current developments /ongoing activities underline TF BHC commitment to the European objectives laid down in EU 2020 Strategy) -One of the aims of the TB BHC is enhancing cooperation for developing knowledge based societies by promoting the knowledge triangle as a key driver in fields such as the Strategic Framework Education and Training 2020, Bologna process and follow-ups and the European Research area - which could help to fulfill one of the EU 2020 Strategys priorities: creating value by basing growth on knowledge. -Building human capital has a crucial role in promoting a knowledge-based and competitive society and in responding to the chances and challenges of this fast changing world. -Building successful human capital represents one of the main reasons for adapting education and training programmes to labour market needs, as well as avoiding, in the future, economic and financial crisis similar to the one that Europe recently underwent.

9. 6) Key Challenges facing initiative/sector: The need to: Further strengthening regional, but also sub-regional cooperation structures in SEE, in particular through cluster cooperation Fostering dialogue among EU member states and SEE partner countries (policy dialogue, peer learning activities) Facilitating enhanced dialogue between regional initiatives and task forces, which are involved in the same field of action, in view of creating a platform for mutual learning, disseminating examples of best practice and avoiding overlapping activities Fostering regional cooperation structures in the field of education through EU programs and instruments (e.g. Multi-beneficiary IPA) with a view to highlighting the importance of education, science and research on national levels and facilitating respective agenda setting Progressively including SEE countries into the EU cooperation framework and networks (e.g. Open Method of Coordination, Eurydice, Lifelong Learning Programme/Erasmus Mundus) is of high importance for the region in view of better using scarce resources, benefiting from the flexible and rich in outcome cooperation mechanisms, reinforcing focus on regional Multi-Beneficiary IPA cooperation and furthering innovation in education and training

10. 7) Planned Activities - Ongoing projects: Mobility programme for capacity building in regional cooperation Regional Clusters of Knowledge -Conference on the topic Which forces are driving SEE? Ideas and action for European Integration and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth through human capital development (timeframe: beginning of 2012) The aim is to approach and further reflect on common challenges in human capital development, especially in times of a fragile economic situation and the advancing EU integration process. In this regard the conference shall provide support to the Western Balkans 2020 process under the umbrella of the RCC. Expected outcomes: providing a continued forum for debate; stimulating innovative and concrete proposals for future strategic and sustainable cooperation activities; furthering close cooperation and exchange with relevant regional networks and projects; influencing national and European policies in the SEE region in view of increasing investments in human capital and moving policy making from a fragmented approach of education, vocational education and training, higher education and research to a comprehensive approach.

11. 8)Finance – secured and funding gap Total budget for 2010 (in EUR): 110.500 Planned budget for 2011 (in EUR): 176.000 Budget needed in 2012: - TF Secretariat (to be covered by Chairmanship countries) - TF 2020 conference: 50.000 - Mobility Programme: 20.000 - Regional TF Cluster and peer-learning activities (VET, NQF, Evidence-based policy etc.), in cooperation with ERI SEE: 100.000 Raising awareness for the importance of education, higher education, research and science, in order to reach an adequate level of funding.