Presentation at SLERD 2016 - 1st International Conference on Smart Learning Ecosystems and Regional Developments, 19-20 May 2016, Timisoara Romania

1. Entrepreneurship Learning Ecosystem through
MOOCs for Smart Cities
Carmen Holotescu, Ioan Slavici University of Timisoara
Liliana Lucaciu Gotiu, Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Diana Andone, University Politehnica Timisoara
Liliana Cismariu, RD Profil Consult SRL Timisoara
Gabriela Grosseck, West University of Timisoara
Titus Slavici, Ioan Slavici University of Timisoara
1st International Conference on Smart Learning Ecosystems and Regional Developments
19-20 May 2016, Timisoara Romania

2. Contents
Smart Cities. Relation with S3 - Smart Specializations Strategies.
Connection with Entrepreneurship and Education
Smart Cities and S3 Initiatives in Romania
Entrepreneurship in Romania. The need for innovation
Open Education and MOOCs. European and Romanian Initiatives
Steps for an Entrepreneurship Learning Ecosystem through MOOCs for
Smart Cities
Conclusions

3. Smart Cities and S3 - Smart Specializations Strategies.
Connection with Entrepreneurship and Education
Smart City Characteristics and Factors / Indicators (SCM, 2015)

4. Smart Cities and S3 Initiatives in Romania
"Smart cities" development is supported in Romania
through public funds;
Strategic approaches for Smart cities development in
Romania in 2013 - http://urbasofia.eu;
Smart City Association Timisoara in 2013 -
http://mysmartcity.ro;
Smart specialization concept in national strategic
document "The National Strategy for Research,
Development and Innovation 2014-2020” adopted by
the Romanian Government in 2014 -
http://www.cdi2020.ro;
Significant experience West Regional Development
Agency, role of engine for RDI strategic development;
West Region - the only Romanian region with priorities
on the S3 platform -
http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/map.

5. - A recent study (Curaj et al., 2015)
highlights the factors affecting
entrepreneurship, such as low
quality of management and
entrepreneurial education and a
small number of opportunity-
driven entrepreneurs.
- Among the study
recommendations we retain the
targeted support for the
development of high quality
education in management and
entrepreneurship programmes.
Entrepreneurship in Romania. The need for innovation

6. „ICT tools, Open Educational
Resources, and open practices
allow for an increase in the
effectiveness of education,
allowing for more personalised
learning, a better learning
experience.
Ultimately, opening up
education may lead to a
situation where all individuals
may learn anytime, anywhere,
with the support of anyone,
using any device.”
Open Education Europa
Opening up education through new technologies Initiative
openeducationeuropa.eu
ec.europa.eu/education/policy/strategic-framework/education-
technology_en.htm (Sept 2013)

7. Romanian Projects related to MOOCs
- UniCampus unicampus.ro: Started in April 2014
under the initiative of University Politehnica
Timisoara and Association of Technical Universities
from Romania (rouni.ro ); will offer cMOOCs on a
platform based on Moodle;
- NOVAMOOC novamooc.uvt.ro: Development and
innovative implementation of MOOCs in Higher
Education, West University Timisoara (2015-17);
- MOOC.ro mooc.ro: Developed by Moodle.ro,
currently offers a MOOC about Moodle courses ;
- UniBuc Virtual unibuc-virtual.net: Credis,
Department of Distance Learning of University of
Bucharest, offered 3 MOOCs for Teachers Training on
a platform based on Google Apps;
- University "Vasile Goldis" Arad will offer MOOCs in
partnership with Fédération Européenne des Écoles;
- University „Babes Bolyai” Cluj Napoca – eLIADA
eliada.ubbcluj.ro/proiect - materials for 4 MOOCs;
- Studies, PhD thesis – search MOOC Romania on GS;
- MOOCs on Udemy – ONG Management,
Association Young Initiative
udemy.com/management-ong;
- Experiments for integrating MOOCs in
blended academic courses can be found at
University Politehnica Timisoara (Web
Programming and Instructional Technologies
courses), University Ioan Slavici Timisoara
(Multimedia course);
- Critical Thinking MOOC was developed and
run in 2014 by Maastricht School of
Management Romania on Iversity
(msmromania.org/content/msmro-produces-
first-mooc-eastern-europe);
- eStudent.ro – vlogging platform for courses;
- Workshops (eLSE) and national conferences
related to opening education organized by
the Romanian Coalition for OER.
- Check also:
- Opening Up Education in Romania”
scribd.com/doc/264227758/Opening-up-education-in-Romania
- OER in Romania
- poerup.referata.com/wiki/Romania

8. 4. Follow up activities: monitor trainees
activities, consultancy activities run face-
to-face and online, consisting in
experiments for Massive Open Online
Consultancy (MOOCo), startup incubation
5. Impact study and empowerment
evaluation
6. Pack MOOCs as nano-degrees or
specializations included in formal and
informal training programs, also in Master
programs
7. Develop a set of proposal for national
policies and institutional accreditation
1.Input for entrepreneurial MOOCs
design: define the specific competencies
for entrepreneurs for smart
cities/region, Delphi study
2. Publish the previous results as open
data using open CC licenses
3. MOOC to train MOOC facilitators
4. Implement and pilot Entrepreneurship
MOOCs
Steps for an Entrepreneurship Learning Ecosystem
through MOOCs for Smart Cities

9. • The participants in the project
MOOCs could become real smart
entrepreneurs of their cities and
regions.
• The large category of actors involved
in the project contribute to the
building of a real learning ecosystem
for the region based on MOOCs and
MOOCo.
• The project could bring a real impact
in innovation, in research, in creating
smart citizens.
Conclusions
• Openess education in
organizations participating in
project, using of OEPs.
• MOOC for training MOOC
facilitators could have as
participants teachers, trainers
and practitioners from a large
category of institutions, thus
the Open Educational Practices
could be adopted in by these
organizations too.

10. Thank you!
Carmen Holotescu
Twitter: @cami13
tinyurl.com/cholotescu
This work was partially supported by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific
Research and Innovation, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-2040:
NOVAMOOC – Development and innovative implementation of MOOCs in Higher Education.