Development opportunities for the next generation

TEDx IașiMay 25, 2013

Chapter 1Where Romanian youth stands today?

Youth unemployment in Romania

Youth unemployment in Romania is estimated at 24.8%.Source: ec.europa.eu/eurostat

This rate increased constantly in the last 10 years. Source: ec.europa.eu/eurostat

Long term unemployment was estimated at 58.8% in 2010.Source: European Employment Observatory,

Youth unemployment in RomaniaFinished studies=No job

Higher / Academic education = No guaranteed job

Formal education =Lack of skills that would get a job

Youth unemployment in Romania

The risk of unemployment has increased for higher educated young people, especially in Greece, Italy and Romania. There appears to be a mismatch between the skills acquired in tertiary education and those needed for available jobs.

The Romanian schools aren’t preparing youngsters for the requirements of the job market and don’t have practical skills.

EU Youth Report - Status of the situation of young people in the European Union

Cătălin Ungureanu, Romanian entrepreneur, ZF.ro

Romanian Youth Contrasts

In 2011, only 45,72% of Romanian high school students passed the 2011 Baccalaureate, emphasizing a severe challenge in the Romanian educational system. Still, the average rate of gifted children in Romania is twice the average worldwide.Source: The Economist

The Romanian educational system is, allegedly, extremely challenged and cannot prepare the youngsters for the labor market.

Still, our students are highly praised by renowned universities for their results.Source: Educativa

Although Romania managed to exceed the EU objective on STEM graduates*, being above the European average.Source: EU Commission ReportStill, the IT/Telecom holds the 3rd position in the job offering market and this trend is an ascendant one.**Source: bestjobs.ro

STEM = abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

The Opportunity

Romanian Youth contrasts and the rise of digital economy should be viewed as an opportunity and not a downside. Youth remains one of the greatest untapped Romanian resource and with the right guiding can become the driver of growth.

The digital economy reimagines the way we look at today’s economy and will run the show in a series of fields in the next years. Coaching our youngsters in the right direction is crucial in maximizing the potential of the next generation.

Chapter 2Coaching the next generation

Meet Alina, Andrei, Liviu and Cosmin

“We're about to innovate the way rehabilitation is done.” (MIRA)

Imagine Cup 2010, 2011 performers

Part of the Healthbox Accelerator 2012-2013

Innovation Award at European Innovation Day 2013

Included in Forbes “30 under 30” in 2013

Featured on BBC World Service in 2013

Coaching & Mentoring – A short intro

The COACHING is a teaching, training or development process in which an individual gets support while learning to achieve a specific personal or professional result or goal. 

MENTORSHIP is a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. However, true mentoring is about an ongoing relationship of learning, dialog, and challenge.

The structures, models and methodologies of coaching may be designed to facilitate thinking or learning new behavior or skill.

A shift in educating youngsters

Non-formal education - building practical competencies that serve the market needs*.

 In a competitive job market, today’s youngsters will need to develop additional skills. From digital competencies to hard skills in programming, building a set of assets will become crucial in landing a job.

Non-formal education & mentoring

Non-formal learning (as a strategy for developing life skills among youth), volunteering (as a form for social involvement) and youth work (as an opportunity for enhancing the added value of youth) should be seen as instruments for facilitating the access on the labor market.

Analysis Report and Recommendations for Public Policies & Strategy development for supporting the non-formal education in the educational system, Noi Orizonturi Foundation

Youth in the digital economy  

IT&C = fast growth via digital economy

Needs more specialists…Project managers, developers, engineers

computing cloud devices Data management

…and more skills

Chapter 3Today we’re announcing…

National mentoring program

On career orientation

Dedicated to youth 16-24, with particular focus on High School students

150 Microsoft volunteers, new partners are welcome

In partnership with

IREX and TechSoup, an investment of $100,000 in the first year

Starting September-October 2013, in a Public Library near you