Presentation - Our Activities / 2005 - 2009 Projects

THE RESEARCH "KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL NEEDS INTO THE SPECIAL-INTEREST AND NONFORMAL EDUCATION"

Submitter: National Institute of Children and Youth

Realization Period: May - October 2009

Contact Person: Jiří Chvátal

Project Description
The non-formal education can fulfill different important tasks: from providing and developing competences and skills for which is at schools, it means in the formal education setting, not enough space, through assistance while coping with school requirements till creating an inclusive space, where social groups, which wouldn’t usually meet, actually meet each other. The public tender The research „Key Factors Influencing the Inclusion of Children and Youth with Specific Educational Needs into the Special-interest and Non-formal Education“ is aimed at identification of factors which favor or protect the inclusion of children with physical, mental or sensual disablements, mental disorders or combinated disadvantages into the setting of organizations providing non-formal education. The tender should through its outputs contribute to the more intensive involvement of these children and youth into the realm of non-formal education.

Key Activities

1. Desk research and anticipatory interviews with important organizations working in the given realms.
2. Depth qualitative interviews with organizations.
3. Depth interviews with the children’s parents.
4. Group interviews with the children and youth.
5. Final report.

Further Information
National Institute of Children and Youth.

 

THE RESEARCH "MULTICULTURALITY IN SPECIAL-INTEREST AND NONFORMAL EDUCATION"

Submitter: National Institute of Children and Youth (NIDM)

Realization Period: May - October 2009

Contact Person: Jiří Chvátal

Project Description
The special-interest and non-formal education, contrary to the so called informal education, is currently conceived as a group, institutionalized, planned process, which is accomplished without the frame of formal educational curriculum, whereas the classes doesn’t have to be the only component part of given activities. For this delimitation it seems that it is only a supplement of formal education. Anyhow it is able to consider the formal education as primary and essential, in the European Union is nowadays emphasized the equality of particular component parts of education as elements of the lifelong learning.

The goal of the tender „Multiculturalism in Special-interest and Non-formal education“ is to identify factors influencing the integration of youth from minority groups in the age 12-18 into the specific-interest and non-formal education, either positive or negative, both on the side of the youth and on the side of organizations providing non-formal education.

Key activities

1. Secondary data analysis.
2. Expert consultations with NGOs.
3. Depth semi-structured interviews with broad variety of subjects (primary schools, open clubs for children and youth, centers for leisure-time activities, NGO’s).
4. Group interviews with children and youth from minority groups.
5. Final report.

Further Information
National Institute of Children and Youth.

 

A SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AIMED AT THE ANALYSIS OF FORMS AND CAUSES OF THE SEGREGATION OF CHILDREN, PUPILS AND YOUNG PEOPLE ORIGINATING FROM SOCIO-CULTURALLY DISADVANTAGING BACKGROUND

Submitter: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic

Realization period: September 2008 - January 2009

Contact Person: Karel Čada

Outputs: Download English summary here and English version of the final report here.

Project Description
The aim of the project was to provide an image of educational trajectories and chances of Roma pupils from socially disadvantaged environment who attend different types of elementary schools and compare it with the trajectories and chances of their non-Roma peers attending the same schools.

Within the period of October and December 2008, GAC obtained the data concerning the educational paths of 8,462 pupils, both males and females, selected from a representative group of 100 schools out of 396 schools established in socially excluded Roma neighborhoods. One fifth of all children were of Roma origin. With its extent and method of data collection, the research was the very first representative research focused on the education of ethnical minorities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Key Activities

1. Data collection among 100 elemenary schools that are situated near to socially excluded localities.
2. Survival analysis of educational trajectories of Roma and other pupils attending the elementary schools.
3. Semi-structured interviews with pupil's attending 10 elementary schools.
4. Expert panel.
5. Final report.

Further information
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic.

 

CREATING NEW METHODS IN COMBATING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM

Submitter: The Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic.

Realization Period: August 2007 – March 2009

Contact person: Ivan Gabal

Project description
The project focuses on suggesting organizational and technical improvements in the combat against terrorist financing in the Czech Republic. Its main tasks are to identify risks and weak points threatening Czech republic in the field of terrorist financing detection and in the area of fight against terrorist financing and to propose strategy (and methods) utilizable in solving identified problems, including a proposal of its implementation.

Key activities

1. Up-to-date summary of Czech's republic capability to face terrorist threats
2. Analysis of intrastate documents that sumarize institutional, organizational, and legislative (potential) blind spots in the combat against terrorist financing
3. Proposition and implementation of user-friendly solution concerning the utilization of valid sanctions lists by the security forces
4. Suggestion of methods and instruments for collecting and analyzing informations related to the combat against terrorist financing and other serious crimes

Further information
See The Research and Development Information System of the Czech Republic, identification code VD20072010B17.

INFORMEDNESS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNEMENTS – THE KEY TO SUPPORTING OF INTEGRATIONAL POLICIES OF MUNICIPALITIES

Submitter: The Open Society. The project is funded from the EEA/Norwegian Financial Mechanism by NROS. It was conducted in cooperation with The Open Society.

 

Realization Period: June 2007 – July 2008

Contact person: Karel Čada

Project description
The project aims to ameliorate human rights and fight against racism and discrimination by means of advancing the quality of public administration's decision-making in relation to the integration of Roma minority into the Czech society.
We worked out the analysis of ethnical climate based on the representative survey including population of the Czech Republic between 18 and 75 years of age. Due to the overrepresentation of regions with higher incidence of socially excluded Roma localities the analysis conveyed both differences between regions and differences between groups of inhabitants within the regions where the incidence of socially excluded Roma localities is an important public issue.
Main output of the project is a printed publication distributed for free to the representatives of public administration. It sums up the state of public opinion concerning the existence, causation and possible solution of socially excluded of Roma localities and offers a qualified view utilizable for policy makers. It should help them in the process of policy formulation and of gaining public support. The text was introduced at press conference held on March 5th 2008. The publication is going to serve as a basis for series of seminars taking place in all county seats of the Czech Republic.
The project makes up part of a broader project realized by the Open Society whose aim is to support policy development in municipalities.

Key activities

1. Questionnaire preparation
2. Quantitative sociological research of 18-75 population
3. Publication based on the results of the quantitative research
4. Seminar series in all districts of the Czech republic
5. Press conference

Further information
Please contact The Open Society.

THE INTEGRATION STRATEGY FOR ROMA PEOPLE IN BRECLAV

Submitter: The Town of Breclav.

Realization Period: November 2007 – March 2008

Contact person: Jan Snopek

Project description
The aim of this project was to set up the integration strategy for disadvantaged Roma people living in the town of Breclav. The strategy should improve the educational opportunities and trajectories of Roma children, ameliorate the employment rate of adult Roma population and contribute to the betterment of relations between Roma people and the rest of town's population.

Key activities

1. Analysis of relevant documents
2. Proposal of quantitative and qualitative indicators
3. Six-week data collection based on observation, semi-structured or in-depth interviews
4. Analysis of Roma's population living conditions (housing, schooling, labour market, attainability of social services)
5. Elaboration of integration strategy and its presentation

Further information
Please contact The City of Breclav.

ANALYSIS OF ATTITUDES AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF ROMA CHILDREN AND YOUTHS

Submitter: Nadace rozvoje občanské společnosti.

Realization Period: July – November 2007

Contact Person: Jan Snopek

Project description
The project had two goals: to identify main needs of Roma children and youths in relation to the educational system and to formulate recommendations for targeting the "Transition Facility 2006" grant scheme focusing on children growing up in the milieu of social exclusion. The research was conducted at nine elementary schools sampled according to number of criteria (e.g. measure of ethnic homogeneity or type of educational program). The research had two parts. In the first part we analyzed data of particular pupils, in the second we conducted interviews with employees of selected schools and representatives of local NGOs. Our report identified the crucial points of Roma children's educational trajectories and described causation of their school failures.

Key activities

1. Statistical analysis of data focusing on educational trajectories of Roma children attending nice elementary and special schools
2. Semi-standardized interviews with school employees and representatives of selected NGO's in order to identify factors influencing educational trajectories of Roma children
3. Series of presentations

Project in Media
You can find information from the Czech News Agency (ČTK) here.

Further Information
Please contact NROS.

NOVA AMERIKA COUNTRY CLUB - CREATING PARTNERSHIP NETWORK FOR A PROJECT DESIGN OF NOVA AMERIKA CONGRESS AND PLEASURE CENTRE

Submitter: Nova Amerika Country Club

Realization Period: September - December 2007

Contact Person: Eva Belinova

Project Description
Our main task was to create positive environment for the above mentioned project design. We contacted selected local entrepreneurs, local political representatives, local NGOs, Czech Tourism representatives and regional political representatives to discuss their attitudes towards the project design. We helped them to identify project's benefits for specific entities. We tried to identify as many barriers as possible in order to overcome them within the period of project application preparations. By doing so we intended to create a project proving to be beneficial for the surrounding region, not only the Nova Amerika Country Club.
The project application was submitted to the "ROP Severovychod". We are expecting the evaluation results.

Further Information:
Nova Amerika Country Club

KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM THE WORKPLACES AND FACULTIES OF THE CHARLES UNIVERSITY INTO COMMERCIAL (OR NON-PROFIT) SECTOR – IMPACT EVALUATION OF CENTRE'S FOR KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES

Submitter: Charles University in Prague – Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer. The analysis was carried out as a part of Aim 3 Program.

Realization Period: September – October 2007

Contact Person: Karel Čada

Project Description
Today, knowledge and technology transfer from universities into commercial sector is considered to be an agency as important as education or research. The Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer of the Charles University (the Centre) commissioned IGac with impact evaluation of its activities and with analysis of the environment in which the Centre operates. The analysis covered the inner environment of the University and focused on the consistency of the University in relation to the differences in innovative potential among Humanities and Science faculties.

Key Activities

1. Standardized interviews the representatives of all faculties
2. Workshop
3. Final report suggesting further advancement

Further Information
Please contact Charles University in Prague.

OPTIMALIZATION OF THE KINDERGARTENS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE CORPORATE TOWN OF LIBEREC

Submitter: Corporate Town of Liberec.

Realization Period: June – September 2007

Contact Person: Karel Čada

Reports: You can find the final report here.

Project Description
The analysis focused on kindergartens and elementary schools operated by the Corporate Town of Liberec for it – much like the rest of the Czech Republic – has to solve the problem of increasing disproportion between spatial capacities of its educational institutions and the numbers of children attending them de facto. Based on the demographic projection and complex evaluation of local school system our study made suggestions concerning the development and cultivation of kindergartens and elementary schools in Liberec so that they could adequately answer to the varying numbers of children on the one hand and to the high educational standards on the other.

Key Activities

1. The revision of existing demographic prognosis
2. New demographic prognosis till 2017
3. Standardized interviews with directors of all elementary schools in Liberec
4. Description and evaluation of kindergartens and elementary schools
5. Presentation for political representation of Liberec
6. Press conference for interested public

Further Information
Please contact Corporate Town of Liberec

ANALYSIS OF MEN-IMMIGRANTS' AND WOMEN-IMMIGRANTS' ACCESSION TO THE LABOUR MARKET AND EDUCATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Submitter: The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic. The project was financed from Technical Assistance, OP HRD and conducted in cooperation with "Mgr. Jiri Kocourek – Applied Sociology".

Realization Period: December 2006 – June 2007

Contact Person: Eva Belinova

Project Description
The main aims of this project were:

Key Activities

1. Analysis of relevant research documents
2. Representative research among non-EU countries members in order to obtain information regarding their access to the Czech labor market as well as education
3. Analysis of absorption capacity to design projects in order to improve the situation of non-EU foreigners living legally in the Czech Republic
4. Policy paper summarizing recommendations regarding the improvement of the situation in relation to gender aspects, list of active NGOs

Further Information
Please contact The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

READING: APPRECIATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CZ.04.3.07/3.1.01.3/3100

Submitter: Aim 3 Program, budget of the City of Prague and the Czech Republic. Conducted by four Prague Primary or Elementary schools and a private research company Gabal Analysis & Consulting.

Realization Period: 21. 08. 2006 – 31. 12. 2007

Contact Person: Eva Belinova

Project Description
The aim of this project was to support the role of Primary or Elementary schools in influencing the children's attitude towards books and reading, which is generally constituted by family climate.

Key Activities

1. Active learning methods development – teachers' training
2. Application of the methods – work with pupils within the general schedule
3. Evaluation of the effect of the methods – repeated sociological research, standardized testing (both aimed at the children)
4. Methodology and dissemination of findings

Further Information
Please contact První jazyková základní škola Horáčkova.

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Submitter: The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic, research project "VaV ZVZ-169".

Realization Period: June – December 2006

Contact Person: Jan Snopek

Project Description
The project aimed at the diversity management strategy in the Czech Republic. Its goal was to monitor the level of and the way in which diversity management strategy is used within Czech companies employing foreigners from the "third" countries. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs considers employment to be one of the most important aspects of integration and therefore has been interested in finding out the overall situation regarding the awareness and the use of this strategy as well as its necessary prospective support and possible development.

Key Activities

1. Description of the current situation in the Czech republic
2. Search for the examples of good practice
3. Recommendations aimed at wider use of the strategy in future

Further Information
Please contact The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

QUALITY AND ASSETS EVALUATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR FUTURE REGIONAL METHODOLOGISTS OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES PLANNING

Submitter: Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Realization Period: June 2006 – March 2007

Contact Person: Eva Belinova

Project Description
The project involved evaluation of assets, organization as well as overall running of the educational program for future regional methodologists of the social services planning. It was divided into three separate phases due to the schedule of the educational project evaluated: 1. First theoretical evaluation, 2. Practical evaluation, 3. Second theoretical evaluation. Our recommendations have been used to improve the educational program to reflect the expectations of its participants as well as to design a similar educational program in future.

Key Activities

1. Standardized questionnaire for the participants as well as the lecturers
2. Twelve standardized interviews held with selected participants of the educational program
3. Standardized questionnaire for the participants as well as the lecturers aimed at the overall evaluation of the program.

Further Information
Please contact The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

ANALYSIS OF SOCIALLY EXCLUDED ROMA LOCALITIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND THE ABSORPTION CAPACITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED IN THIS FIELD

Submitter: The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic. The project was financed from the ESF Technical Assistance.

Realization Period: October 2005 – July 2006

Contact Person: Karel Čada

Reports: You can find the map of socially excluded Roma localities here. The publication is here.

Project Description
The main goal of this project was an area survey of socially excluded Roma localities in the Czech Republic as well as an identification of absorption capacity of participants (institutions as well as individuals) acting in the neighbourhood of these localities. As a result a concept of different attitude toward this major Czech social problem (possible reduction of social exclusion and integration support) has been drafted that helps the municipalities to tackle it. The Ministry has used the results of the analysis for further ESF aid location in the programming period 2007-2013 and for the proposal of a long-term concept of Roma integration in the Czech Republic.

Key Activities

1. Analysis of existing relevant studies and documents, information gained directly from the participants (state administration, local government, NGOs)
2. Area survey of the socially excluded localities
3. Depth probes in 20 typologically and territorially representative localities
4. Final Conference

Further Information
Please contact The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

Submitter: The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Realization Period: July – November 2005

Contact Person: Eva Belinova

Project Description
The main goal of this project was to map existing providers of social services aimed at domestic violence victims. The research was divided into two phases. The results have been used by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic to improve its grant schemes.

Key Activities

1. Gathering of contact information from available resources (internet, Yellow Pages, relevant Ministries of the Czech republic, regional governments, existing leading NGOs specialized in domestic violence) with the aim to create a contact database
2. Semi-structured interviews with selected relevant representatives of regional authorities in order to gather information about local availability of social services for domestic violence victims
3. Semi-structured interviews with selected providers of above mentioned services in order to get opinion on their quality and their innovative procedures

Further Information
Please contact The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION – IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGY IN THE SELECTED MUNICIPALITIES

Submitter: The Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic

Realization Period: July – October 2005

Contact Person: Eva Belinova

Project Description
The project was an analytical research aimed at mapping implementation of the National Strategy of Environmental Education in the selected municipalities of the Czech Republic (NUTS IV level). It was conducted in three main phases: 1. Role of the NUTS IV municipalities in environmental education from the regional authorities' point of view, 2. Selection of the interviewed NUTS IV municipalities, 3. Selection of the relevant NUTS IV civil servants for semi-structured interviews. The output of this analytical study has allowed the Ministry of Environment to define initial level of environmental education in the Czech Republic before the initiation of Operational Program of Human Resources Development projects.

Key Activities

1. Analysis of the role exercised by municipalities in environmental education
2. Semi-structured interviews

Further Information
Please contact The Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic.

COMPLEX OF SOCIOLOGIC RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION ON THE EU ISSUE

Submitter: The Government of the Czech Republic.

Realization Period: 2005

Contact Person: Ivan Gabal

Project Description
The goal of this project was to gain complex, valid and representative analytic output and socio-demographic data to define a suitable and effectively directed (in regard of the identified target groups) communication strategy on the EU in the Czech Republic.

Key Activities

1. Secondary analysis of accessible data from the public opinion poll
2. In-depth interviews with selected politicians, entrepreneurs and regional personalities concerning the EU
3. Representative in-depth study and analysis of the public opinion of the EU.

Further Information
Please Contact The Government of the Czech Republic.

TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY FROM WORKPLACES AND FACULTIES OF THE CHARLES UNIVERSITY INTO COMMERCIAL (OR NON-PROFIT) SECTOR – ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS AND PROPOSAL OF MARKETING PRINCIPLES

Submitter: Charles University in Prague – Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer.

Realization Period: October – December 2005

Contact Person: Karel Čada

Project Description
The originating Centre for Transfer of Knowledge and Technology of the Charles University commissioned the IGac with analysis of an environment of Centre's future operations. Our analysis covered the inner environment of the University, its faculties (a potential supply side) and the outer environment of the potential users of the knowledge and technology produced by the University (a potential demand side). The analysis focused on the identification of opportunities and barriers that could affect the functioning of the Centre and suggested ways of optimization of its work as well as the strategy for overcoming identified barriers.

Further Information
Please contact Charles University in Prague.