Project Title: “Development and Implementation of an Information System for Assessment of Workforce Competencies at Sectoral and Regional level”

Total Project Budget: 8 902 959 BGN

Beneficiary: The Project is in current implementation by the Bulgarian Industrial Association – Union of the Bulgarian Business in accordance with Agreement No BG051PO001-2.1.06/23.10.2009 under measure BG051PO001-2.1.06 “INCREASING THE FLEXIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LABOUR MARKET BY ACTIVE ACTIONS OF THE SOCIAL PARTNERS” within the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development” 2007-2013, co-financed jointly by the European Social Fund.

Duration: 2009-2013

Partners:

• Confederation of the Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria
• Confederation of Labour „Podkrepa”

Overall Project Objective: Enhancing adaptability and effectiveness, as well as balancing labour market demand and supply by developing an information system for assessment of workforce competencies at sectoral and regional level.

Specific Project Objectives:

• Analysing and defining the requirements for the workforce competencies by considering EU, national and sector requirements and standards;
• Establishing a reference sectoral and regional network and updating workforce competencies in accordance with the current and future labour market demand;
• Improving the coordination and information exchange on the workforce competencies’ assessment among national, branch and regional structures of the employers and trade unions and responsible government institutions;
• National recognition and developing preconditions for integration of information system for workforce competencies’ assessment in the future E - government in order to enhance adaptability and effectiveness, and achieving Labour market demand and supply balance.

Major Project Activities:

• Project planning of the management and implementation activities, monitoring, control and reporting;
• Setting up an analytical unit for expertise and analyses on workforce competencies’ assessment;
• Preparation of at least 16 basic studies and at least 60 experts’ analyses and researches (for example reports, positions, etc.);
• Developing a general concept of the information system, indicators, a workforce competencies’ assessment card by sectors and regions, and initial pilot test of sector workforce competencies’ assessment model.
• Preparation and establishing of a reference network, numbering 30 sectoral and regional units;
• Design, development, testing, and implementation of information system for workforce competencies’ assessment including indicators for assessment at sectoral and regional level;
• Conducting training by sectors and regions ensuring development and functioning of the workforce competencies’ assessment information system, including 625 training courses at work place, at least 125 people and organizations consulted and at least 2500 people trained in key competencies;
• Exploitation, development, national recognition, and establishing favourable conditions for integration the information system for workforce competencies’ assessment in the future E - government;
• Conducting at least 20 work forums, conferences, round tables, discussions, seminars etc;
• Preparation of at least 4 packs’ proposals and drafts for legal amendments;
• Information and Publicity Activities.

Target Groups:

• 1500 employers and HR managers;
• 2500 workers and employees;
• Employees of labour market policy and regulatory institutions;

Indirectly, the project encompasses all potential users interested in the information system for workforce competencies’ assessment;

Expected Impact on the Target Groups:

• Identification the degree of compliance with the requirements of the workforce competencies and developing favourable conditions for improving productivity and adaptability;
• Improving the initial selection and continuous competencies’ assessment of the workforce at company level;
• Increasing possibilities and degree of participation of the workforce in the lifelong learning;
• Fostering favourable conditions for improving personal and company career perspectives and enhancement workforce employability and participation in the learning economy;
• Enhancing company activities for continuing vocational training based on an adequate staff competencies’ assessment and identification of training needs;
• Improving employees’ abilities to face the forthcoming challenges related to restructuring of national economy and labour market;
• Encouragement investment in human capital by employers and employees;
• Providing analytical information and forecasts on the needs of qualified workforce at sector and regional level for the purposes of secondary and higher education, vocational training, the identification and management of the labour market challenges and trends by responsible government institutions.

The achievement of project objectives and expected results, including development, implementation, wide usage, and national recognition of the information system for workforce competencies’ assessment will open new possibilities for:

• Improvement of competencies’ assessment at company level with the support from specialised branches and regions reference assessment’s units during the project implementation;
• Establishing new branch and regional reference assessment units and development of competencies’ assessment models by sectors;
• Attracting major sector and regional employers’ organizations and trade unions to develop and use the separate system modules;
• Supplementing new modules and applications for the HR management objectives and processes at company, sector, regional, and national level.
• The effective use of the information system by government labour market policy and regulatory institutions;
• Providing functional compatibility with developing information systems of labour market institutions;
• Development prerequisites for integration the information system in the E - government.