Conference Presentations by Miltiadis Staboulis
INTED 2023 Proceedings, 2023
The current paper discusses the weight and influence of 21 st-century skills, emphasizing the cha... more The current paper discusses the weight and influence of 21 st-century skills, emphasizing the changing nature of soft skills in terms of labor markets' demands. As labor markets are primarily affected by the rapid technological advances and the pressure of global competition, as well as the recent energy, health and climate challenges, it is apparent that both employers and employees are seeking effective ways to survive, improve and flourish. As a result, recent academic literature and various international reports indicate significant studies on the correlation between human skills and job performance, productivity and reduction of social inequalities. Accordingly, the present paper focuses on two parts. The first part refers to a brief literature review of skills' importance in conjunction with employability issues. The second part presents trifold research in Greece that took place among a) human resources executives, b) innovative enterprises' CEOs, and c) employees, future employees or/and job-seeking individuals. The objectives of the research are to combine the views and experiences of human resource executives, successful CEOs and employees/future employees to form the current landscape of employability and skills in demand and supply in Greece. The methodology was based on mixed methods research, as the study included both qualitative and quantitative data. The research findings include the skillset in demand and supply as well as the soft and digital skills in demand and supply in the current Greek labor market. Additionally, several variables were examined, such as reskilling and upskilling activities, ways of evaluating soft skills, reasons for skills withdrawal, level of digital skills, skills in demand according to employability sector, level of skills in relation to financial and social rewards or promotions, specific skills as an indicator of job performance, chosen and preferred ways of soft skills training, level of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) used and how it affects human capital strategies, etc. The results could be useful for a variety of stakeholders, as they might contribute to the current think tanks, and the formation of functional changes in socioeconomic sections, such as education and training policies or "on-the-job" training policies, whose conceptions are gradually moving from supply-based approaches towards demand-led and competence-based structures. In addition, the conclusions hope to contribute to the coordination of the new skills in demand among employees and job seekers, as they provide helpful information about the most in-demand skills needed to achieve sustainable employability and minimize social gaps. Consequently, the findings concern both the recruitment in HRM and the proactive management of skills within companies, changing the content of HRM duties.
Journal of Education and Social Policy, 2021
This paper provides evidence on the practice of recognition of non-formal and informal learning a... more This paper provides evidence on the practice of recognition of non-formal and informal learning and supports a constructivist approach for the formation of the Mechanism for the validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNFIL) in the case of Cyprus. Since 2012 and according to the EU direction many counties have initiated policy actions for the implementation of a Mechanism for VNFIL. In this paper we present the empirical evidence provided in the context of the project Development of an Action Plan for the establishment of a Mechanism for VNFIL. More exactly, the paper analyses the interviews with stakeholders in Cyprus with the aim to outline current practices on recognition and validation of learning and to sketch the milestones for the construction of the Mechanism proposed by the stakeholders. The paper arguments that the constructivist policy rational that embrace current practices and build on stakeholders' recommendations and even more consensus about required actions is a strong case of a bottom up policy model for the formation of the Mechanism for validation of NFIL. 2
Συνεισφορά σε σύμμικτο τόμο επιλεγμένων εισηγήσεων, 2020
In this paper we investigate the relationship between distrust in the European Union on the one h... more In this paper we investigate the relationship between distrust in the European Union on the one hand and Risk of – poverty and unemployment on the other, since the debt crisis in Europe.
Using data from the Eurobarometer survey we try to establish a link of prevailing poverty and unemployment inside EU and distrust to the EU. The statistical analysis supports the idea that there is a strong positive relationship between higher risk of poverty and higher unemployment at European level and the ratio of distrust to the European Union.
Journal of Modern Education Review, 2020
Το παρόν άρθρο θέτει ως στόχο τη συγκέντρωση και παροχή στοιχείων για λογαριασμό της Γενικής Γραμ... more Το παρόν άρθρο θέτει ως στόχο τη συγκέντρωση και παροχή στοιχείων για λογαριασμό της Γενικής Γραμματείας Ισότητας των Φύλων, σχετικά με τις πολιτικές συμφιλίωσης της επαγγελματικής και οικογενειακής ζωής, καθώς και τη μελέτη των επιπτώσεων της κρίσης στις έμφυλες σχέσεις, ταυτότητες και ρόλους στις ελληνικές μονογονεϊκές οικογένειες.
Στο πλαίσιο ανάδειξης στοιχείων που διαφοροποιούν τη γενικότερη κατάσταση των μελών των οικογενειών αυτών, διερευνώνται μέσω έρευνας γνώμης, ζητήματα που αφορούν στην εργασιακή και κοινωνική ένταξη και την παροχή στήριξης από το ευρύτερο οικογενειακό/ κοινωνικό περιβάλλον, αλλά και τις επιπτώσεις των μέτρων λιτότητας και στον βαθμό που αυτές επηρεάζουν ή προκαλούν τον έμφυλο καταμερισμό των οικογενειακών ευθυνών, με έμφαση στις προκαταλήψεις, τα στερεότυπα και τα κοινωνικά πρότυπα του φύλου, εν μέσω οικονομικής κρίσης. Τέλος, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τα νέα δεδομένα καθώς και τον τρόπο που αυτά προσλαμβάνονται από τα μέλη των μονογονεϊκών οικογενειών, επιχειρείται η διατύπωση προτάσεων πολιτικής ως προς τη συμφιλίωση επαγγελματικής και οικογενειακής ζωής.
3o Συνέδριο Παραγωγικής Ανασυγκρότησης, Πανεπιστήμιο Δυτικής Μακεδονίας, 2018
Αξιολογική Προσέγγιση της ανθεκτικότητας του φαινομένου της ανεργίας στις Περιφέρειες του άξονα τ... more Αξιολογική Προσέγγιση της ανθεκτικότητας του φαινομένου της ανεργίας στις Περιφέρειες του άξονα της Εγνατίας Οδού. Προϋποθέσεις αποκλιμάκωσης των μεγεθών της ανεργίας με βάση την παραγωγική ανασυγκρότηση των Περιφερειών ΜΙΛΤΙΑΔΗΣ ΣΤΑΜΠΟΥΛΗΣ, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής ΕΚΠ, ΠΑΜΑΚ, staboulis@uom.edu.gr Περίληψη Το άρθρο πραγματεύεται τις συνθήκες διαμόρφωσης των μεγεθών ανεργίας στις Περιφέρειες του άξονα της Εγνατίας Οδού κατά την τρέχουσα οικονομική κρίση. Αν και το 2018 παρατηρείται μείωση του εθνικού μέσου όρου ανεργίας, οι προαναφερθείσες Περιφέρειες, με εξαίρεση την Αν. Μακεδονία-Θράκη, καταγράφουν υψηλότερο ποσοστό διαχρονικά σε σχέση με τις νότιες Περιφέρειες της χώρας. Μετά την ανάλυση των μεγεθών της ανεργίας, διερευνώνται ανά Περιφέρεια παράμετροι όπως: δυναμισμός κλάδων και επαγγελμάτων, ποσοτικές συγκεντρώσεις ανά επάγγελμα, απασχολούμενοι κατά επίπεδο δεξιοτήτων, ισοζύγιο προσλήψεων-απολύσεων, χαρακτηριστικά της εγγεγραμμένης ανεργίας, κλπ. Το σύνολο των ως άνω παραμέτρων συγκεράζεται με πληροφορίες για τις δυνάμεις και αδυναμίες των παραγωγικών συστημάτων των Περιφερειών, την εφαρμογή πολιτικών καινοτομίας-έξυπνης οικονομίας και την αποτύπωση του βαθμού εξωστρέφειας. Το αποτέλεσμα της παραπάνω ερευνητικής προσέγγισης διαμορφώνει μοντέλο πρόβλεψης των μεγεθών απασχόλησης και ανεργίας, συμβάλλοντας στην ανάδειξη του μείγματος των απαιτούμενων κλαδικών-κάθετων και οριζόντιων δεξιοτήτων του εργατικού δυναμικού που απαιτούν οι τάσεις ανάπτυξης των Περιφερειών. Λέξεις κλειδιά: περιφερειακές αγορές εργασίας, ανεργία και απασχόληση, κλαδικές-κάθετες και οριζόντιες δεξιότητες εργατικού δυναμικού
Πανελλήνιο Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο με διεθνή συμμετοχή «ΔΙΑ ΒΙΟΥ ΜΑΘΗΣΗ για την Ανάπτυξη, την Απασχόληση και την Κοινωνική Συνοχή», Βόλος 2006, Πρακτικά συνεδρίου, 2008
1ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Marketing & Branding Τόπου. Στρατηγικής Προβολής & Ταυτότητας Τόπου, 2012
Στη σημερινή χρονική συγκυρία ενός παγκοσμιοποιημένου οικονομικού περιβάλλοντος και στο πλαίσιο λ... more Στη σημερινή χρονική συγκυρία ενός παγκοσμιοποιημένου οικονομικού περιβάλλοντος και στο πλαίσιο λειτουργίας υπερκρατικών οικονομικών συνόλων, οι πόλεις και ιδιαίτερα οι μητροπολιτικές περιοχές, έχουν αναπτύξει έναν αυξημένο ανταγωνισμό για τη διατήρηση, την επανάκτηση ή την αύξηση της προσελκυστικότητας τους σε μία σειρά από τομείς. Ένας σημαντικός τομέας είναι και η ποιότητα του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού μίας περιοχής και ο ικανοποιητικός βαθμός απασχολησιμότητας του με βάση ικανότητες, δεξιότητες και γνώσεις που είναι χρήσιμες στο συνεχώς μεταβαλλόμενο, διεθνές παραγωγικό περιβάλλον. Η ποιότητα αυτή του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού, σε συνδυασμό με άλλους τομείς μπορεί να αποτελέσει σημαντική παράμετρο προσελκυστικότητας επενδύσεων, καινοτόμων δραστηριοτήτων, πρόσθετων ταλέντων και επιστημόνων, ενώ μπορεί να αναδειχθεί σε βασικό στοιχείο της διαμόρφωσης του marketing και του branding μίας περιοχής.
Η ποιότητα του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού μίας περιοχής συμβαδίζει συχνά με τις διακυμάνσεις των οικονομικών επιδόσεων των επιμέρους παραγωγικών συστημάτων που εξυπηρετεί. Ωστόσο, παρατηρούμενες νησίδες αριστείας στο εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα της περιοχής (κύρια στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση), μπορεί να προσδώσουν υπερτοπικό χαρακτήρα ποιότητας που δεν συμβαδίζει κατ’ ανάγκην με τα χαρακτηριστικά των τοπικών παραγωγικών συστημάτων. Οι σύγχρονες προσεγγίσεις στην ανάπτυξη της ποιότητας του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού των διάφορων περιοχών δίδουν έμφαση στην εφαρμογή αποκεντρωμένων πολιτικών απασχόλησης, εκπαίδευσης και δια βίου μάθησης. Οι αποκεντρωμένες αυτές πολιτικές απαιτούν την ενεργοποίηση των τοπικών κοινωνικών και οικονομικών πρωταγωνιστών, το συμμετοχικό σχεδιασμό τους, την εξισορρόπηση συμφερόντων και τη λειτουργική τους διασύνδεση με πρωτοβουλίες για τον εκσυγχρονισμό των τοπικών παραγωγικών συστημάτων.
Στη σημερινή χρονική συγκυρία στην Ελλάδα, σχεδιάζεται προς υλοποίηση η τρίτη γενιά αποκεντρωμένων πολιτικών απασχόλησης, τα Τοπικά Σχέδια Στήριξης της Απασχόλησης που περιλαμβάνουν δράσεις για την αναβάθμιση των προσόντων του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού και την ένταξη του στην αγορά εργασίας. Στον παρόν άρθρο, δίνοντας έμφαση στο βαθμό του συμμετοχικού σχεδιασμού, στον ολοκληρωμένο χαρακτήρα των παρεμβάσεων, στην ποιότητα των εταιρικών σχέσεων, στη δικτύωση και στις παραμέτρους διασφάλισης των αναμενόμενων αποτελεσμάτων, επιχειρείται μία πρώτη προσέγγιση της συμβολής τους στη διαμόρφωση της «ταυτότητας» μίας περιοχής.
Gender wage gap is a socio economic reality still exists not only in European but also in interna... more Gender wage gap is a socio economic reality still exists not only in European but also in international labour market which affects all relative stakeholders’ efforts for social cohesion, socio economic innovations, integrity and solidarity economy despite discriminations and disparities. Closing the gender pay gap gives greater profitability to the economy as a whole. This complex phenomenon requires a multifaceted approach to address various kinds of inequalities between men and women in the labour market. Women always have been key actors in employment and economic growth and their skills and talent are necessary for the economic and social development of our societies. However, this is not reflected in their wages and position in the labour market. The underestimation of women’ work and the undervaluation of women' skills is a lost advantage for the economy and for society at large. This paper studies the case of Cyprus by estimating the factors cause gender wage gap and glass ceiling effect through analysing micro data from 2010 Earnings Survey. We estimate pooled quantile regressions with gender dummies, as well as separate quantile regressions by gender, and we carry out a decomposition analysis by applying the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique. Even after extensive controls for gender differences in age, education (both level and field), sector, industry, and occupation, we find that the glass ceiling effect we see in the raw data persists to a considerable extent. Measures and policy proposals are represented for closing the gender pay gap in order to add value and contribute to the development of a more equal and cohesive society which could entrench a social, solid and sustainable economy
Proceedings book of International Conference of new Horizons in Education, 2018
The aim of this study was to examine the rewards for special education staff and its importance f... more The aim of this study was to examine the rewards for special education staff and its importance for their motivation. For the purpose of this study, a focus group of special education employees was set up to determine their perceptions, feelings and thoughts about motivation and rewards in the work environment. The conceptual research framework of rewards was based on Total Rewards Model of Towers Perrin, which embrace everything that people value in the employment relationship. Through the focus group, the rewards that were provided in their work environment and were important for them and their motivation were identified, while those few that were not included were determined. The Total Rewards Framework proved to be appropriate and useful in understanding the perspectives of special education staff on rewards. The findings support the notion that the aspects of conceptual research framework that concern the work environment are the rewards, which are the most important for their motivation, followed by those that concern benefits, learning and development. From the focus group we draw also conclusions for the factors that affect employee motivation and the rewards that were applied. The significance of devotion to the area of special education and the conscious choice of the profession were highlighted by all the participants. At the same time, the focus group participants completed the Motivation Work Scale (MAWS) which is based on the framework of self-determination theory (SDT). According to the results, intrinsic motivation has scored high, whereas external motivation proved to be less important for the participants. In national level there has not been any similar study in the field of special education. The usefulness of the results lies in the fact that the holistic study of the rewards provided and its importance for motivation can provide feedback on human resource management decision making centers, trade union representation, employers and the organization of curricula and lifelong learning. The study can, also, provide a perspective for future research through total reward model long-term exploitation.
Portuguese Journal of Social Science. ISCTE-IUL, 2016
Recognizing the importance of space has been one of the main recent developments in socioeconomic... more Recognizing the importance of space has been one of the main recent developments in socioeconomic theory. Spatial economics and socioeconomic geography open new areas of research and help us to understand more aspects of the multidimensional reality. In accordance to that, there is an intense theoretical debate on the optimal use of nationally-planned or decentralized socioeconomic policies, while recently applied programs focus more on the regional characteristics and specificities. The purpose of the present paper relates strongly to these developments: we present an empirical methodology – based on gravity models tradition – that supports the spatial demarcation of regional markets, productive systems and socioeconomic units and we discuss the thinkable policy applications. Our main focus is on the use of this methodology in setting up an efficiently structured, regional, active labor market policy.
Following a short, comprehensive literature review regarding the applications of gravity models in socioeconomic policy, a normative model for empirical regionalization (MER) is presented: it determines the ideal spatial demarcation based on quantified socioeconomic and geopolitical information. Thereafter, we discuss conclusions of cost-benefit analysis and qualitative evaluations of active labor market policy programs that took place in the previous programming period (2000-2006) in Greece, in order to come up with very specific proposals regarding the application of MER, as an instrument that helps efficiency of regional labor market policies. Indicatively, the existence of significant discontinuities regarding the administrative and the socioeconomic spatial segregation, as well as the lack of flexibility and adaptability, which relates to the missing interconnections of local educational structures and the needs for specialized human capital, speaks for the necessity of an optimized spatial demarcation.
11th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE of ASECU “OPENNESS, INNOVATION, EFFICIENCY AND DEMOCRATIZATION AS PRECONDITIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT”, 2015
Corporate Social Responsibility constitutes a powerful tool for Greek Banks for the development a... more Corporate Social Responsibility constitutes a powerful tool for Greek Banks for the development and formulation of their public image. However, many times this does not conform to socially accepted practices in the management of their human resources. In this current phase of economic crisis and restructuring in the banking sector some crucial issues have emerged. A major one is the problem of supporting and encouraging the employment of elder employees in a framework of practices, principles and values, which embed internationally accepted standards emanated from CSR and HR management. Balancing the public image of banks in relation to a
difficult social reality regarding the issue of elder bank employees goes through the formulation of a consultation and social dialogue system with all social factors engaged. In this article we propose the development of a structured system for public consultation and social dialogue based on a primary research on a weighted sample of elder employees and managers of banks and trade unions. This system will comprehensively address the issue of active ageing in the banking sector
by proposing effective actions and solutions by policy area: awareness, using awareness indicators, maintaining employment and supporting career pathways, combating stereotypes related to age, etc. The proposed consultation system aims to increase transparency, collegiality and quality in decision making processes. The consultation system is governed by the general principles, stages, fields and levels of social dialogue and takes into account the conditions for the development of social dialogue mechanisms. The authors believe that the proposed system is applicable also in other branches (given the necessary adaptations); therefore it provides a useful tool for applied policy dealing the worsening of labour relations in the frame of current circumstances.
JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN ECONOMY Vol. 16. 2 (61). April–June 2017, Jun 2017
Gender wage gap is an European and International socioeconomic phenomenon with a negative contrib... more Gender wage gap is an European and International socioeconomic phenomenon with a negative contribution to the efforts of social cohesion, integrity and creation of a solidarity economy. In national level, efforts for the identification and elimination of the gender pay gap have already started since 1970. Although, the phenomenon of the pay gap was been moderated, it still remains at levels above the European average. The analysis and confrontation of the multifactorial phenomenon requires a holistic approach. Women can actively contribute to employment and economic and social development through the improvement and enhancement of their skills and their general qualifications. However, their skills are often underestimated in respect to their payment and their hierarchy in the labour market. This paper studies the case of Greece by estimating the factors that generate the gender wage gap and the glass ceiling phenomenon through the analysis of micro data from 2010 Earnings Survey provided by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). We estimate pooled quantile regressions as well as quantile regressions, and we carry out a decomposition analysis by applying the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique. The results reveal that the wage gap is mainly formed due to the discrimination of gender (men and women with the same characteristics receive different wages – female wages are significantly lower). Moreover, we approach the glass ceiling phenomenon which is mainly caused due to personal characteristics of individuals.
The International Entrepreneurship: Trends, Challenges, Achievements Eighth International Conference 6 - 9 June 2017, Saints Constantine and Helena, Varna, Bulgaria, 2017
Entrepreneurship has been globally recognised as a key factor contributing in a country's economi... more Entrepreneurship has been globally recognised as a key factor contributing in a country's economic growth and stability. It is directly related with macroeconomic factors like higher aggregate production, employment and exports as well as with social indicators like life satisfaction. This why governments adopt, design and apply a variety of policies in order to promote entrepreneurship. This research focuses in Greece, a country that is undergoing a severe economic crisis since 2008. The country's, GDP shrunk by almost a quarter between 2008 and 2014 (232 b€ to 176 b€), national debt reached 176,9% of GDP in 2015, while unemployment rate currently exceeds 25% of the work force. Furthermore, the country's business environment has many disadvantages and new businesses face a number of important obstacles. The goal of the current article is to present an innovative project whose primary aim is to assist policy planners in designing effective evidence based entrepreneurship and employment policies. By setting up a database that integrates the country's business registry, the salaried employment database and the unemployment registry along with all their relevant information, the research team is able to analyse them in geospatial, diagrammatic and statistical form, in order to draw valuable conclusions regarding each area's business activity and employment. The combination of data and the subsequent analysis, along with the SDSS and Expert system that will be connected with the database, can provide very useful insights about entrepreneurial activity and employment at national, regional, prefectural, municipal and even street level, and can help policy planners to design and apply effective policies and interventions in each geographical area.
Papers by Miltiadis Staboulis
Social Cohesion and Development, Dec 12, 2020
Industrial and Commercial Training, Oct 11, 2021
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the views of Greek Life-Long Learning Centers (LLL... more PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the views of Greek Life-Long Learning Centers (LLLCs) trainers, who worked as educational managers and took on informal mentoring roles in the context of counseling guidance and their trainees (who are adults’ trainers), on the effectiveness of mentoring in the post-Greek Debt Crisis era.Design/methodology/approachThe authors performed a quantitative analysis using the SPSS software package’s simple random sampling. The bibliographic review, the identification and specialization of the research objectives, as well as the study of the participants’ unique characteristics, were used in the construction of a research tool.FindingsThe majority of participants confirmed the importance of mentoring as a human resource strategy. Regarding its effectiveness in the field of the Greek LLLCs, there were several discrepancies in the perceptions of trainers and trainees, as well as specific malfunctions in its implementation.Research limitations/implicationsThe research omitted certain qualitative features and was conducted in a relatively limited geographical context.Originality/valueGiven the lack of similar studies in the field of the Greek LLLCs, this study illustrates the reality of the mentoring function in the training field of adult trainers, after the onset of the Greek economic crisis, while also highlighting realistic ways to improve the effectiveness of these organizations and conduct future, larger-scale research.
INTED proceedings, Mar 1, 2023
The current paper discusses the weight and influence of 21 st-century skills, emphasizing the cha... more The current paper discusses the weight and influence of 21 st-century skills, emphasizing the changing nature of soft skills in terms of labor markets' demands. As labor markets are primarily affected by the rapid technological advances and the pressure of global competition, as well as the recent energy, health and climate challenges, it is apparent that both employers and employees are seeking effective ways to survive, improve and flourish. As a result, recent academic literature and various international reports indicate significant studies on the correlation between human skills and job performance, productivity and reduction of social inequalities. Accordingly, the present paper focuses on two parts. The first part refers to a brief literature review of skills' importance in conjunction with employability issues. The second part presents trifold research in Greece that took place among a) human resources executives, b) innovative enterprises' CEOs, and c) employees, future employees or/and job-seeking individuals. The objectives of the research are to combine the views and experiences of human resource executives, successful CEOs and employees/future employees to form the current landscape of employability and skills in demand and supply in Greece. The methodology was based on mixed methods research, as the study included both qualitative and quantitative data. The research findings include the skillset in demand and supply as well as the soft and digital skills in demand and supply in the current Greek labor market. Additionally, several variables were examined, such as reskilling and upskilling activities, ways of evaluating soft skills, reasons for skills withdrawal, level of digital skills, skills in demand according to employability sector, level of skills in relation to financial and social rewards or promotions, specific skills as an indicator of job performance, chosen and preferred ways of soft skills training, level of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) used and how it affects human capital strategies, etc. The results could be useful for a variety of stakeholders, as they might contribute to the current think tanks, and the formation of functional changes in socioeconomic sections, such as education and training policies or "on-the-job" training policies, whose conceptions are gradually moving from supply-based approaches towards demand-led and competence-based structures. In addition, the conclusions hope to contribute to the coordination of the new skills in demand among employees and job seekers, as they provide helpful information about the most in-demand skills needed to achieve sustainable employability and minimize social gaps. Consequently, the findings concern both the recruitment in HRM and the proactive management of skills within companies, changing the content of HRM duties.
INTED proceedings, Mar 1, 2022
The present paper discusses the importance and influence of skills, mainly soft skills (or non-co... more The present paper discusses the importance and influence of skills, mainly soft skills (or non-cognitive skills or interpersonal and personal skills or life skills or socio-emotional skills or human skills or people skills) and the ways they are being transformed in the recent dynamic labor markets. As employability, in the post-covid era, is largely affected by the pressure of global competition together with the rapid advances in New Technologies, it is apparent that typical degrees and certificates of any kind cannot alone guarantee the stability of a lifelong career. Meanwhile, employers are constantly seeking more skills from employees while demanding and expecting effectiveness and productivity. As a result, employers tend to experience skills' shortages across a wide range of already skilled employees, while this demand is higher in some sectors and lower in others. Likewise employees usually feel the need to combine high performance together with high soft skills, yet due to the lack of typical metrics of soft skills, they tend to miss promotions and rewards. In addition, there are employees with an advanced set of soft skills which are not fully expressed mostly due to negative reactions to the existing working environment. The difficulties to form standard methodologies for measuring or matching human attributes are mainly related to the fact that soft skills are mostly personal, interpersonal and intimately linked to atomic habits, largely formulated by general environmental impacts including lifestyle, employment, studies, experiences, attitudes and beliefs. This diversity creates troubles in incorporating them into existing teaching and training curriculums. Yet, organizations and businesses often claim that they need to facilitate reskilling and upskilling, despite the strain, as companies need to make deep changes in processes, behaviors and attitudes among their employees, in order to flourish. Accordingly, the present paper focuses on two major parts: The first part tries to integrate the various theoretical and practical aspects of the issue, underlining the basic involved relations while the second part focuses on a pilot research study among Human Resources Executives in Greece trying to note their own experience in categorizing the critical soft skills in demand among various occupations in the Greek labor market, the ways soft skills are certified, the tools used for estimating soft skills during recruitments, the reasons for skills gaps and the chance of using soft skills as an indicator of job performance. Such executives have been selected as a valuable and representative sample for the needs of the present research, mostly due to the fact that they usually have a deeper knowledge of the current labor markets as well as extensive experience in offering a wide range of flexible, on-demand services and proposals that include soft skills training both in terms of reskilling and upskilling. The findings of the present research, hope to contribute to the coordination of the emerging skills among stakeholders (job seekers, employers, employees, training providers, etc.) in order to achieve sustainable employability and minimize gaps.
Journal of European economy, Sep 1, 2021
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Conference Presentations by Miltiadis Staboulis
Using data from the Eurobarometer survey we try to establish a link of prevailing poverty and unemployment inside EU and distrust to the EU. The statistical analysis supports the idea that there is a strong positive relationship between higher risk of poverty and higher unemployment at European level and the ratio of distrust to the European Union.
Στο πλαίσιο ανάδειξης στοιχείων που διαφοροποιούν τη γενικότερη κατάσταση των μελών των οικογενειών αυτών, διερευνώνται μέσω έρευνας γνώμης, ζητήματα που αφορούν στην εργασιακή και κοινωνική ένταξη και την παροχή στήριξης από το ευρύτερο οικογενειακό/ κοινωνικό περιβάλλον, αλλά και τις επιπτώσεις των μέτρων λιτότητας και στον βαθμό που αυτές επηρεάζουν ή προκαλούν τον έμφυλο καταμερισμό των οικογενειακών ευθυνών, με έμφαση στις προκαταλήψεις, τα στερεότυπα και τα κοινωνικά πρότυπα του φύλου, εν μέσω οικονομικής κρίσης. Τέλος, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τα νέα δεδομένα καθώς και τον τρόπο που αυτά προσλαμβάνονται από τα μέλη των μονογονεϊκών οικογενειών, επιχειρείται η διατύπωση προτάσεων πολιτικής ως προς τη συμφιλίωση επαγγελματικής και οικογενειακής ζωής.
Η ποιότητα του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού μίας περιοχής συμβαδίζει συχνά με τις διακυμάνσεις των οικονομικών επιδόσεων των επιμέρους παραγωγικών συστημάτων που εξυπηρετεί. Ωστόσο, παρατηρούμενες νησίδες αριστείας στο εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα της περιοχής (κύρια στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση), μπορεί να προσδώσουν υπερτοπικό χαρακτήρα ποιότητας που δεν συμβαδίζει κατ’ ανάγκην με τα χαρακτηριστικά των τοπικών παραγωγικών συστημάτων. Οι σύγχρονες προσεγγίσεις στην ανάπτυξη της ποιότητας του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού των διάφορων περιοχών δίδουν έμφαση στην εφαρμογή αποκεντρωμένων πολιτικών απασχόλησης, εκπαίδευσης και δια βίου μάθησης. Οι αποκεντρωμένες αυτές πολιτικές απαιτούν την ενεργοποίηση των τοπικών κοινωνικών και οικονομικών πρωταγωνιστών, το συμμετοχικό σχεδιασμό τους, την εξισορρόπηση συμφερόντων και τη λειτουργική τους διασύνδεση με πρωτοβουλίες για τον εκσυγχρονισμό των τοπικών παραγωγικών συστημάτων.
Στη σημερινή χρονική συγκυρία στην Ελλάδα, σχεδιάζεται προς υλοποίηση η τρίτη γενιά αποκεντρωμένων πολιτικών απασχόλησης, τα Τοπικά Σχέδια Στήριξης της Απασχόλησης που περιλαμβάνουν δράσεις για την αναβάθμιση των προσόντων του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού και την ένταξη του στην αγορά εργασίας. Στον παρόν άρθρο, δίνοντας έμφαση στο βαθμό του συμμετοχικού σχεδιασμού, στον ολοκληρωμένο χαρακτήρα των παρεμβάσεων, στην ποιότητα των εταιρικών σχέσεων, στη δικτύωση και στις παραμέτρους διασφάλισης των αναμενόμενων αποτελεσμάτων, επιχειρείται μία πρώτη προσέγγιση της συμβολής τους στη διαμόρφωση της «ταυτότητας» μίας περιοχής.
Following a short, comprehensive literature review regarding the applications of gravity models in socioeconomic policy, a normative model for empirical regionalization (MER) is presented: it determines the ideal spatial demarcation based on quantified socioeconomic and geopolitical information. Thereafter, we discuss conclusions of cost-benefit analysis and qualitative evaluations of active labor market policy programs that took place in the previous programming period (2000-2006) in Greece, in order to come up with very specific proposals regarding the application of MER, as an instrument that helps efficiency of regional labor market policies. Indicatively, the existence of significant discontinuities regarding the administrative and the socioeconomic spatial segregation, as well as the lack of flexibility and adaptability, which relates to the missing interconnections of local educational structures and the needs for specialized human capital, speaks for the necessity of an optimized spatial demarcation.
difficult social reality regarding the issue of elder bank employees goes through the formulation of a consultation and social dialogue system with all social factors engaged. In this article we propose the development of a structured system for public consultation and social dialogue based on a primary research on a weighted sample of elder employees and managers of banks and trade unions. This system will comprehensively address the issue of active ageing in the banking sector
by proposing effective actions and solutions by policy area: awareness, using awareness indicators, maintaining employment and supporting career pathways, combating stereotypes related to age, etc. The proposed consultation system aims to increase transparency, collegiality and quality in decision making processes. The consultation system is governed by the general principles, stages, fields and levels of social dialogue and takes into account the conditions for the development of social dialogue mechanisms. The authors believe that the proposed system is applicable also in other branches (given the necessary adaptations); therefore it provides a useful tool for applied policy dealing the worsening of labour relations in the frame of current circumstances.
Papers by Miltiadis Staboulis
Using data from the Eurobarometer survey we try to establish a link of prevailing poverty and unemployment inside EU and distrust to the EU. The statistical analysis supports the idea that there is a strong positive relationship between higher risk of poverty and higher unemployment at European level and the ratio of distrust to the European Union.
Στο πλαίσιο ανάδειξης στοιχείων που διαφοροποιούν τη γενικότερη κατάσταση των μελών των οικογενειών αυτών, διερευνώνται μέσω έρευνας γνώμης, ζητήματα που αφορούν στην εργασιακή και κοινωνική ένταξη και την παροχή στήριξης από το ευρύτερο οικογενειακό/ κοινωνικό περιβάλλον, αλλά και τις επιπτώσεις των μέτρων λιτότητας και στον βαθμό που αυτές επηρεάζουν ή προκαλούν τον έμφυλο καταμερισμό των οικογενειακών ευθυνών, με έμφαση στις προκαταλήψεις, τα στερεότυπα και τα κοινωνικά πρότυπα του φύλου, εν μέσω οικονομικής κρίσης. Τέλος, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τα νέα δεδομένα καθώς και τον τρόπο που αυτά προσλαμβάνονται από τα μέλη των μονογονεϊκών οικογενειών, επιχειρείται η διατύπωση προτάσεων πολιτικής ως προς τη συμφιλίωση επαγγελματικής και οικογενειακής ζωής.
Η ποιότητα του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού μίας περιοχής συμβαδίζει συχνά με τις διακυμάνσεις των οικονομικών επιδόσεων των επιμέρους παραγωγικών συστημάτων που εξυπηρετεί. Ωστόσο, παρατηρούμενες νησίδες αριστείας στο εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα της περιοχής (κύρια στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση), μπορεί να προσδώσουν υπερτοπικό χαρακτήρα ποιότητας που δεν συμβαδίζει κατ’ ανάγκην με τα χαρακτηριστικά των τοπικών παραγωγικών συστημάτων. Οι σύγχρονες προσεγγίσεις στην ανάπτυξη της ποιότητας του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού των διάφορων περιοχών δίδουν έμφαση στην εφαρμογή αποκεντρωμένων πολιτικών απασχόλησης, εκπαίδευσης και δια βίου μάθησης. Οι αποκεντρωμένες αυτές πολιτικές απαιτούν την ενεργοποίηση των τοπικών κοινωνικών και οικονομικών πρωταγωνιστών, το συμμετοχικό σχεδιασμό τους, την εξισορρόπηση συμφερόντων και τη λειτουργική τους διασύνδεση με πρωτοβουλίες για τον εκσυγχρονισμό των τοπικών παραγωγικών συστημάτων.
Στη σημερινή χρονική συγκυρία στην Ελλάδα, σχεδιάζεται προς υλοποίηση η τρίτη γενιά αποκεντρωμένων πολιτικών απασχόλησης, τα Τοπικά Σχέδια Στήριξης της Απασχόλησης που περιλαμβάνουν δράσεις για την αναβάθμιση των προσόντων του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού και την ένταξη του στην αγορά εργασίας. Στον παρόν άρθρο, δίνοντας έμφαση στο βαθμό του συμμετοχικού σχεδιασμού, στον ολοκληρωμένο χαρακτήρα των παρεμβάσεων, στην ποιότητα των εταιρικών σχέσεων, στη δικτύωση και στις παραμέτρους διασφάλισης των αναμενόμενων αποτελεσμάτων, επιχειρείται μία πρώτη προσέγγιση της συμβολής τους στη διαμόρφωση της «ταυτότητας» μίας περιοχής.
Following a short, comprehensive literature review regarding the applications of gravity models in socioeconomic policy, a normative model for empirical regionalization (MER) is presented: it determines the ideal spatial demarcation based on quantified socioeconomic and geopolitical information. Thereafter, we discuss conclusions of cost-benefit analysis and qualitative evaluations of active labor market policy programs that took place in the previous programming period (2000-2006) in Greece, in order to come up with very specific proposals regarding the application of MER, as an instrument that helps efficiency of regional labor market policies. Indicatively, the existence of significant discontinuities regarding the administrative and the socioeconomic spatial segregation, as well as the lack of flexibility and adaptability, which relates to the missing interconnections of local educational structures and the needs for specialized human capital, speaks for the necessity of an optimized spatial demarcation.
difficult social reality regarding the issue of elder bank employees goes through the formulation of a consultation and social dialogue system with all social factors engaged. In this article we propose the development of a structured system for public consultation and social dialogue based on a primary research on a weighted sample of elder employees and managers of banks and trade unions. This system will comprehensively address the issue of active ageing in the banking sector
by proposing effective actions and solutions by policy area: awareness, using awareness indicators, maintaining employment and supporting career pathways, combating stereotypes related to age, etc. The proposed consultation system aims to increase transparency, collegiality and quality in decision making processes. The consultation system is governed by the general principles, stages, fields and levels of social dialogue and takes into account the conditions for the development of social dialogue mechanisms. The authors believe that the proposed system is applicable also in other branches (given the necessary adaptations); therefore it provides a useful tool for applied policy dealing the worsening of labour relations in the frame of current circumstances.
current state of family business succession and transfer in Greece, as well as to record the current demands and needs for business support during the succession process. The sample of enterprises participating in the research comprised of 130 companies from various business sectors, sizes, and locations in Greece, classified by their number of employees. The research work aims to depict the current situation by showcasing testimonials of entrepreneurs/business owners, representatives and executive members of enterprises with regard to business succession. The findings of this study can be used to draft proposals and make policy recommendations, as well as to build a database to prepare and implement a succession business plan, with the ultimate goal of developing new strategies to strengthen and support the family business succession in Greece.
ποσότητας και ποιότητας τις απαιτούμενες θέσεις εργασίας.
Αρχικά παρατίθενται στατιστικά στοιχεία και δεδομένα που αποτυπώνουν τη σχέση της απασχόλησης και της ανεργίας με το εκπαιδευτικό επίπεδο του ανθρωπίνου δυναμικού στην Ε.Ε. και στην Ελλάδα με στόχο την κατανόηση του φαινομένου. Ακολούθως και όσον αφορά στο χάσμα δεξιοτήτων, που αποτελεί τη βασική πρόκληση
για τη χώρα, ιδιαίτερα για τους απόφοιτους της τριτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης, παρατίθενται οι βασικές θέσεις και απόψεις των θεσμικών κοινωνικών εταίρων στην Ελλάδα. Στη συνέχεια προσεγγίζονται οι τάσεις και τα χαρακτηριστικά της πρακτικής
άσκησης στην τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση στη χώρα, σε συνδυασμό με καλές πρακτικές άλλων χωρών. Αναλύεται η σημασία της μετεξέλιξης της πρακτικής άσκησης υπό μορφή ή στοιχεία μαθητείας και τονίζεται το εύρος των πλεονεκτημάτων για τους μαθητευόμενους (φοιτητές) και τους φορείς υποδοχής (επιχειρήσεις, δημόσιες δομές,
οργανισμούς, κλπ.), υπό το πρίσμα τόσο της σημασίας της προετοιμασίας των υποψήφιων μαθητευομένων για την επαγγελματική ζωή, όσο και της αφομοίωσης των νέων τεχνολογικών μεταβολών, παραγόντων που προσδίδουν νέα σημασία στη μετεξέλιξη της πρακτικής άσκησης υπό μορφή μαθητείας. Τέλος, αναφέρονται τα
συνολικά οφέλη της πρακτικής άσκησης υπό μορφή μαθητείας για τους
μαθητευόμενους και τους φορείς υποδοχής αυτών, αλλά και για το ευρύτερο κοινωνικό γίγνεσθαι.
Given that CSR dynamics is impaired when implemented piecemeal, occasionally and selectively, due the period of economic crisis, local authority has as basic advantage strong interpersonal relationships and successful local networking that are able to become a good environment for CSR to flourish, enhancing thereby competitiveness of SMEs.
Moreover the paper draws on evidence of the Municipality of Athens in Greece which implements the project "Development and Dissemination of Corporate Social Responsibility in the territorial limits of the City of Athens”. This project is expected to contribute to the consolidation of CSR in the local businesses and to address partly the problem of inadequate public resources through private voluntary initiative.
The example of Municipality of Athens demonstrates that there are a lot of opportunities for greater local authorities intervention in CSR so as to become effective mechanisms for heightening achievement of social objectives.