Regional Centre of StudiesThe founders' purpose was (1) to set up a professional education institute of a high quality, which gives the opportunity of a short term training and that of superior institutional education level; (2) the development and function of a post-gradual education; (3) to create and develop a steady place where, due to the activity in the field of training, organisation and consultation activity, the implementation and the use of knowledge is supported and finally to adjust all these matters to regional level. The founders, among assuring the logistical and infra-structural bases, lay stress on the following aspects: - creating a fundamental data base; - forming and training of a team of lecturers; - forming a consulting and information centre. Starting from the given possibilities, typical for the region of Eastern Transylavnia, and relying on the results of one-year activity, RCS initiated the creation and the development of three main training directions: 1. regional economy, rural development;RCS wants to institutionalise the condition of training on superior educational level and projects of counselling for solving social problems and the closing-up process of the Szeklers' regions. RCS intends to form professional relationships of collaboration with any professional and didactical institution, which help to achieve these goals during collaborations or professional meetings. RCS considers these tasks as important: - founding and developing a training institute on superior educational level; The RCS of Miercurea Ciuc is a society founded in order to establish an institutionalised place that co-ordinates project on different educational level in a certain field. The task of the local Council of Miercurea Ciuc and of the Council of County Harghita is to sustain and support this activity, and the Anthropological Communication Group has come with a part of the stored knowledge in the field of rural development. That is how the work area (Harghita County) and the field of activity appeared: supporting of local initiatives, which facilitate rural and community development. During its activity the RCS has organised a complete course in the field of rural development, including different topics which can be helpful for those who bring something new (writing proposals of financing, management of the organisations, methods in order to involve the population in common activities etc.). Initially the course was organised for employees of the local council, but later it was opened for participants from other counties and even for people who work in non-governmental sphere. Although these courses were part of a pilot programme, during which the participants have not received an official diploma, the attendance was remarkable. We may say for sure that the interest in rural development is increasing in Romania. The initiative of the Council of County Harghita to offer the possibility of co-operation between local councils as associations has made possible for the communes to unite in 15 associations of local interest (within less than 2 years of negotiations) and shortly obtaining the NUTS IV level of development. These associations, called micro-regions, have the possibility to realise projects in order to solve some of the problems of the communes. Each one has hired a micro-regional manager whose task is to raise funds for solving territorial problems accordingly to an elaborated strategy on that level. In this context beginning with February of the year 2001, the RCS began an activity that aims to support these micro-regional associations, by offering them a set of services in order to assure their good function. These micro-regional associations, local councils and non-governmental organisations benefit these services free of charge. This set of services is not financed by a certain project or sponsored by an institution. The RCS does it on its own because it is convinced by their utility and necessity and by the fact that evolution of these associations leads to the development and the prosperity of the place in which we are living. The set of services consists of: Consulting AgencyDaily between 9-15; offering information about: - project financing; - writing and elaborating projects; - rural development. Storing Informative Materials: Storing and spreading of materials with informational or educational character in the field of rural development. Visits The visits are completed with consulting on the spot, usually each micro-regional association is visited every month. Informative Journal "Vidékfejlesztés" (Rural Development) is a monthly journal in 250 copies and it is offered to each local council and micro-regional association. At the same time the journal is distributed in electronic form trough e-mail to different institutions of Romania. Seminars They give the possibility of meeting with the purpose of presenting the achievements and the latest opportunities. Internet Services The pages are monthly updated and modified. Conferences We organise wide opened conferences, which have as guests well known professionals of the field of rural development coming from Romania and abroad as well. Specific Consultations Consultations in order to elaborate different studies of the region development assessment, strategies, project on rural development. Training Programmes By request the RCS organises training at different places and their programmes are established with the micro-regional associations. Collections Besides the opportunity of studying books and documents inside the head office of RCS it is important that certain works, theses, documents to be accessible in the territorial offices of the micro-regional associations. These materials are grouped in collections which may be read in local offices in order to be wide known. Presentations Presenting the micro-regional associations and their activities in different levels may lead to external support. Results: - the presentation of 25 possibilities of financing accessible to micro-regional associations; Csaba Janos Koszta Regional Study Center |