Ildiko Pataki – NATIONAL CENTRE FOR tvet DEVELOPMENT Regional Consortia an efficient tool for decentralization of TVET in Romania Ildiko Pataki – NATIONAL CENTRE FOR tvet DEVELOPMENT LVIV 25-26 OCTOBER 2017, UKRAINE

Regional Consortia - flash back - the first consultative structure for TVET – proposed and created within the Phare VET program (1998) - The Zonal Committee for Social Partnership Development - before the definition of the administrative development regions; expressed the hope of the very urgent reform of the administration, based on regions ; - The Local Committee for Social Partnership Development – created at county level, where existed elected local authorities, and a huge need for decentralization; The name of ``Regional Consortia`` – was proposed within a Phare TVET multiannual project, aiming at reforming the VET system; since 2003 The last regulatory frames for these partnership structures – is OMECS Nr. 4456 / 8 iulie 2015.

RO Regional Consortia - legal status Education Act Law nr. 1/2011) Ordinance of the Ministry of Education OMECS Nr. 4456 / 8 July 2015. Operational regulations The legal framework for the multilevel governance of TVET in Romania, including the Regional Consortia, is offered by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Education OMECS Nr. 4456 /8 July2015, based and correlated with the Education Act The Education Act, declares the Principles (Art. 3) RELEVANCE (of the education regarding the socio-economic and the personal development needs) DESCENTRALISATION -the main decisions are taken by those directly involved in the processes DECISIONS BASED ON DIALOG AND CONSULTATION The legal framework for the multilevel governance of TVET in Romania, including the Regional Consortia, is offered by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Education OMECS Nr. 4456 / 8 iulie 2015. The Ministry of Education roles And responsibilities are established by the Government Decision nr. 26/2015. The OMECS Nr. 4456 din 8 iulie 2015 is based and correlated with the Education Act (Legea Educatiei Nationale nr. 1/2011) Very important to follow the correlated legislative aspects, at the different level: Education Act: Article 3. Declares the Principles, among them the -Principle of RELEVANCE (of the education regarding the socio-economic and the personal development needs) - Principle of DESCENTRALISATION meaning that the main decisions are taken by those directly involved in the processes - Principle of decisions based on dialog and consultation This is a weak regulation, at the level of principles, but allow the further concretisation of the work

RO - Regional Consortia - legal status 2- key words Education Act Law nr. 1/2011) COUNTY LEVEL LOCAL LEVEL The Education Act, defines the lower levels and key words for TVET multilevel governance. : Article 31/7: MOVES the level of decision from central level, to county level: The list of the VET providers, defined by the County School Inspectorate, based on consultation with the REGIONAL CONSORTIA and LOCAL COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Article 31/1 Establish the decentralized task to the lowest level – regional/ county/local. VET education can be organized … based on the NATIONAL QUALIFICATION FRAMEWORK, according to the labour market needs at regional, county and local level. it is important to have the lower levels defined by the highest / strongest law. Article 31/7: MOVES the level of decision from central level, to county level, concerning the list of the VET providers, schools, that has to be defined by the County School Inspectorate, but based on consultation of the local public authorities, taking into consideration the socio-economic trends of development specified in the local and regional Strategies, managed by the consultative partnership structures: REGIONAL CONSORTIA and LOCAL COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. The general framework for these partnership structures is approved by the Ministry of Education. Article 31/1 Establish the decentralized task to the lowest level – regional/ county/local. VET education can be organized within the Technical schools, based on the NATIONAL QUALIFICATION FRAMEWORK, periodically updated, according to the labour market needs, identified by the strategic planning documents at regional, county and local level. The legal framework for the multilevel governance of TVET in Romania, including the Regional Consortia, is offered by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Education OMECS Nr. 4456 / 8 iulie 2015. The Ministry of Education roles And responsibilities are established by the Government Decision nr. 26/2015. The OMECS Nr. 4456 din 8 iulie 2015 is based and correlated with the Education Act (Legea Educatiei Nationale nr. 1/2011) Very important to follow the correlated legislative aspects, at the different level: Education Act: Article 3. Declares the Principles, among them the -Principle of RELEVANCE (of the education regarding the socio-economic and the personal development needs) - Principle of DESCENTRALISATION meaning that the main decisions are taken by those directly involved in the processes - Principle of decisions based on dialog and consultation This is a weak regulation, at the level of principles, but allow the further concretisation of the work

RO - Regional Consortia nature, mission, mandate – 1 The Ordinance of the Ministry of Education OMECS Nr. 4456 / 8 July 2015 is the frame regulation for the functioning of the RC. (Article 1-7) The RC is a consultative partnership body, without independent legal status, as a support for the NCTVETD and the county school inspectorates, aiming at increasing the contribution of the TVET to the regional development. The consultative role of the RC is put in practice by actions and specific measures concerning the development and monitoring of the regional strategic planning of TVET, and support the general HR development at county level. The general objective of the RC is to ensure through social dialog and expressed public responsibility the contribution to the harmonization of the policies of TVET with the socio-economical needs at local, county and regional level.

RO - Regional Consortia nature, mission, mandate – 2 The consequent specific objectives (leading to concrete actions) are: the social partnership development for TVET; the identification of the needs and the priorities for TVET (qualification domains) ensure the matching between the TVET supply and the needs of the society and the personal development needs of the beneficiaries to increase the capacity of the TVET system to answer the labour market needs, the local and regional development needs, and the individual needs of the beneficiaries ensure the contribution of the higher education to the regional development

RO - Regional Consortia - budget Art.24. the cost concerning the involvement in any activity of the RC, is ensured from the budget of the member institutions, and/or the projects financed by EU funds or other alternative financial resources. From the public budget of NCTVETD ensure the cost of the activity of the regional coordinator ( 1-2 persons / region). Final dispositions: Art.25. the responsibility of organizing the operational activity of the Regional Consortia is ensure by the NCTVETD ( secretariat)

RO - Regional Consortia - composition In each of the 8 development region of Romania the Regional Consortia is established. County school inspectorate; County Council; Employment Agency at county level; The RC ensure the regional cooperation based on the voluntary Cooperation Agreement, signed for a period of 6 years, and the Internal Regulation adopted, in accordance with the General Framework. LCSPD – representing the employers; LCSPD – representing the trade unions; Chamber of Commerce; Universities According to the General Framework for the organization and function of the RC (25 Articles) the RC has a multipartite structure, thus ensuring a balanced representation of each county and the following type of institutions: Regional Development Agency; NCTVETD

RO - Regional Consortia – partnership In accordance with the voluntary Cooperation Agreement, the ROLES of the RC members: contribution to the development and monitoring of the Regional Educational Action Plan - REAP, by cooperating with other regional structures and give support to the county level ( to the LCSPD and implementation of LEAP) Support the county school inspectorate in the decision concerning the number of TVET supply Offer relevant data for the activities of the RC Ensure a good feedback to the sending institution about the activity of the RC Ensure a good dissemination at regional level about the activity and results of the RC

RO - Regional Consortia – good governance In accordance with the voluntary Cooperation Agreement: the activities are organized as plenary session and on working groups (thematic); The President of the RC and the NCTVETD have the role of initiator The College of Coordination ensure the operational management of the RC; The President, the vice-presidents and the Secretariat of the RC, have clear roles and attributes: Decisions are adopted based on consensus (criteria of representativeness) The decisions/recommendations adopted by the RC have consultative role