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1. Innovation in formal education

2. Fostering innovation through non-formal and informal learning and youth work

Innovation in formal education

The National Strategy for Research, Innovation and Intelligent Specialization 2022-2027, developed by the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, sets the vision for the Romanian research-innovation system in the 2030 horizon and expresses the firm option to recognize and support excellence, to reward performance, to stimulate the development of collaboration between the public and private environment. Science, innovation and innovation entrepreneurship will constitute successful models for the sustainable development of Romania in a local, national and international context.

The National Strategy for Research, Innovation and Intelligent Specialization is structured on four general objectives: Development of the research, development and innovation system; Supporting innovation ecosystems associated with smart specializations; Mobilization towards innovation; Increasing European and international collaboration. The strategy mentions the support for the development of innovation skills in education, but is not clear about the measures supported. It underlines the use of EU funds for its implementation, using the funding from the Regional Programmes and the Education and Employment Programme. However, there are no projects that started by March 2024 for the implementation of the National Strategy for Research, Innovation and Intelligent Specialization in the formal education system.

But when it comes to policed and projects aiming to contribute to innovation in formal education, the initiatives are rather coming from the non-governmental sector. Some of the main actors promoting innovative teaching skills that would then have an immediate impact on competencies’ development of the pupils/students, are: Romanian American Foundation– running the "Innovation in Education" competition, or a program developed in partnership with TechSoup Romania, which aims to create a framework for innovation in education by harnessing the power of technology and the learning and development society resources available outside the education system.

Fostering innovation through non-formal and informal learning and youth work

Fostering innovation through non formal and informal learning and youth work is only targeted through the Erasmus + granted projects implemented by nongovernmental organizations.

The suitcase, the map and the voyage of a youth worker  aimed to contribute to the advancement of the standards attached to the youth worker occupational profile. The online platform that has been developed within the project comes with a story that over 200 youth workers had been followed. Through the project, over 40 youth workers were certified and 30 youth organizations integrated the outcomes to their current working practices. 

Organizational Development of Youth Organizations offered the youth organizations an exceptional self-evaluation tool. At the end of the exercise, the subjects are offered specific instruments that serve to their development – e.i. the development of the financial and operational practices, the development of their human resources. The instruments could be easily adapted to NGOs from other sectors as well as to the educational institutions interested to develop their working practices.