Vilnius, 02-03 2011 Prof. Dr. Anca Colibaba Executive President, EuroEd Foundation Iasi, Romania.

Vilnius, 02-03 2011

Prof. Dr. Anca ColibabaExecutive President, EuroEd Foundation

Iasi, Romania

www.inclass-project.eu

(Some) Conclusions of ELAN* Study:

“SMEs in the European Union lose contracts worth several millions each year due to language and culture barriers.”

“The companies affected by this loss of business reported that in many cases they failed to secure contracts worth several million of Euro.”

“Companies can grow their Business by acquiring better Foreign Language Skills.”

*ELAN stands for Effects on the European Economy of Shortages of Foreign Language Skills

in Enterprise. This pan-European study was commissioned by EC in 2006.

(http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/Focus/docs/elan_en.pdf)

While lack of appropriate language skills can be funny…

“Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.”

(Hotel catering to skiers, Austria)

…or puzzling…

”Drop your trousers here for the best results.”

(Dry cleaner's, Bangkok)

“Order your summer suit. Because is big rush, we will execute customers in strict rotation.”

(Tailor shop, Rhodes)

…some can be really damaging for a business…

“Total Quality Qontrol”

(Chapter title from a book about the history of the Garuda Airline, Indonesia)

Specail today : No icecream ( Restauranmt in Belgrade)

“Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 am daily.”

(Hotel, Athens)

BUT!

Is it enough to speak somebody else’s language to eliminate all communication

barriers?

THEN….THEN….

…maximise export opportunities by taking into consideration the…

… CULTURAL ASPECTS AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION ISSUES!

WHO WE AREWHO WE ARE

Institute for Social and Economic Research IRES FVG, Italy(www.iresfvg.org)

EuroEd Foundation, Romania(www.euroed.ro)

 Inno-Motive Nonprofit Ltd., Hungary (www.innomotive.hu)

Semantica Ltd, UK (www.semanticaltd.eu)

WHAT WE DOWHAT WE DO

In-CLASS, the Intercultural Communication

and Language Assessment Scheme supports

SMEs to improve their international

competitiveness.

www.inclass-project.eu

WHY WE DO ITWHY WE DO IT

Companies which undergo regulated communication audit tend to operate more effectively in selling their goods and services into markets where their mother tongue is not spoken.

WHO WE HELPWHO WE HELP

The In-Class scheme helps businesses overcome language and cultural barriers in international trading.

HOW WE DO ITHOW WE DO IT

By:• elaborating and adapting nationally (HU, UK, IT, RO) a Language and Communication Auditing Scheme (LCA) addressed to SMEs;• training LC Auditors nationally• training LCA Scheme Managers nationally (to ensure sustainability)

… and, of course:

• by carrying out LC Audits in Italy, Hungary and Romania

WHENWHEN

The In-CLASS (Intercultural Communication

and Language Assessment) Project (Leonardo

da Vinci - Transfer of Innovation, ref. no.

LLP/LdV/ToI/2009/RO/010) is implemented

between Jan 2010 – Jan 2012.

UEmploy: Consultancy for Employment Inclusion

CONTEXTCONTEXT

… progress made by the EU towards inclusive employment, BUT employment rates for disabled citizens in most European countries remain very low.

… most employers still have no real experience of employing a disabled person

… proactive cooperation and counseling services for employers are needed….

WHAT WE PLAN TO DOWHAT WE PLAN TO DO

The UEmploy project addresses this need …

… by creating a dynamic model of consultancy services that promotes inclusive employment …

… with a strong emphasis on support provided both to employers and people with disabilities.

INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENTINCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT

... locating new job opportunities for people with disabilities, focused on abilities and capacities rather than disabilities and difficulties

… matching individual skills and needs to job requirements

… consultancy services for employers: practical guidance on improved working environments, universal design and creative innovation

HOW WE PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS GOALHOW WE PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL

… carry out state-of-the-art research to identify advantages, legal provisions, services offered, experiences and best inclusive practices with regard to employment of people with disabilities

… develop consultancy instruments (checklists and tools to describe job-specific competencies, support for job matching processes, potential problem identification, analysis of environmental obstacles, provision of employer recommendations)

HOW WE PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS GOALHOW WE PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL

… train consultants

… pilot consultancy processes

… develop consultancy networks and arrange continuous training of consultants

… forge dynamic links with business and public agencies to ensure sustainability of the consultancy services.

WHENWHEN

The UEmploy Project (ref. no. 510784-LLP-1-

2010-1-RO-LEONARDO-LMP) is implemented

between Jan 2011 – Dec 2012.

EuroEd Foundation (Romania) 

1C Florilor Street700513  Iasi, RomaniaTel. [email protected]

Context Learning  (Finland)  

 Laivanvarustajankatu 300140 Helsinki, FinlandTel. [email protected]

Enable Ireland Disability Services (Ireland) 

32F Rosemount Park Drive, Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin Road, Dublin 11, Ireland.Tel. +353 21 429 [email protected]

Euroinform (Bulgaria) 

19 Slavyanska St,1000 Sofia, BulgariaTel. [email protected]

Tudásklaszter Társadalom (Hungary) 

 Zagrab u. 113, 6727 Szeged, HungaryTel. + +36 62 [email protected]

Universal Learning Systems (Ireland) 

 34 Charleville Road, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, IrelandTel. +353 1 838 [email protected]

P7 VATES (Finland) 

 Oltermannintie 8, 00620 Helsinki, FinlandTel. +358 9 7527 [email protected]

The partnership…The partnership…

EuroEd.rowww.inclass-project.eu

www.uemploy.eu