South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (SEECEL) is seeking to set up a list of candidates interested in a fixed term agreement on secondment as:

·Seconded National Expert (SNE) for the development of the entrepreneurial learning at the third level education (ISCED 5/6 level) within non-business disciplines.

Keen on ensuring a more definite contribution of education to their competitive standing, the countries of South Eastern Europe (SEE) have signed up to a number of benchmarks which aim to promote more developed learning economies. Enshrined within the European Charter for Small Enterprise / the European Small Business Act as well as the Oslo Agenda for Entrepreneurship Education in Europe, lifelong entrepreneurial learning stands apart as a specific area for development.

 

In the course of 2007-2008, the National Charter Co-ordinators from the SEE countries took an initiative to establish structured co-operation amongst the SEE countries / pre-accession countries on lifelong entrepreneurial learning and agreed on the establishment of South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (hereinafter referred to as SEECEL). Following the completion of the preparatory phase (during which the Croatian Chamber of Economy acted as a temporary host institution), SEECEL was established in July 2009 as an independent institution under the national legislation of the host country (Public Institution Act of the Republic of Croatia).

 

The mission of SEECEL is to support all participating countries in the alignment of policies and practice in lifelong entrepreneurial learning with those of the European Union (EU) as well as to identify other global models that may enhance the role of entrepreneurial learning in the context of knowledge-driven, small enterprise-dominated and highly competitive economies.

 

There is no clear consensus on the nature and purposes of the lifelong entrepreneurial learning and relevant concept at the European level is only just emerging. As a starting point SEECEL uses the following definition of the entrepreneurial learning:

The following SEE / pre-accession countries are involved in SEECEL’s activities (in alphabetical order):

 

SEECEL’s activities centre on a number of common areas identified through the 2008 assessment of each countries performance on the human capital areas of the European Charter for Small Enterprise. Four strategic pillars will be addressed in the period 2009-2012:

SEECEL's 2009-2012 work programme is financially supported by:

·         The EU - IPA Multi-beneficiary Programme;

·         The Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Croatia.

 

The SEECEL is governed by a Steering Committee(SC). The composition of the SEECEL SC is as follows:

 

An representative of the EC – DG Education and Culture participates in the work of the SC in the capacity of an observer.

 

Entrepreneurship is a major driver of innovation, competitiveness and growth at the European level. Due to their strong presence in key sectors such as services and knowledge-based activities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) today play a central role in the EU economy. In a globally changing landscape characterised by continuous structural changes (including the recent economic crisis at the global level) as well as the enhanced competitive pressures, the role of entrepreneurship / SMEs in the society has become even more important as providers of employment opportunities and key players for the wellbeing of local and regional communities

 

Central to the aforementioned circumstances is the role and contribution of education systems. Traditionally, formal education in Europe, including the higher education level (ISCED 5 / 6), has not been conducive to entrepreneurship and self-employment. The Bologna process can have a positive effect on the way entrepreneurial knowledge is spread. The Bologna signatory countries met in London in May 2007, and recommended such measures as the recognition of non-formal learning, the development of flexible curricula to accommodate student and staff mobility, and enhanced university-employer collaboration in innovation and knowledge transfer. At higher education level, the primary purpose of entrepreneurship education should be to develop entrepreneurial capacities and mindsets. In this context, entrepreneurship education programmes can have different objectives, such as: a) developing entrepreneurial drive among students (raising awareness and motivation); b) training students in the skills they need to set up a business and manage its growth; c) developing the entrepreneurial ability to identify and exploit opportunities. Graduates’ start-up is one of a range of possible outcomes.

 

In general, there is in Europe a shortage of entrepreneurship studies as well as relevant human resources and funding within non-business institutions and disciplines[3]. Available data from some European countries show that the majority of entrepreneurship courses are offered in business and economics studies. However, it is questionable whether Business Schools are the most appropriate place to teach entrepreneurship: innovative and viable business ideas are more likely to arise from technical, scientific and creative studies.

 

There are currently too few professors of entrepreneurship. Moreover, there is very little in terms of incentives to motivate and reward teachers for getting involved in entrepreneurial teaching and interaction with students. As regards current teaching methods, there are a wide range of techniques to supplement lectures as the most basic teaching tool. However, there seems to be a gap between the methods actually used and those that are viewed as the most effective and appropriate.

 

With increasing expectations being made on universities to contribute to local and regional competitiveness, a EC recommends ‘across-campus’ entrepreneurship education in the bid to ensure that graduates generate greater commercial potential from their studies. In that respect, Higher education institutions should have a strategy or action planfor teaching and research in entrepreneurship, and for new venture creation and spin-offs. This calls for the development of an “Entrepreneurial University”, a major change in the culture of higher education institutions, which will be evident in:

Many universities already offer an impressive and sophisticated array of entrepreneurship development activities, but it is not always clear which institutional models and approaches really provide a sound platform for creating and sustaining the “Entrepreneurial University”.

 

Against this background, one may conclude that the area of entrepreneurship promotion in higher education is very much under-developed in the SEE / pre-accession region. Through the European Charter for Small Enterprise, the SEE countries have committed to bring forward life-long entrepreneurial learning, including various issues related to the promotion and development of “across-campus” entrepreneurial learning / “entrepreneurial university“ and university/enterprise cooperation. Between 2006 and 2009, the lion’s share of relevant work at the SEE level has been carried out by the European Training Foundation (ETF), an EU agency. The ETF has concentrated its efforts on the development of indicators for entrepreneurial learning, including the most recent development of a first set of pilot indicators to promote entrepreneurship within tertiary level education. In 2009, these indicators have been piloted within three SEE countries[4].

 

In general, seconded national experts (SNE) should enable SEECEL and, subsequently, the countries involved in SEECEL activities to benefit from the high level of their professional knowledge and experience, in particular in areas where such expertise is not fully developed at the SEE level. More specifically, the SNE for the development of the entrepreneurial learning at the third level education (ISCED 5/6 level) within non-business disciplines will support SEECEL in meeting its Strategic Goal II for the period 2009-2012:

 

In the context of this Call for Expression of Interest, the SNE is an expert in the field of higher education who is employed either by:

 

The SNEs shall remain in the service of their employer throughout the period of secondment. The SNE’s employer shall continue to pay his/her salary, to maintain his/her administrative status throughout the period of secondment and to inform SEECEL of any change in the SNE's situation in this regard. The SNE's employer shall also continue to be responsible for all his/her social rights, particularly social security and pension.

 

Before the period of secondment begins, the SNE’s employer shall certify that he/she will remain, throughout the period of secondment, subject to the social security legislation applicable and is responsible for expenses incurred abroad. The termination of or change in the SNE's contractual status may lead to the termination of his/her secondment by SEECEL.

 

The initial period of secondment may not be less than five months. Where applicable, it may be renewed one or more, up to a total period not exceeding one year. The place of secondment shall be Zagreb, the Republic of Croatia. An SNE shall serve on a full-time basis throughout the period of secondment. The SNE shall reside at the place of secondment or at no greater distance therefrom as is compatible with the proper performance of his activities

 

An SNE shall be entitled, throughout the period of secondment, to a daily subsistence allowance in the amount of 80.00 EUR per man/day. These allowances are intended to cover SNE' living expenses in the place of secondment on a flat-rate basis and shall in no circumstances be construed as remuneration paid by SEECEL. Subsistence allowances shall be payable for every day of the week, including during periods of mission, special / sick leave and holidays granted by SEECEL.

 

An SNE shall be entitled to reimbursement of the cost of travel between their place of origin[5] and the place of secondment, at the beginning and end of his/her secondment. In addition, an SME shall be entitled to reimbursement of the cost of one travel between their place of origin and the place of secondment per each month of his/her secondment. Travel expenses shall be reimbursed in accordance with the relevant rules and conditions in force at SEECEL.

 

Mission expenses shall be reimbursed in accordance with the relevant rules and conditions in force at SEECEL.

 

An SNE shall be entitled to attend training and development courses organised by SEECEL if the interests of SEECEL warrant it. The interests of the SNE, in particular with a view to his reinstatement into his original institution after the secondment, may be considered when a decision is taken on whether to allow him to attend a training course

The SNE must be a national of / be employed by relevant institution (see above, section 3.2.) from one of the following SEE countries (in alphabetical order):

The nationals of the Republic of Croatia are not eligible to apply.

 

To qualify for secondment to SEECEL, candidates should satisfy the following requirements:

 

 

Reporting to the SEECEL Director, the successful candidate will support SEECEL’s team in the design and implementation of the following key activities related to the aforementioned Strategic Goal II of SEECEL:

In carrying out specific tasks entrusted to him/her, the successful candidate conduct himself / herself solely solely with the interests of SEECEL and the SEE countires involved in relevant activities. He / she shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government, authority, organisation or person outside SEECEL. He / she shall carry out the duties assigned to him / her by the SEECEL  Director in an objective and impartial manner.

 

 

Candidates should only apply if they seriously intend to take up the offer of an SNE within SEECEL. Notification of withdrawal from the secondment after selection is unacceptable as it precludes others from this opportunity and is a source of inconvenience to both SEECEL and the EC DG Enlargement (in the capacity of an EU body that awarded funding for SEECEL activities in the period of 2009-2012).

 

Interested candidates are invited to send their applications in English language, including:

·         A letter of motivation;

·         A curriculum vitae (CV) in Europass CV format;

·         A copy of relevant university diploma(s) and other certificates;

·         A letter of intent of the candidate’s employer by which the employer supports the candidate’s application and certifies that it will, in case of the selection of the candidate, comply with the secondment conditions (described in the section 3.2. of this Call for Expression of Interest).

Applications must be submitted in an envelope by registered mail or private courier service at the address below:

South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning

Attn: Ms Efka Heder, SEECEL Director

Ref: SEECEL / SNE – 01 / 2010

Selska 217

10000 Zagreb

Croatia

 

Applications sent by any other means (e.g. by fax or by hand delivery) or delivered to other addresses will be rejected. The deadline for the submission of applications is 22 March 2010 as evidenced by the date of dispatch, the postmark or the date of the deposit slip

Failure to comply with one of the above formal requirements will result in the immediate disqualification of the applicant. The selection procedures will be carried out by the Secondment Committee made up of the SEECEL Director and two members of the SEECEL Steering Committee. SEECEL shall answer all applications. Only the short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.

Upon the completion of the selection procedure, the successful candidate shall, within a framework of 14 days, provide the SEECEL Director with a declaration of the employer supporting the secondment and certifying that the employer will comply with the Rules governing the secondment of SNEs to SEECEL.

 SEECEL’s human resources policies and actions are based on a number of distinctive values / standards, which contribute to making SEECEL a modern administration:

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