STUDY CIRCLES IN ITALYProvince of Genoa

Provincia di Genova

SOFIA 29 Marzo- 2 Aprile 2006

Province of Genoa: the land

67 Municipalities grouped in 15 districts.

871,733 people living, 47% males and 53% females, 601.338 inhabitants in the town of Genoa

Mission, organization and strategies

Regional Government

ProvinceRepresents its communities, fosters their interests, promotes their development

Municipality

Mission, organization and strategies

Areas: protection of the soil and of the

environment, protection of water resources

roads and transports, safeguard of flora and fauna, hunting and

fishing in inland waterways, training and Labour Market Policies Cultural Policies Secondary schools

Provincia Administration Network

the “Community of Communities” for supporting and enhancing the value of the Municipalities with a “global-local” approach.

Labour Market Active Policies Area

It aims to increase the opportunities for contact between citizens, employment promotion services and job demands

It provides counselling, education and training to assist people in their search for employment.

Labour Market Active Policies Area

In accordance with the ESF and regional planning, the Area promotes activities related to:

Employment promotion and development

Equal opportunities and social inclusion Local and sector growth

Study Circles: Background

Increasing adult population for whom traditional learning offers may be inappropriate

Increasing needs to facilitate the access of people with or without a job to educational individual pathways

WHY STUDY CIRCLES IN GENOA?

To support non formal and short training experiences

To give an answer when training is not available in the traditional educational system and is not present in each local community.

EXPERIMENTAL EDITION: 2004-05

First call in October 2004 A year after 59 study circles

funded (29 informal groups) Dealt topics: creative writing,

hobbies, civics, local traditions, traditional crafts, modern technologies, theatre, cooking…

EXPERIMENTAL EDITION: 2004-05

Participants: 458 (298 over 40, priority age)Funds: 150.000,00 € 

GENDER

men25%

women75%

menwomen

Topics

15%

10%19%

7%

25% 24% Hobbies

Citizenship

Modern technologies

Relationship

J obs

Local traditions

SECOND CALL: 2005-06

The second call contains 4 deadlines: Nov 05, Jan 06, Mar 06, May 06

For the first two deadlines the results are:- 53 presented projects- 37 approved

WHAT THE SECOND CALL MANTAINS:

Study Circle is an educational tool for groups of adults voluntarily meeting for a common interest, where:

Participants take responsibility for their own learning process

Study circle projects can be submitted by formal or informal group

WHAT THE SECOND CALL CHANGES:

Introduction of priority criteria

Reduction of fund for single circle

Simpler bureaucratic and administrative procedures

Priority criteria:

Priority criteria: Age (over 40) Qualifications (low educational level) Geographical location (rural and

peripheral municipalities).Firstly the funds are targeted at projects

having one or more priority. Non priority projects are funded with a ratio of 1 non pr. out of 3 priority.

Fund reduction for each circle

from a maximum of 2000€ (first call) to a max. of 1000€ (second call)

to plan circles capable of carrying out their activities also with even less resources

Simpler bureaucratic and administrative procedures

The project must contain the financial planning. At the end the circle presents the confirmation of the expenses

Introduction of the voucher tool instead of the refunding of expenses through credit payment to individual banks account

CRITERIA OF MERIT 1.

Analysis of motivations (max 15 p)

Evaluation of methodology and clarity of contents (max 15 p)

Characteristics of beneficiaries (max 15 p)

Intergenerational nature of project (max 5 p)

Willingness by Circles to freely exchange tools and knowledge with other circles(max 5 p.)

Presentations of the Circles activities to the Community (max 5 p.)

Economic needs (max 5 p.)

Equal opportunities (max 16 p.)

Information Society (max 4 p.)

Publicity: how to reach priority beneficiaries

Organization of informative meetings at local municipal office and at central desks

distribution of information material at the desks of decentralised towns, in the major city libraries and inside the main means of transport.

A Study Circle: Wangari Maathai

The circle was composed of three italian women and nine from different African countries.

This circle was promoted by an association, Afet Aquilone who works with migrants.

The aim was to Know the richness of the African traditions through the personal history of the participants.

The output of the circle is a book which collects the description of the women’s history. It was officially presented in a public event last week.

Circles support Agency: Città dei Mestieri -Job Centre:

Promoting activities e technical assistance for the presentation of proposals

Monitoring of Study Circles during their activities: formal documents, periodical visits of a sample of Study circles, questionnaire for participants

Periodical meetings with Study Circle representatives