Our Education Center for Nonprofit Organisations together with Matej Bell

Project description:

Two years ago, we have started a new educational project for NGO managers in Slovak Republic. It is a two terms long study “Economics and Management of NGO”. At its birth, there participated experienced trainers and individuals from the third sector, as well as established academic professionals.

Start of the project was based on many researches, discussions on professional and academic ground and consultations with project partners from Czech Republic.

We want our project to continue in this new, in Slovak Republic the only form of education for NGOs. It is a further form of education for medium and top management of NGOs. Similar type of studies exist in almost all countries of Western and Central Europe. The greatest inspiration for us was similar project of NGO studies in Prague, Czech Republic.

The project has already passed its first two years and produced first forty graduates who gained certificate of the Faculty of Economics of the Matej Bel University, Banska Bystrica, Slovak Republic. During these two years, our graduates underwent two terms long study on academic ground, gained knowledge and experience form economy and economics, NGO management and marketing, as well as new trends in the third sector. In our thematic blocks, we hosted lecturers from the Faculty of Economics, professionals from the third sector as well as from the business sector.

We find this year to be the last one of our professionalising study. From the next year on we want it to become an accredited bachelor study. We have already started to work on the profile of a bachelor study graduate, as well as on the curriculum. In the process of preparing the materials we will closely co-operate with Czech and American colleagues (from Charles‘ University, Prague, ROS Foundation, Prague, Scarton, New York, Washington). Guarantors of the transformation process are Doc. Ing. Milan Murgaš, CSc., rector of the Matej Bel University (MBU) and Doc. Ing. Helena Kuvíková, PhD., head of Publi Economy Department of MBU.

There are forty applicants for the third year of the study from around Slovak Republic. We have chosen a group of twenty, based on their written application and individual discussions.

In the third year, there is a complex of three blocks consisting of 200 lectures prepared. They include all basic areas necessary for successful management of NGO. From the original two semesters we prolonged our study to three semesters (terms). With this prolongation we aim to create sufficient time and space for elaboration of final thesis, consultations and internships for our graduates. During the first two terms, our students will concentrate on economy, economics, management, marketing, new trends in the third sector. The group of guarantors renewed three basic thematic groups of specialising two terms long study as follows:

Ø NGO macro and microeconomic introduction studies

Ø NGO management and marketing

Ø New trends in the third sector

Separate blocks will be still lectured by professionals from academic ground and from the third and business sector. Co-operation among professionals from theory and practice ensures the balance of the format. This specialising study is finished by final examination and thesis evaluation. Graduates gain a certificate about graduation from the Faculty if Economics of MBU.

Specialising study is suitable for both high school and university graduates. Under the conditions for acceptance there is at least one year long practice from a NGO in order to secure basic knowledge of NGO management and philosophy among students.

Project purpose

· To offer meaningful form of education focused on economic aspects and long term sustainability of organisation for NGO managers in Slovak Republic.

· To improve managerial skills and experience of participants.

· To improve methodology and structure of new form of education for NGOs – bachelor studies, post-graduate studies, intensive monothematic blocks, professional schools.

· To co-operate with foreign partners on creation and realisation of international educational project for NGOs.

Project Justification

Most of the NGO managers in Slovak Republic are not economists. According to their degrees they are teachers, medical doctors, artists or natural scientists. Organisations which they built exist mainly due to their creativity and enthusiasm. Today, they are managers of organisations who must manage teams of employees and, most of all, they must manage their budgets.

When we realise what are the external conditions for NGOs and their managers in Slovak republic, the issue of their professionalisation becomes urgent. New setting and surrounding is a challenge for those who are prepared to face this challenge.

The structure of financial sources for NGOs has been changing, more often NGOs need to concentrate on self-financing and effective use of sources. NGOs are also more frequently invited to join cross-sectoral projects. After the decentralisation of public sector, NGOs will offer their services in more competitive environment (i.e. social services).

Target group

Target group of this project consists of Slovak NGO managers. These are:

· NGO managers with finished secondary school or university education

· Managers with at least three years long NGO work experience

· Managers who are in charge of projects and organisations

This target group differs in age but shares common interest in gaining new knowledge, skills and experience in managing a NGO.

Project Sustainability:

After our two years long experience we have number of proofs that new type of further education for NGOs was relevant and adequate to the target group needs. Our aim is to improve and extend it more. Team from Matej Bel University offered us a closer co-operation. They expressed their willingness to extend the specialising study into bachelor and post-graduate study. Our experience from the first years, research in educational needs of NGO managers, as well as skills gained from planned internships in Czech Republic and USA will surely contribute to very vivid and sustainable project, which will become a constant part of education and professionalisation of NGOs.

During the next period we want to continue in institutional growth and professionalisation of our organisation. According to official discussions with the rector of MBU, we will further co-operate on and create the profile of B.A. graduate and on accreditation. Accreditation will allow us partly co-finance the study and research in the next years.

MBU also offered a possibility for our organisation to become a separate institute belonging officially to the University. Already during the first year we started co-operation with foreign partners and we want to continue on preparation of international educational project (Leonardo, January 2001). Among other potential donors there will be foundations from all participating countries addressed.

Our organisation plans to cover some costs from own resources, i.e. fees, consultations, publications.

Detailed description of the project activities:

Thematic structure of the study:

Introduction into macro- and microeconomic basis for NGO

Professional guarantor: Doc.Ing.H.Kuvíková,PhD.

(80 lectures)

macro- and microeconomic introduction into the study of economy; identification of basic economic categories and relations; transformation of economy and the third sector; third sector and its role in economics; society and international context; role of the state sector in relation to the third sector; structure of the state sector in EU countries; role of local self-governments in relation to the third sector; possibilities and limits of NGO business activities; contracts; NGO business planning; economic and organisional structure of NGO; NGO capital and its classification; analyses of costs and accounting for NGO; economic processes, costs and effectivness; NGO financial management; chosen application results of competitive politics from EU countries and NGO; tax relations and control of budget; final thesis; methodology.

Lecturers:

Doc. Ing. Milan Murgaš, CSc., Doc. Ing. Helena Kuvíková, PhD., Doc. Ing. Mária Uramová, CSc., Ing. Vladimír Šagát, Ing. Jozef Oravec, Prof. Ing. Jozef Benčo, CSc., Doc. Ing. Juraj Nemec, CSc., Ladislav Briestenský, JUDr. Ing. Eva Hudecová, CSc., Peter Guštafík

NGO marketing and management

Professional guarantor: Ing. Pavol Košťan

(80 lectures)

project management; project cycle; personal management and team co-operation; marketing as a key factor in NGO management; marketing plan for NGO; marketing research; market segments; marketing mix – rules; importance and impact on NGO; marketing position of NGO among competing NGOs; co-operation with business sector; CEE region examples; social marketing; marketing research in NGO activities; elaboration and introduction of new NGO services; management of NGO channels, management of advertising campaign; monitoring and control; NGO marketing strategy.

Lecturers:

Ing. Pavol Košťan and VSA Consulting team, Dr. Hana Svobodová

New trends in the third sector

Professional guarantor: Dr. Juraj Mesík

(40 lectures)

media, NGO presentation, new trends in financing NGO, civic participation, creative law, NGO and legislation, campaigns and their management, community foundations, endowment building, NGO self-financing, history of civic participation in Slovak Republic, other topics suggested by participants

Lecturers:

Eva Bombová, Dušan Ondrušek, Juraj Mesík, Ladislav Briestenský, Ján Hrubala, Ján Roháč, Pavol Žilinčík, Juraj Zamkovský, Beata Hirt, Gabriela Dudeková

Activities:

· preparation and realisation of the firs and second terms - lectures

· term examinations

· constant evaluation by participants

· choice of final thesis topics

· preparation and consultation of the third term of the study – consultations, internships and final thesis preparation

· defense of final thesis and final examination

· short term internships for professional guarantors

· medialisation of project

· up-date of study and resource material and publishing of materials for bachelor study

· publication of final thesis of second year and third year graduates

· preparation of bachelor study, its accreditation

· acceptance of new participants to the first year of bachelor study

· evaluation of project and start of new class

Activities

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Lecture blocks of 3 terms study

Weekend blocks of 3 terms study

Additional lecture blocks

Term examinations

Preparation of final thesis

Defense of final thesis and final examination

Certificates

Preparation and up-date of study materials, publications

Short term internships abroad

Short term internships abroad for prof. guarantors

Evaluation of project with participants

Publication of thesis

Preparation of bachelor study, accreditation

Medialisation of project

Organisational management of project

Contacts

Education Center for Non-Profit Organisations

Education Center for Non-Profit Organisations is registered according to the 83/1990Zb. Law as a civic association. Its mission is to:

participate on the research, preparation and realisation of educational programmes for people working in NGOs
co-operate with local and foreign partners while searching for new forms of education for NGOs, exchange of lecturers, and development of new educational projects
publish study materials for own educational programmes and participate on gaining study materials and other books from abroad.

Education Center for Non-Profit Organisations was founded in September 1998. This process was assisted by the Slovak Academic Information Agency – Service Center for the Third Sector and Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica.

Education Center for Non-Profit Organisations has finished many successful educational projects for NGO managers. One of them is a specialised two semesters long study for NGO managers which has been repeated twice.

Others are summer professional schools – intensive monothematic blocks with actual topics (Financial Management and new trends in NGO financing, NGO Marketing).

Since this spring, the Education Center for Non-Profit Organisations co-operates with other partners on the project of Education for local self-governments with a focus on the local non-profit sector.

While working on the educational activities, CVNO also publishes study materials (i.e. Handbook of resumes from graduates of two semesters long study and books for economists), and realises research and analyses on NGO educational needs.

Although CVNO is still an institutionally new organisation, it is already supported by many extraordinary professionals from the educational and third sector in the Slovak Republic. Its aim is to help non-profit organisations via new educational forms on their way towards higher professionalism and long-term sustainability.

Danica Hullova has been working for the non-profit sector for more than six years.

Since February 1994 till February 2000 she worked as the director of the Slovak Academic Information Agency – Service Center for the Third Sector in the Banska Bystrica affiliate. Since the year 2000 she has been working full-time for the Education Center for Non-Profit Organisations.

During 1997-1999 she had been a consultant for Children of Slovakia Foundation, co-operating Dutch foundations from N.E.W.S. Project (Dutch-Slovak-Nicaraguan Project of Help).

In 1998 and 1999 she co-operated with LSGA (Center of Assistance for local Self-government), as a member of advisory committee preparing the training project „Civic Participation“.

She took part in many training and educational cycles organised in Slovakia and abroad (Germany, Poland, U.S.A., Holland). She works as a consultant and trainer for the preparation and management of projects.

She actively participates in the life of regional NGOs. She is a member of the Regional Gremium of the Third Sector.

She is the author and co-author of many manuals and handbooks dealing with the development and management of projects.

Since 1998 she is the director of the Education Center for Non-Profit Organisations.

Mgr. Danica Hullová

Education Center for Non-profit Organizations
CVNO, Tajovského 51, 974 01 Banská Bystrica
Telephone: 088/41 37 811, Fax: 088/41 37 812,
e-mail: cvno@changenet.sk