Panagiotis Giavrimis

A Benchmarking Study for Human Capital in Europe

Since early, economic theory dealt with the innovation as basic factor of economic development and technical change. The first approach in defining innovation has been made by Schumpeter (1934), which first focused on innovation factor as one of the core sources of dynamism in the capitalistic social and economic growth, asserting that innovation is one of the centred activities towards economic change and growth.

Social Policy and Socio-economic Integration in Europe

Nowadays, economies all over the world are described taking part in a race seeking the most appropriate and effective ways that could provide them with the strengths and opportunities necessary to obtain and sustain a competitive advantage over their rivals. Due to this competitiveness race, productivity enhancement is of great importance for the economic development in the face of uncertainties generated by international competition. That is the reason why countries are struggling to maintain and also accelerate their growth rates.

Education Policy and Regional Convergence in the European Union

In the past three decades, important changes in the pattern of economic growth and productivity have been interpreted as a movement towards knowledge-based economy. Currently, output and employment are expanding fast in high-technology industries, as well as in knowledge-based services. More resources are spent on the production and development of new technologies, in particular on information and communication technology. At the same time, major shifts are taking place in the labour market, in particular, the increased demand for skilled labour. Globalisation and worldwide competition has shifted the comparative advantage of economies towards the factor of knowledge and innovation, where productivity based on the endogenous development capabilities plays a rather important role, as far as growth and competitiveness enhancement are concerned.

Lifelong learning and vocational training programmes in Northern Aegean (Greece): weaknesses, possibilities and prospects

This study presents, discusses and assesses the findings of a research into lifelong learning through Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) in the region of Northern Aegean, Greece. In the first part, the paper introduces its readers to the theoretical framework of lifelong education, whereas in the second part it makes a brief historical overview of it in Greece. The third and largest part of the study presents, discusses and assesses the findings related to the trainees’ opinions on a variety of aspects of their lifelong vocational training programmes in Northern Aegean, Greece.