CORRELATING HCOP PROJECT FINANCING WITH THE NEED FOR WORKFORCE QUALIFICATION IN ROMANIA
CORRELATING HCOP PROJECT FINANCING WITH THE NEED FOR WORKFORCE QUALIFICATION IN ROMANIA
George PUIU, Mircea Constantin DUICĂ
IOSUD, Valahia University of Târgoviște, Târgoviște, Romania
george_puiu2002@yahoo.com mircea_duica@yahoo.com
Abstract: After Romania’s integration in the EU, many of the funds directed by the European Commission towards our country were meant to reduce the social and economic disparities between Romania and the developed western countries. The Human Capital Operational Program (HCOP) establishes the investment priorities, specific objectives and actions undertaken by Romania in the field of human resources, thus continuing the investments made through the European Social Fund in the period 2007-2013 and contributing, at the same time, to reduce the disparities in economic and social development between Romania and the EU Member States. This paper is a part of a PhD theoretical research aimed at determining the impact of the distribution of HCOP funds had in the development of workforce qualification in various regions of Romania. It makes correlations between the need for skilled workers in different economic fields, as stated in regional development plans, the actual distribution of HCOP funds via local and regional projects and the actual results the implementation of these projects had. The eight development regions of Romania, as created in 1998, had and have different needs for learning, social and economic development. This research studies the way the financing of the projects addressed these needs and the degree to which the implementation of the afore mentioned projects positively impacted the development of each region. It will show how the more funds are transferred to a region, the more its social and economic disparities are reduced, if these funds are directed towards the real needs of that region. It also presents how implementing projects aimed at qualifying and mobilizing workforce will reduce the unemployment rate, will increase the wages and it will also increase school participation. Basically, the research shows the direct relation between funding projects aimed at human resource development and the actual development of the region in which the funds are invested.
Keywords: HCOP; workforce; projects; regional development; qualification
JEL Classification: D61; D69; H43; I24; I25; I30
