The participants in this consortium have been partners in various successful educational and research projects. The partners in the consortium agree that to increase youth employment continuous improvement of the youth qualification through innovative education and training is required. In the preparation of the current project proposal is used the previous cognitive, educational, scientific and project experience of the partner structures.
FORTES
FORTES is an Italian non-profit company and resource center that operates with schools, training institutions, and other public and private organizations across Europe to implement educational and professional development based on transnational mobility.
FORTES was established in 2002 in Vicenza and became a social enterprise (ISO 26000) in 2013. Its aim is to act in the fields of education, vocational guidance, and training to prevent factors of disease and marginalization and to promote social, cultural, and professional integration. Fortes has also been awarded the “ESC Quality Label” by the National Agency for Youth for the seven-year period 2021 – 2027.
FORTES is alongside young people and adults to integrate education with impactful learning experiences and to support full and informed participation in the EU labor market. The organization assists and cooperates with institutions and companies across Europe to carry out projects which – through continuous learning – foster respectful and sustainable economic development and strengthen their relationships with the education sector’s stakeholders, thus allowing them to effectively design and implement their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Over the years FORTES has gained broad experience in managing projects in the field of employability at the EU level and is currently implementing innovative tools to promote digital and green skills in vocational training and to break down barriers to employment for individuals with SEN and disabilities.
FORTES headquarters is in Vicenza, a highly specialized and competitive manufacturing area, mostly made of SMEs and in the Mechatronics, Tanning, Jewellery, and Fashion sectors. In the field of Hospitality, Tourism, and Cooking, Vicenza is a shining gem in the UNESCO’s list of treasures, with a strong history, art, and identity which are reflected in the variety of offers (gastronomy with the Mediterranean and regional dishes, itineraries, wellness and welcome, agribusiness and wine).
In the Social field, Vicenza is very active in public and private projects and has a vast and interesting third sector – FORTES is in contact with various co-ops (including the Social Farms) that work in the real market to auto-finance their initiatives and activities towards people with special needs. Furthermore, thanks to the CSR Program, Vicenza is a model of socially responsible management for enterprises.
CRA
The Centre for Research and Analysis (CRA) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization performing public services in the field of the education and science. The mission of CRA is to analyze the present and the prospects of the Bulgarian education and science, to create a network of educational institutions and research teams and through participation in joint national and international projects to work on integration into the European research and education area.
CRA maintains contacts with national and international universities, research centers and organizations in the field of education, science and innovation. CRA is partnering with various government agencies for the implementation of national and international projects and with some European networks such as South-East Europe Science Program (SEE Science), The European Network of Science Centers and Museums (Ecsite), Enterprise European Network and OBSERVAL-Net.
CRA participates in national and European projects in the field of education, science and innovation by performing: expert research, analysis and prognosis in the field of the education, science and innovations; creation of network of stakeholders to participate in projects; dissemination of project's activities and results through media; organization of national and international events (conferences, seminars, exhibitions, science cafés) related to the objectives of the project.
The CRA actively participates and implements projects within educational and research, national and international programs – Bulgaria-Norway, Sparks, ERC = Science², INTREPID (COST Action TD1408), Project FRESH, SUCCESS4AL.
PGSA
PRO GLOBAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION is a scientific association set up in Romania in 2010. The association's main objective is Excellence and quality in SCIENCE, RESEARCH, EDUCATION, INNOVATION in Knowledge.
PRO GLOBAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION published in June 2011 an online scientific journal (Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research – www.reaser.eu). This biannual scientific peer-reviewed journal with the international Editorial Board is indexed in international databases such as SCOPUS, EconLit, RePEc, EBSCO, and Index Copernicus.
PRO GLOBAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION organizes from November 2011 international conferences for academics, researchers, and project experts in education & research, training, and youth. Until present: 6 Editions of International Symposium on Shaping Europe 2020: socio-economic challenges and 5 Editions of International Symposium on Advancing Socio-Economic Research.
PRO GLOBAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION developed and coordinated as applicant 2 Lifelong Learning projects: RO-43-E80-2012-R3 – Young Volunteering for Social Entrepreneurship, Youth in Action, Action 4.3, www.reaser.eu/yvse ; RO-13-E9-2013-R1 – Empowering youth leadership for democracy sustainability, Youth in Action, Action 1.3/2013, www.reaser.eu/youthlead
Currently, PGSA is Partner in 2 Erasmus + projects: “Employing Innovative tools for raising YOUTH organizations’ CAPacity and youth carrier development”, Action: Strategic Partnerships for youth KA205; “CApacity building for success – foSTering youth professional realization and employability”, Action Capacity Building for Youth in neighboring and enlargement countries, Capacity Building Youth – Western Balkans, EAC-A02-2019-CBY.
PRONA
The Montenegrin Science Promotion Foundation PRONA, founded in 2004, is the first Montenegrin independent non-profit non-governmental organization. The aims of the organization are to: popularize science; promote scientific research; encourage technological development; perform the international exchange of researchers and students; affirming the young scientific talents; enhance the information in the art by the appropriate form of media; make topical application of scientific results in practice; organize professional and popular meetings; establish research centers in collaboration with leading academic institutions in the world; participate in international scientific initiatives; support cooperation with Montenegrin scientists in the Diaspora; promote research projects of strategic importance; support for environmental, biotech and medical development projects.
The organization have realised more than 40 projects at the national and several at the international level. PRONA is recognised as the main stakeholder in Montenegro in the field of science education and science promotion. Now, PRONA have a network of alumni around the world who stay in touch and engage as demonstrators for next generations of pupils and students. Hundreds of young people have become inspired to engulf into scientific careers, making the schools a unique form of “science incubators”.
PRONA carried out the Eurobarometer’s public survey ‘Young people and science’ and the first foresight analysis of the science and research activities of Montenegro. Over the past years, PRONA has run dozens of projects in the field of science promotion, which have become regular activities – 20 Science Festivals, 24 Summer Research Schools for Young Talents, 7 International Scientific Conferences, 10 IBSE Seminars for Teachers, etc.
Udruzenje Osvezenje
Association Refresh (Osvezenje) was founded in 2009, informally since 2007. In the beginning, we dealt with small projects, oriented towards the popularization of culture among young people and supporting young artists. Later, with the development of the organization, the focus moves to education and employment of young people in Pirot and entrepreneurship.
The goals of the association are: advocacy for the improvement of the position of young people, promotion of activism, volunteerism, and self-employment as a way of solving poverty, contributing to the protection of the environment, and affirmation of social inclusion of young people
Mission: Improving the lives of young people in Pirot through cultural content and education, creating equal opportunities for all young people to be educated and employed by respecting human rights and personal dignity.
In recent years the association works on raising the employability of young people by organizing work-based learning programs in companies, as well as by promoting and conducting career guidance and counseling process. A significant part of the beneficiaries of these activities is people from vulnerable groups, Roma people, the unemployed, and groups at the risk of social exclusion. The association has significant capacities for conducting projects in the domain of employment and employability which results in over 2500 beneficiaries counseled, over 100 candidates participating in training and conducted career sessions, and over 60% of participating candidates employed after completing training programs conducted by the organization.
The association participates in several Erasmus-funded projects in partnership with NGOs and Universities from Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, Romania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and others. These projects are closely related to entrepreneurship and employment and employability-raising programs. As part of its activities on mentioned project members of the association have participated in conducting an extensive analysis of the labor market; entrepreneurial opportunities for its beneficiaries in different domains (digital entrepreneurship, agricultural entrepreneurship, etc.); connecting private, public, and civil sector in order to create an environment suitable for the development of entrepreneurship and SMEs, etc.
Our association is recognized by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC as a reliable partner at the local level and entrusted with the role of the Local Partner in the project Education to Employment (E2E). E2E is 8 years Swiss and Serbian government partnership program designed to improve the employability of young people in Serbia.
The team of the association consists of two financial experts with over 10-year experience in writing project proposals and conducting various projects, one sociologist with 10-year experience in education, conducting training and field social research, one law expert with 10-year experience in project management, writing and project implementation, two career counselors experienced in working with young people, conducting counseling sessions.
CCP
The Centre for Competitiveness Promotion (CCP) is an Albanian non-profit organization established in 2011 with scope to contribute in entrepreneurial learning, enhancement of youth employment, development of social business, development of education and vocational training, hospitality industry, improvement of the social and economic status of women and social society.
The main approach in achieving the targeted objectives is establishing a close cooperation with businesses, public bodies, state agencies schools, international organizations, vocational centers, through providing consultancy and services, development and implementation of the programs and projects, trainings, studies, analysis, reports, promotional events and publications.
In the area of entrepreneurship promotion and entrepreneurship learning, CCP has worked in introducing entrepreneurship learning to stimulate and develop entrepreneurial spirit on new entrepreneurs and the consolidated businesses in their commitments by providing training, exchange programs, coaching and other support actions. In this regard, CCP has been the contact point for the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Programme in Albania, February 2016-January 2018, that supported 17 young entrepreneurs are trained and coached in preparation of business plan to preparation of the business plans and 9 young entrepreneurs are supported financially to participate in exchange relationships to become entrepreneurs, working together with host entrepreneurs from EU countries.
CCP supports the increasing of competitiveness among businesses through the business promotion, auditing of the company readiness for innovation, business planning and marketing, investment plan, export promotion and management of human resources, finding business opportunities. CCP delivers training on specific thematic such as strategic business planning, sales and marketing, customer services, entrepreneurship and management of human resources.
GAUSS
GAUSS Institute is a Foundation for New Technologies, Innovations, and Knowledge Transfer. It is established on 15 August 2006 in Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia.
The aim of establishing the institute is through the development and application of new technologies, innovations, and knowledge transfer to contribute to the development of a knowledge-based society in the Balkans region.
GAUSS Institute realizes a vast range of activities and services as promotion of the new technologies and their usage in all components of society; studying the influence of new technologies on the environment and social life; organizing modern professional education and training; organizing courses, seminars, workshops; providing consultancy services; providing services of technology and knowledge transfer; providing technological information and access to innovations; support for finding and obtaining donations for research and development projects.
Our goal is a creation of a knowledge-based society in the region using science and technologies that are eco-friendly and sustainable in the long term.
DIR
The Society for Research and Development (DIR) is a research and development association that entered the register of associations of the Tuzla Canton on November 2, 2005, with its headquarters in Tuzla, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. The basic content of the society is the development, support, management, and implementation of projects for sustainable development of regions and the whole of BiH, initiating and supporting development initiatives in the field of employment and social protection, ecology and environmental protection, entrepreneurship, tourism, civil society, human rights, and minority rights. , science, culture, and amateur sports, and organizing and developing all types of educational work, educational and information activities.
The main activities of DIR are the development and implementation of environmentally sustainable development projects supported by municipalities, the Government of Tuzla Canton, the Federal Ministry of Environment of BiH, the Federal Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mining of BiH and international organizations: REC BIH (SIDA), EU in BiH, UNDPBiH (Introduction of international standards (ISO 9001, 14001, HACAP and CE mark) in SMEs; development of the Action Plan for Environmental Permits for legal entities in accordance with the law on the environment, Education for sustainable development (schools), Industrial capacity development and utilities in the field of wastewater, Development of industrial capacity for energy efficiency, Energy efficiency and RSE in housing and public buildings, Development of industrial capacity for cleaner production, Raising awareness of the environment and natural resources (water, air, land, biodiversity ), Waste management – municipal and hazardous waste, Development of local environmental action plans LEAP, Management small business and entrepreneurship development, Strengthening the capacity of young people for employability (women), Strengthening the capacity of NGOs and areas of the above education.
The main goals of the society are to promote cooperation between non-governmental organizations, government institutions, the business sector, and other stakeholders, as well as to support the free exchange of information and public participation in decision-making related to sustainable development.