Provincia di Genova
SOFIA 29 Marzo- 2 Aprile 2006
STUDY CIRCLES IN ITALY
Province of Genoa
Province of Genoa: the land
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67 Municipalities grouped in 15
districts.
871,733 people living, 47% males
and 53% females, 601.338
inhabitants in the town of Genoa
Mission, organization and strategies
Regional Government
Province
Represents its communities, fosters their
interests, promotes their development
Municipality
Mission, organization and strategies
Areas:
 protection of the soil and of the environment,
protection of water resources
 roads and transports,
 safeguard of flora and fauna, hunting and
fishing in inland waterways,
 training and Labour Market Policies
 Cultural Policies
 Secondary schools
Provincia Administration Network
the “Community of Communities”
for supporting and enhancing the
value of the Municipalities with a
“global-local” approach.
Labour Market Active
Policies Area
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It aims to increase the opportunities for
contact between citizens, employment
promotion services and job demands
It provides counselling, education and
training to assist people in their search
for employment.
Labour Market Active
Policies Area
In accordance with the ESF and
regional planning, the Area promotes
activities related to:
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Employment promotion and development
Equal opportunities and social inclusion
Local and sector growth
Study Circles: Background
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Increasing adult population for
whom traditional learning offers
may be inappropriate
Increasing needs to facilitate the
access of people with or without a
job to educational individual
pathways
WHY STUDY CIRCLES IN GENOA?
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To support non formal and short
training experiences
To give an answer when training is not
available in the traditional educational
system and is not present in each local
community.
EXPERIMENTAL EDITION: 2004-05
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First call in October 2004
A year after 59 study circles funded (29
informal groups)
Dealt topics: creative writing, hobbies,
civics, local traditions, traditional crafts,
modern technologies, theatre, cooking…
EXPERIMENTAL EDITION: 2004-05
Participants: 458 (298 over 40, priority age)
Funds: 150.000,00 €
Topics
GENDER
men
25%
Hobbies
24%
25%
Citizenship
men
women
7%
15%
19%
women
75%
10%
Modern technologies
Relationship
Jobs
Local traditions
SECOND CALL: 2005-06
The second call contains 4 deadlines: Nov
05, Jan 06, Mar 06, May 06
For the first two deadlines the results are:
- 53 presented projects
- 37 approved
WHAT THE SECOND CALL MANTAINS:
Study Circle is an educational tool for
groups of adults voluntarily meeting for
a common interest, where:
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Participants take responsibility for their own
learning process
Study circle projects can be submitted by
formal or informal group
WHAT THE SECOND CALL CHANGES:
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Introduction of priority criteria
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Reduction of fund for single circle
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Simpler bureaucratic and administrative
procedures
Priority criteria:
Priority criteria:
 Age (over 40)
 Qualifications (low educational level)
 Geographical location (rural and peripheral
municipalities).
Firstly the funds are targeted at projects having
one or more priority. Non priority projects are
funded with a ratio of 1 non pr. out of 3
priority.
Fund reduction for each circle
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from a maximum of 2000€ (first call) to
a max. of 1000€ (second call)
to plan circles capable of carrying out
their activities also with even less
resources
Simpler bureaucratic and
administrative procedures
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The project must contain the financial
planning. At the end the circle presents the
confirmation of the expenses
Introduction of the voucher tool instead of
the refunding of expenses through credit
payment to individual banks account
CRITERIA OF MERIT 1.
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Analysis of motivations (max 15 p)
Evaluation of methodology and clarity of
contents (max 15 p)
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Characteristics of beneficiaries (max 15 p)
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Intergenerational nature of project (max 5 p)
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Willingness by Circles to freely exchange tools
and knowledge with other circles(max 5 p.)
Presentations of the Circles activities to the
Community (max 5 p.)
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Economic needs (max 5 p.)
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Equal opportunities (max 16 p.)
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Information Society (max 4 p.)
Publicity: how to reach priority
beneficiaries
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Organization of informative meetings at local
municipal office and at central desks
distribution of information material at the
desks of decentralised towns, in the major
city libraries and inside the main means of
transport.
A Study Circle: Wangari
Maathai
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The circle was composed of three italian women and nine from
different African countries.
This circle was promoted by an association, Afet Aquilone who works
with migrants.
The aim was to Know the richness of the African traditions through
the personal history of the participants.
The output of the circle is a book which collects the description of the
women’s history. It was officially presented in a public event last week.
Circles support Agency: Città dei
Mestieri -Job Centre:
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Promoting activities e technical assistance for
the presentation of proposals
Monitoring of Study Circles during their
activities: formal documents, periodical visits
of a sample of Study circles, questionnaire for
participants
Periodical meetings with Study Circle
representatives