NTF programmes and projects
The section for human resources development policies (HRD) forms an expert base for the execution of new responsibilities of the MoLSA and other state administration bodies, social partners and regions in the area of HRD and continuing vocational education and training (CVET). It proposes systemic changes, develops innovative approaches and methods in HRD and CVET, and supports the putting of changes and new approaches into practice. The section's main objective is to create a "learning environment" and to apply the concept of lifelong learning in practice.
- Implementation and development of a system for supporting strategic management of HRD at national and regional levels
- Development of policies concerned with HRD and CVET
- Preparation and implementation of projects concerned with information and communication support in this area
- Provision of information, methodological and guidance services to national and regional partners
- Implementation of the web portal Topregion - an inspirational databank to support strategic management of human resources development in regions of the CR: http://www.topregion.cz
- Implementation of the project "Quality in Continuing Vocational Education and Training" (together with KPMG, BIVS and AIVD) - a project of the MoLSA within Measure 3.3 of the OP HRD which is one of the pillars of the system of continuing vocational education and training that is under development.
The Employment Unit in NTF was formed in the course of 2006. It was necessary to create a specialised unit focused on employment policy, development of labour market and particularly, on modernisation and enhancing the quality and accessibility of employment services provided to subjects operating in the labour market.
The main unit´s activities are:- Consultations, advice and specialist assistance to the Employment Policy and Labour Market Section of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - surveys, analysis, studies, evaluation and proposals concerning support for employment and tackling unemployment by means of improving the operations of employment services and instruments for active employment policy
- Support for and active involvement in other programmes and projects focusing on employment policy and labour market issues
National Observatory of Employment and Training
The Observatory was set up in 1996 as a research and analytical section of the National Training Fund.
- It analyses development trends in education and the labour market in connection with on-going socio-economic changes
- It pursues research into the quality of human resources as a factor of economic competitiveness
- It is concerned forecasting labour market skills needs
- It provides information about human resources development, collects data, carries out questionnaire surveys (among individuals, employers, labour offices, etc.)
Guidance Services Support Unit
The GSSU was established in the mid-2006 as a result of transformation of the National Resource Centre for Vocational Guidance. It strives to become a section focusing on the development of guidance services in the area of employment and education that are provided outside the guidance scheme operating in schools.
The Unit focuses mainly on the following:
- Support for guidance services that fall within the purview of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs,
- Monitoring the development of guidance services within the purview of the Ministry of Education - particularly those at higher education institutions,
- Project activities in the area of:
- support for the European dimension in the provision of guidance services,
- improving the quality of guidance services,
- Encouraging co-operation between providers of guidance services at national and international levels,
- Dissemination of good practice in guidance.
The ESF section of the NTF is involved in the preparation and updating of programming documents for drawing on resources from the ESF, as well as the relevant implementation documents. The team provide support related to the management and implementation of programmes mainly to departments of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and other entities that are concerned with management of OP HRD and SPD3 programmes and that take part in their implementation via grant schemes and national and systemic projects. The ESF section provides advice and consultations in this area, organises training courses and seminars for the staff of institutions responsible for programme implementation, and for project evaluators, promoters and beneficiaries of ESF resources. It is responsible for administration of three grant schemes within the SPD3 programme for Prague and, since the end of 2006, it has been administering four supra-regional grant schemes within the OP HRD programme (the entire CR except Prague).
CEKAS is a Czech acronym for the Centre for Quality and Standards in Social Services. It is part of the National Training Fund and it was set up in 2004. Based on suggestions and needs of associations protecting the interests of specific groups of users of social services CEKAS supports their activities and offers organisational competencies, expertise and human resources for implementation of projects aimed at enhancing the quality of the users' life. Moreover, CEKAS implements its own educational projects focusing predominantly on introduction of quality standards - mainly in co-operation with regional authorities.
CEKAS pursues the following objectives:
- To serve as a platform for co-operation of the non-government (non-profit) sector, the state sector (Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health) and self-administration (regions, towns, municipalities) via partner projects and other initiatives.
- To facilitate information and experience in relation to the best practices in the CR and abroad.
- To be an entity providing support and guidance to providers of social services in the process of gradual introduction of quality standards in social services.
- To support education and training of experts in quality evaluation in social services and to support supervision in this area.
- To be an implementer or an intermediary for pilot projects concerned with the development of new methodologies for evaluation and self-evaluation, in both fundamental and developing part of individual types of services.
- To do fundraising for the aforementioned areas and activities.
Technical assistance for programmes in the area of social protection
The NTF provides technical assistance to the MoLSA in relation to implementation of projects within the EU Phare programme, Transition Facility and Community programmes. These projects were and are focused on co-ordination of social security, work safety, information systems, equality of men and women and other topics. The NTF co-operates with beneficiaries throughout the project cycle from programming through preparation of project documentation, selection of partners, implementation and monitoring, to interim and final evaluation of projects.