1 August 2024 – The Education, Scholarships, Apprenticeship and Youth Entrepreneurship Programme is being implemented in the 2014-2021 programming period and represents an important step towards strengthening human capital and increasing competencies for the 21st century.
The programme aims to support the development of competencies, to improve the link between education and the real world, to develop support measures for the inclusion of disadvantaged groups in society and work, and to promote the work-life balance. The programme also strengthens institutional capacities for good governance and cross-sectoral cooperation, contributing to the sustainable development of society.
Contribution to Improved Work-life Balance
Under the Education, Scholarships, Apprenticeship and Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, four projects contributing to work-life balance have been implemented with support from the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. These projects have confirmed that the balance of the different areas of life is crucial for the sustainable development of society. Through innovative approaches, cross-sectoral cooperation and international support, significant progress has been made in improving living conditions and strengthening gender equality, which represents a key step forward in the efforts to achieve work-life balance.
IMRO Project
The IMRO project, led by the Slovenian Hospice Society, focused on relieving the burden on working people caring for sick and dying relatives. The project has established an integrated model of care for the elderly, including a day centre, and introduced the Compassionate Company Certificate to foster a new organizational culture in companies. The certificate offers companies new solutions, through measures developed and training, to help them balance the work commitments of an employee caring for a chronically ill or elderly family member at home. In addition, education and trainings have been provided to the working population on informal caregiving and work-life balance. The partners involved in the project are the Society for Cultural Relations SPES, the Municipality of Solčava and Bjerkaker LearningLab.
TERA Project
The TERA project, whose project promoter is the Development Centre Murska Sobota, addressed work-life balance in a rural environment. The project established training sessions on gender stereotypes, traditional gender roles and the challenges of work-life balance, while promoting gender equality. In doing so, it raised awareness of these issues among local and national stakeholders and decision-makers, strengthened the role of advocacy organisations to improve the situation of women in rural areas and promoted sustainable development. The project also raised awareness among the public about the role and position of women and men in rural areas and the state of (in)equality between the genders. Besides the project promoter, the project also involved the Regional Development Agency Posavje, the Gender Equality Research Institute Maribor, the Slovenian Rural Youth Association, the Centre for the Development of Sustainable Society, and the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.
BalanCed Project
The BalanCed project, led by the Centre for the Communication, the Hearing and the Speech Portorož, focused on work-life balance through innovative and holistic approaches. The project brought services to the local environment that strengthen and enrich human resources through the arts, emphasising intrinsic factors such as stress coping skills, efficiency, problem solving and maintaining good relationships. The project promoted more effective time management and the use of external measures of society to support the balance of the different areas of life. A Creative Centre was set up as a supportive environment for employees, allowing participants to engage in creative activities and crafts. In addition, quality childcare was provided, teaching sustainable content. A network of organisations has been set up to support employees, organise childcare and develop competence-building programmes in work organisations, and train mentors for the long-term implementation of the programmes. The partners in the project are the NO PROBLEM ZONE, Institute for lifelong learning, creativity and well being, NOMED, Institute for Independent Media Activity, the Association for Culture and Education PiNA, and the Culture Break Borders.
PROMETHEUS Project
The PROMETHEUS project, promoted by the American Chamber of Commerce, addressed the challenges and issues of work-life balance and gender equality within the organisational structures of companies. The project raised awareness of possible solutions and measures to facilitate the work-life balance of employees. The focus was on addressing the poor work-life balance that often results from differences between genders, parenthood and career structures. The project also focused on improving the knowledge and competence of company management to establish gender-equitable organisational structures and on overcoming gender stereotypes that affect the unequal distribution of responsibilities between men and women. Besides the project promoter, the project also involved the Gender Equality Research Institute Maribor, Merkur, Ltd, Riko, industrial, construction engineering and leasing, Ltd, University of Maribor, Knauf Insulation, Ltd, Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, A1 Slovenia, telecommunications services, Joint Stock Company, AMZS, service provider for members of national automobile association and other users of roadside assistance, Joint Stock Company, and the Norwegian Automobile Foundation.
SOURCE: IMRO, TERA, BalanCed, PROMETHEUS