Competence Center for Circular Economy
Basic information
Project Title
Competence Center for Circular Economy
Full project title
Competence Center for Circular Economy
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
Our initiative aims at preparing students and workforce for the changes brought about by the Circular economy, we want to learn them to understand the system, embrace and plan for it in their domains of professional interest. Since there is significant skills gap we aim to support closing the skills gap between the present skills of the workforce and the future skills in demand for smooth transition toward circular economy.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Municipality of Prishtina as largest municipality with significant impact on CO2 emission.
Municipality of Ferizaj, lately focused on production industry., Kosovo
Municipality of Ferizaj, lately focused on production industry., Kosovo
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The Initiative for establishment of Competence Center for Circular Economy aims to offer an operational pathway to grow out of the linear economy and achieve economic growth, while ensuring prosperity for the people and the well being of the planet. At its core, Circular Economy is a systemic change that needs to be applied in all processes and value cycles and by all stakeholders in the economy. Given this premise, we will try to promote the anticipated disruption in the labor market, as we move from the traditional linear economy towards a CE. Increasingly, new skills and competences will have to support the narrowing, slowing, and closing of the resource loops. Continuous upskilling and reskilling of the workforce is needed to leave no one behind and ensure an inclusive and just transition. In this respect, we consider the need for a lifelong learning system and the significance of vocational education and training to provide pathways to continuous upskilling and reskilling programs. Emphasis is given on developing the basic elements of a proposed framework to facilitate closing the gap between the present skills of the workforce and the future skills needed.
We aim to emphasize at the significant role organizations can play in developing a skilled and innovative workforce and the link with organizational transformation and developing a competitive advantage.
Through the educational programs we will try to outline practical guidelines for developing a workforce strategy based on CE principles. The aim is to align the organizational objectives with the interests and ambitions of the employees and contribute to developing a learning culture. Organizations can attract and retain talent and maintain a skilled and motivated workforce with this approach. The workforce can solve Circular Economy challenges and create a competitive advantage for the organizations in public and private sector.
We aim to emphasize at the significant role organizations can play in developing a skilled and innovative workforce and the link with organizational transformation and developing a competitive advantage.
Through the educational programs we will try to outline practical guidelines for developing a workforce strategy based on CE principles. The aim is to align the organizational objectives with the interests and ambitions of the employees and contribute to developing a learning culture. Organizations can attract and retain talent and maintain a skilled and motivated workforce with this approach. The workforce can solve Circular Economy challenges and create a competitive advantage for the organizations in public and private sector.
Key objectives for sustainability
The key objectives of our initiative in terms of sustainability which we intend to be met are as following:
Identification of a specific competence need relating to a carbon-neutral circular economy and a solution idea with which the competence need can be met plausibly in new ways;
Releasing solutions together with other educational institutions, businesses, the public sector, municipal organisations or other relevant parties;
Offering an opportunity for continual application and provide lessons learned that can be extensively disseminated to other educational institutions, for example;
Creating a network through a membership system;
Creating a life learning competence center in order to ensure sustainability of the initiative;
Minimizing the skills gap for smoother transition toward circular economy.
Identification of a specific competence need relating to a carbon-neutral circular economy and a solution idea with which the competence need can be met plausibly in new ways;
Releasing solutions together with other educational institutions, businesses, the public sector, municipal organisations or other relevant parties;
Offering an opportunity for continual application and provide lessons learned that can be extensively disseminated to other educational institutions, for example;
Creating a network through a membership system;
Creating a life learning competence center in order to ensure sustainability of the initiative;
Minimizing the skills gap for smoother transition toward circular economy.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The key objectives of our initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people are as following:
Creation of competence center which will focus on visibility topics on promotion of benefits of transition toward circular economy, in environmental friendly working areas, in nature where the participants will be in direct contact with the nature.
Introduction of real case studies and presentation of tools which will cover real cases which have shown to be successful in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people.
Introduction of business models based on circular value chains
Promotion of the competence center through eco-friendly promotional material: wooden pens, recyclable papers, tot bags with multiple use, etc.
Creation of competence center which will focus on visibility topics on promotion of benefits of transition toward circular economy, in environmental friendly working areas, in nature where the participants will be in direct contact with the nature.
Introduction of real case studies and presentation of tools which will cover real cases which have shown to be successful in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people.
Introduction of business models based on circular value chains
Promotion of the competence center through eco-friendly promotional material: wooden pens, recyclable papers, tot bags with multiple use, etc.
Key objectives for inclusion
Once the competence center will be established through this prize, we intend to cover initial training within the budget which potentially may be granted, this will help us very much on creation of firs network. We intend to include participants from different sectors: public (local) sector, private sector and civil society. It is important to have all of them included since it is the only way to make the transition happen.
We need to include public sector since they are enablers of the transition through the legal and regulatory framework,
We need to include private sector since they are first implementer actually of the new business models based on circularity,
and we need to include civil society in order to ensure qualitative monitoring the process of transition.
Our main objective is to include enthusiastic people who want to make the change, and select some of them as a Change Agents who will support further the dissemination of the principles and keep going the transition.
We need to include public sector since they are enablers of the transition through the legal and regulatory framework,
We need to include private sector since they are first implementer actually of the new business models based on circularity,
and we need to include civil society in order to ensure qualitative monitoring the process of transition.
Our main objective is to include enthusiastic people who want to make the change, and select some of them as a Change Agents who will support further the dissemination of the principles and keep going the transition.
Results in relation to category
The first step is establishment of the Competence Center and Membership System.
We intend to organize first training for public servants, students and business parties also civil society.
We are planning to select around 10 agents representatives from different sectors through a competition.
Engagement of selected agents in dissemination of CE Principles through in house training and public speeches.
Organisation of study visit in the field.
Expanding the membership network and funding the life learning stream for continual engagement of the agents.
Expanding our practices to other local units through different supporting grants.
We intend to organize first training for public servants, students and business parties also civil society.
We are planning to select around 10 agents representatives from different sectors through a competition.
Engagement of selected agents in dissemination of CE Principles through in house training and public speeches.
Organisation of study visit in the field.
Expanding the membership network and funding the life learning stream for continual engagement of the agents.
Expanding our practices to other local units through different supporting grants.
How Citizens benefit
Citizens actually will be the first who will benefit from the Initiative. Since the very first step which we intend to do is to change the mindset of the people making them responsible for the nature and limited resources we have despite unlimited wishes. Even though there are some people who understand the main challenges of the century as it is climate change, there is a very small number of people who really understand it, since they have no access to the information. They can search but that is only triggered from their intuition, therefore if you offer and face them directly with the challenges they will start to act immediately even in everyday activities.
It may take some time to change the mindset but it is important to activate the change. We are all citizens regardless of the sector where we are involved, meaning that participants and members of the competence center, in the first hand will act as a citizens and will disseminate their concern and tools for change to their circles, our aim is to expand as much as we can the network through the initiative.
It may take some time to change the mindset but it is important to activate the change. We are all citizens regardless of the sector where we are involved, meaning that participants and members of the competence center, in the first hand will act as a citizens and will disseminate their concern and tools for change to their circles, our aim is to expand as much as we can the network through the initiative.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
The establishment of Competence Center for Circular Economy is itself a very new idea in Kosovo, there are no other very specific actions on place in this field.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
System Thinking is the main discipline which was reflected during the initial stage of the initiative, as described, the initiative has no maturity level it is still in idea stage but it is supported by very enthusiastic people who really want to make the change happen, to make the transition happen in first hand.
Methodology used
We used a desc research methodology and direct talks with different stakeholders including citizens.
How stakeholders are engaged
Through a different talks in different events we got the input from different stakeholders that there is a need for establishment of Competence Center for Circular Economy.
Global challenges
Reduction of CO2 footprint
Reduction of unnecessary use of resources
Reduction of unnecessary use of resources
Learning transferred to other parties
The complete system of the competence center through the membership system can be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. Since there will be integrated actually a soft skills in first hand which can easily be transferred if disseminated properly. We as a competence center intend to make a very clear quality check through evaluation of knowledge and competence achieved through our training and life learning events.
