Post on 26-Oct-2015
East Invest Academy
9 – 14 September 2013
Moldova
For its 2013 edition, the East Invest Academy invites you to a beautiful location of Moldova where you will be able to improve your skills, benchmark with peers and network with business
support organisation managers from the six Eastern Partnership countries.
“Participation in the Academy is a unique opportunity to do a screening of your own work and to set the new priorities for the future.”
TABLE OF CONTENTS
East Invest Academy 3
Learning Format 4
Training Centre 5
Programme Overview 5
Curriculum 6
Alumni Network 13
Application Details 13
“Super Academy! Super team! Super participants! Super course leaders! Amazing!!!!”
EAST INVEST ACADEMY
EUROCHAMBRES East Invest Academy is an intensive training programme focused on:
offering practical tools to review Business Support Organisations’ (BSO) practices,
strategies, services etc.
enhancing BSO executives’ ability to drive organisational growth
networking and maximising exchange between executives from different BSOs
bringing together the network - to find project partners; to benchmark; to sound out
new ideas
The East Invest Academy is a practice-based course designed specifically for executives and
directors from business support organisations from the six Eastern Partnership (EaP)
countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine). Structured around
two core courses and a wide range of optional courses which reflect specific interests and
needs within the EaP BSO network, the programme addresses the challenges and problems
that BSO executives encounter:
responding to changing conditions
developing strategic partnerships and alliances and exploiting new technologies
successfully
adapting to increasing competition
leading increasingly complex organisations
The Academy is a unique opportunity for BSO executives to attend a programme specifically
designed to meet their needs.
Target participants
This seminar is designed for middle to senior managers of local, regional and national BSOs
from the six EaP countries.
You will leave the Academy armed with new, practical ideas that YOU can implement in YOUR
organisation.
“Thank you a lot for this opportunity. It was very useful information and networking. A lot of new contacts. Good luck!”
“I would like to mention that all courses were very informative and I obtained very useful information which help me in my future activity. Thanks!”
LEARNING FORMAT
Course participation
Like all EUROCHAMBRES Academies, this training is designed to allow maximum participation
through debate and discussion. Participation and preparation is crucial. Most courses are in
groups of 25 people except debates and networking events.
Course preparation
You will receive detailed personal programmes with your individualised selection. With the
detailed description of the course objectives, benefits and key chapters comes a preparation
request. Some of the course leaders start to work with you in the month prior to the start of the
Academy.
Learning material
You will receive an individualised participant’s
manual comprising of all the material and
references for each course selected and a
participants’ directory including all contact
details and short CVs of the participants,
course leaders and organisational staff. After
the Academy, you will also receive personal
access to a dedicated Academy Alumni
website.
Course language
This East Invest Academy will be conducted in English. Interpretation into Russian is foreseen
for the courses, but not for the social events.
The Academy will start on a Monday evening and will end on a Saturday morning.
The learning experiences include 22 hours of training, including an open forum and evaluation
session; team work and excursion on Thursday
afternoon.
A tailor made programme
Participants will be able to choose from a set of
optional courses offering practical tools to manage a BSO, to increase organisational and
individual performance; management techniques; financial issues; new services and briefings to
reflect on and adapt to the ever changing environment.
“Thank you. It was a very useful, interesting, interactive Academy. Each course brought added value & experience & many valuable contacts.”
TRAINING CENTRE
EUROCHAMBRES in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova has
identified an inspirational venue ideal for concentration and networking at the recreation centre
located in proximity to Chisinau.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
MONDAY 09/09
TUESDAY
10/09
WEDNESDAY 11/09
THURSDAY 12/09
FRIDAY 13/09
SATURDAY 14/09
9.00 - 12.30
Arrival participants & transfer to training
centre
Core
courses
Optional Courses
Optional Courses
Optional Courses
Departure & transfer to airport
12.30 – 14.00
Lunch-buffet
Lunch-buffet Lunch-buffet Lunch-buffet
14.00 -17.30
Core
courses
Optional Courses
Excursion
Optional Courses
18.00 – 19:00
Welcome event
17:00-19:00 Team
building
Free time Open Forum & Evaluation
session
19:30
Dinner at the training
centre Barbecue
Dinner of local
specialities
Dinner
outside the training centre
Gala dinner &
certificate ceremony
CURRICULUM
The East Invest Academy works with top trainers
and speakers. The Faculty will be composed of
experienced course leaders from the European
partners’ organisations of the East Alliance and
EUROCHAMBRES Academy trainers.
In the following pages, you will find the courses on
offer for this second edition.
The final list of courses will be drawn from this list,
depending on which optional courses are selected.
1. CORE COURSES
TUESDAY
MORNING SESSION
C.1 INTRODUCTION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS RELATIONS WITH THE
EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES
This introduction offers an insight into the European Union, including all the essential
ingredients – history, power and money – and a presentation of the Eastern Partnership.
The course will help you understand what makes the European Union, how competences are
shared between the European and national levels and between the European institutions. It will
furthermore offer an overview on how the EU pursues its relationships with neighbouring
countries before describing the Eastern Partnership.
AFTERNOON SESSION
C.2 ROAD MAP FOR THE BSO MANAGER
Participants will learn the core elements of effective management in BSOs, the need for good
planning and communication and how to maintain a focus on members’ needs while also
staying in touch with policy issues and representational activities. We will examine questions
such as: What makes a good BSO manager? How do we know if we are performing effectively
in this role? What are the key skills BSO managers need to have? What are the key
communication strategies which the organisation should pursue?
2. OPTIONAL COURSES
WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY
The optional courses will be offered from Wednesday morning to Friday afternoon. That is, each
participant can choose five courses, with each course scheduled to last three hours. In applying
for the East Invest Academy, participants are requested to rank their preferred choices.
Please make sure to build a balanced programme, based on your personal needs and the
needs of your organisation. This may result in a number of optional courses being dropped from
the Academy if demand does not justify bringing a course leader for that subject.
I. BSO Development
O.1 Improve your lobbying skills!
This course will analyse the tactics, pitfalls, and options open to BSOs in representing or
lobbying for the business point of view. Having formulated the BSO’s policy on a particular
issue, how successful is your BSO at “marketing” that position to the relevant authorities – at
regional, national and international level?
O.2 Foreign Trade strategies
How are BSOs meeting the competitive challenge of
today’s turbulent business environment? Trade
missions, fairs, advisory services, export clubs, import
associations, language courses, international data
banks, co-operation agreements – this course will
look at what the most innovative BSOs are doing in
promoting trade on behalf of their members and how
they decide what activities to engage in.
O.3 European Trade Policy
This course will allow the participants to deepen their understanding of how the European
Commission, on behalf of the member states, sets EU trade policy. This will be analysed at the
multilateral, regional and bilateral levels with the Free Trade, Economic Partnership and/or
Association Agreements which are being negotiated under the “Global Europe” strategy. It will
furthermore offer an insight into the key milestones of the DCFTA negotiation process and its
implications for businesses from the EaP countries.
O.4 Developing a positive image for your organisation
When you mention your BSO’s name, does it convey an image of a dynamic business
organisation that both champions business and is part of the wider community, or does it bring
forth an image of an organisation that has many different offerings to many different audiences?
In this seminar, we look at how everyone in the BSO has a role to play in the creation and
maintenance of the positive image of the BSO. How we can utilise and manage the different
media streams available and what are the individual skills each of us needs to champion our
work. In a crowded market place, only those who are visible are seen. How you become more
visible and what future developments we need to be aware of are also covered.
O.5 Delivering value including networking
opportunities for members
Both private and public BSOs need to
demonstrate clear value to members as BSOs
face increasing competition from public and
private bodies alike.
These "barbarians at the gates" are challenging
BSOs to redefine our role and position. How is
your BSO affected? What strategy do you adopt?
What are the results from those who have already
reassessed and adapted?
This course will offer insight into developing a strategic vision for your BSO: from mapping out
competition to examining the fundamental mission and core values on
which one can build for the long term.
As a member of a BSO, one of the major benefits for a company is the opportunity to network
with other businesses. All BSOs offer networking opportunities – breakfast briefings, business
after hours, lunches, social events. This course looks at some of the more successful
networking events organised by BSOs in detail, drawing best practices from them.
O.6 Quality management
Many initiatives are being undertaken within business support organisations to assure and
manage quality – including the use of ISO, benchmarking and other mechanisms. Increasingly,
the vital importance of excellent standards and highest quality member services is being
recognised. We have also begun to appreciate the need to sell a quality image of ourselves, to
associate - in the public mind - the terms BSO with “quality”. This course will explore the
initiatives being pursued by different Chamber organisations in different EU countries.
O.7 Development of fee-based services
Besides membership fees, services play an increasingly important role in the budget of BSOs.
Some BSOs generate less than 50% of their budget from services, others up to 70-80%. How to
diversify income? How to define fee-based services? Which new services can generate better
revenue? The course will also look into some best practice to maximise income from
sponsorship and advertising, and will look into “ethical” standards – how far can we go in
“selling” the BSO’s image, should we follow a code of conduct?
O.8 Investment promotion/territorial marketing
One of the key pillars in regional and local
development is the ability to attract Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) as it has clear benefits in terms of
growth generation, creation of jobs, and
competitiveness’ increase. At the same time,
companies may need assistance in outsourcing or
relocating their production facilities, in order to
survive global competition. This is a task that is
normally performed by the national investment
promotion agencies. Do the BSOs have any kind of role to play in this field? What about, for
instance, marketing programmes with the objectives of promoting your region? Is there a new
trend trying to put trade and investment promotion together?
O.9 SMEs & Entrepreneurship – the role of BSOs in making entrepreneurship a reality
Small businesses are the largest segment of BSO membership and one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy. This course will seek to identify best practices, and help you plan and implement a comprehensive SME development strategy for your BSO.
O.10 Female entrepreneurship – how to mobilise the untapped economic potential and
increase BSO membership
What can a BSO do to attract women entrepreneurs as members? How can they support the
creation of business by women and thus actively contribute to fostering economic development?
Based on the longstanding experience of EUROCHAMBRES Women Network, different
aspects of female entrepreneurship will be highlighted and what BSOs can do to reach out to
that untapped segment of potential economic players.
O.11 Relations with other business groups – competition or partnership?
Complementary or competitive? Threat or opportunity? How would you describe your
relationships with employers’ federations, sectoral associations, small firms’ groups and the
very many other business representative organisations that have evolved in the recent past?
This course will seek to identify potential areas of conflict, and how such difficulties might be
overcome.
II. Personal development
O.12 Entrepreneurial Leadership skills
What is entrepreneurial leadership? And what makes good leaders? This workshop is to enable
all delegates to look at key aspects of their own leadership spirit – to look at characteristics and
behaviours, skills and attitudes required to produce an action plan for entrepreneurial
development. Participants will discover the most effective techniques for guiding teams,
mentoring individuals and enabling teams to manage and lead change.
O.13 Improving personal communication in a business environment
Success in business requires a range of high-level communication skills and through this
session delegates are given the opportunity to look at their own communication skills and to
explore ways of becoming a better communicator, leader, influencer and facilitator. Delegates
will take part in a range of exercises and tasks designed to heighten awareness of the process
of communication and take away a set of new skills that can be used immediately.
O.14 Negotiation skills
All of us negotiate every day, it is an integral part of the
working relationship. It can be for something big like a
new project or something smaller like the wording of an
article. In all negotiations the same principles apply. In
this course we will look at how to be an effective
negotiator, how to move past the win/lose scenario and
reach a point where you can find win/win ways of
negotiating. The skills of negotiation are enriching,
reduce conflict in the work place and lead to better
results and better people through better outcomes.
These skills are also transferable to our lives outside of work whether negotiating the price of a
car or clearing up misunderstandings.
O.15 Motivating staff
This course demonstrates some proven, practical skills used to renew staff commitment, raise
productivity and stimulate willingness to change. It discusses the context of the workplace and
how it interacts with different behavioural styles and temperaments. Participants will learn
techniques to communicate expectations in order to achieve mutual understanding and
motivation.
O.16 Anticipation and conflict resolution
This course will help participants anticipate and deal with conflict. It will focus on examining the
causes of conflict; the appropriate styles for dealing with it and communication models that can
help resolve conflicts and build stronger business relationships. The course will show that
conflict is inevitable and can, if managed correctly, be beneficial both at the individual and
organisational level.
THE ALUMNI NETWORK
Since the first EUROCHAMBRES Summer Academy in 1998 more than 1500 Chamber
managers from all over Europe and beyond have joined the Academy. They are part of an ever-
growing network sharing interests, challenges as well as projects and new ideas. This network is
accessible via a dedicated interactive website. After each Academy, each participant can register
online to access the Academy Alumni website with a personalised password and username. On
this interactive website you can search for former participants and course leaders, download
course presentations and exchange ideas or search partners for your projects.
See more details on http://academy.eurochambres.eu
APPLICATION DETAILS
The East Invest Academy is open to executives and directors from business support organisations from the six EaP countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine). Interested applicants are invited to fill in the East Invest Academy application form that is available on the East Invest website and with the national focal points in the six EaP countries and return the applications to the attention of Irina Tikhonova: tikhonova@eurochambres.eu with a copy to after-mentioned contact people in their respective country by 05 August 2013 (inclusive)
Armenia: Mr. Vladimir Amiryan: vamiryan@armcci.am
Azerbaijan: Ms. Elnaz Gahramanova: expo@chamber.az
Belarus: Ms. Victoria Dedock: vide@cci.by@cci.by
Georgia: Ms. Nino Chikovani: nino@gcci.ge
Moldova: Mr. Mihai Bilba: bilba@chamber.md
Ukraine: Ms. Liudmyla Avdievska: lkv-dpi@ucci.org.ua We look forward to meeting you soon!
Any other questions?
Please contact the Academy coordinator at EUROCHAMBRES:
Sophie Devos (devos@eurochambres.eu / tel: +32 2 282 08 72)
Or visit the East Invest website
www.east-invest.eu/en/activities/for-bsos/academies/east-invest-academies
“This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this
document are the sole responsibility of EUROCHAMBRES and can under no circumstances be regarded as
reflecting the position of the European Union”.