The document discusses ways for regions like Serbia and the Western Balkans to gain competitiveness through developing lifelong learning cultures, leadership, and diaspora knowledge networks. It identifies that modern societies are knowledge-based, but lifelong learning is underdeveloped in the region due to obstacles like brain drain and a lack of infrastructure and culture supporting continuous education. Tapping into the knowledge of diaspora populations and using coaching methods can help expedite the development of lifelong learning and address skills gaps. Specifically, the document recommends that European development funds be used to target lifelong learning growth through support for diaspora knowledge transfer programs and expanding the business and executive coaching industry in Southeast Europe.

1. Competitiveness through the Leadership
Development, Lifelong Learning Culture, and
Diaspora Knowledge Network
Development
Slavka Draskovic
slavkadraskovic@slavkadraskovic.com

2. The goal of this presentation is to introduce
the ways of gaining competitiveness
through development of :
• Leadership Development
• Lifelong Learning Culture
• Diaspora Knowledge Network
Development

3. The New Paradigm
THE LIFE LONG LEARNING (LLL)
Knowledge-based global
environment - Modern society is
knowledge-based.
Conclusion No 1

4. The New Paradigm
THE LIFE LONG LEARNING (LLL)
Continuing education - Life Long
Learning - is a relatively new
concept in Serbia and the West
Balkans. LLL as a practice in this
culture is underdeveloped and needs
to expand.
Conclusion No 2

5. The New LLL Paradigm
Obstacles
• Obstacle: Brain Drain – The region has
experienced terrible consequences due to brain
drain, which has to be recovered to progress.
• Obstacle: LLL Infrastructure - Continuing
education for those who have completed formal
education requires the development of a
necessary infrastructure for implementing LLL.
Informal education organizations, career
planning institutions, private enterprises etc.
should be included in the creation of curriculum,
education programs etc.
• Obstacle: Underdeveloped LLL Culture
Conclusion No 3 & No 4

6. Diaspora as Source of Knowledge
Transfer
The brain drain is now part of the
Diaspora. It can provide the return of this talent
and thus transfer of knowledge. It can become a
central resource and part of the infrastructure
necessary for the development of LLL culture.
• Specific mechanisms need to be created with which
to involve members of academic Diaspora in the
development of LLL. Creation of specific
projects for knowledge transfer is
essential. Currently available technological
applications facilitate virtual teams of members
located around the global for this transfer.
Conclusion No 5

7. Lifelong Learning Culture
• Values of the culture are internalized and
influence behavior (may not be conscious);
Also, social norms specify what is acceptable
behavior.
• Learning behavior is influenced by the national
culture and by the organizational culture
• Culture with strong values for learning will
support employee empowerment.
• The values and traditions in a national culture,
as well as in the organizational culture can
change over time

8. Competitiveness Paradigm
1. Production
2. Marketing and PR
3. Human Resources –
Development through
continuous learning and
Leadership

9. Profesional skills
Caracter
People skills
Career beginning
Profesional skills
Caracter
People skills
Middle management level
Profesional skills
Caracter
People skills
Top management

10. Lifelong Learning &
Leadership development
(1) Formal programs
(2) Development activities
(3) Learning from experience
(4) Self-development

11. LLL Development programs and
activities
1. Programs that last from several months to several
years – designed for individual organizations, or
diverse groups
2. 360 degrees feedback
3. Development Centers
4. Development Tasks
5. Rotating Jobs
6. Mentoring
7. Business Coaching & Executive Coaching
8. Personal Development Programs

12. LLL Culture Development & Business
and Executive Coaching
• Business and Executive
Coaching, BEC, can expedite LLL
-- As the fastest growing industry in
the field of LLL BEC needs to be
incorporated into the EREF Network
as part of its strategy for
development of a Lifelong learning
culture in the region of the South
East Europe.
Conclusion No 6

13. LLL Culture Development & Business
and Executive Coaching
• Industry of the Business Coaching is
underdeveloped and just emerging in
Western Balkan.
• The first generation of the business
coaches has not been in the school yet
• The industry can start to develop through
the LLL system (it can fasten the LLL and
vice versa)

14. Why is the coaching industry
development important?
• New industry
• New jobs
• Other industry development through the
human capital development
• Leadership development
• Individual development
• Professional reorientation
– Compettitevness

15. • The Industry with the largest turnover in the
world, (5 billion $ per year)!
• The fastest growth rate ( 18% in the world,
25% in USA)
• 88% companies in Great Britain
• Over 70% of Australian companies
• National Strategy for professional
development in schools in the UK
• The Netherlands has introduced the practice
of Business leadership in schools

16. What is Business-
Executive Coaching
(BEC)?

17. Business-Executive Coaching
• The work of a person or a group of
people with a coach, to achieve their
business wishes, opportunities and
objectives.
• Art to support the action, learning and
development of a person.

18. BEC & Compettitevness
Studies of Fortune 1000 Executives and Senior Managers
who engaged in coaching for 6 to 12 months show that
they got
-- Six times their return on investment.
-- They boosted job performance significantly,
through higher productivity, sales, or profits.
-- They reported better relationships
with direct reports (77%)
bosses (71%)
peers (63%)
customers (37 %)
-- Increase in job satisfaction (61%)
-- Increase in "organizational commitment" (44%)

19. Conclusions and Recommendations
1. Modern society is knowledge-based.
2. LLL as a practice is underdeveloped in
the Region and needs to expand.
3. Obstacles to a LLL Development:
-- Brain Drain
-- LLL Infrastructure (Informal education
organizations, career planning institutions, private
enterprises etc.)
-- Underdeveloped LLL Culture
4. Diaspora is a Source of Knowledge
Transfer.
5. Business and Executive Coaching, BEC,
can expedite LLL

20. Conclusions and Recommendations
6. Investing in LLL for SE European
development - European
development funds need to target
LLL growth through dedicated funds
for Diaspora knowledge transfer and
BEC industry expansion.

21. Dr Slavka Draskovic
www. slavkadraskovic.com
Executive & Success Coaching
Slavka Draskovic
slavkadraskovic@slavkadraskovic.com