Inspired by Valeria Kononenko from the magazine „Furniture business“ in Moscow a group of Russian furniture retailers visited the exhibition IMM Cologne and used the contacts of the European Retail Academy for store-checks and management discussions in Cologne and surroundings (guided by Gerd Dellbruegge and Julia Pasternak/ EHI Retail Institute).

In December 2011, European Retail Academy and CEEMAN, headquarted by IEDC, have signed cooperation agreement. Established in 1986 as the first business school of its type in Central and Eastern Europe, the IEDC-Bled School of Management/Slovenia is one of the most prominent international management development institutions in Europe. It is a place where leaders come to learn and reflect, an international center of excellence in management development, a business meeting point, and a unique place where works of art complement a creative environment for creative leadership (see also here: News of 20.12.11). In 1999 the IEDC - Bled School of Management was one of the first two business schools to be awarded the IQA (International Quality Accreditation), while in 2005 it received international accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA). In 2009, the IEDC was the only institution from Central and Eastern Europe to be named among the 100 top business schools worldwide in the Aspen Institute's Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranking, for having demonstrated significant leadership in integrating social, environmental and ethical issues into its MBA program.

The president of the European Retail Academy Prof. Dr. Bernd Hallier was awarded the title “Honourable Ambassador of Peace” (More in Russian ) by the multimillion international Eurasian Youth Movement in the opening Festival “Dialogue of Civilization – Way up Towards” in Yekaterinburg/Russia which was visited by participants from 110 countries.

As like as in 2010 and 2011 Prof. Hallier will help together with the rector of the Ural State University of Economics Prof. Dr. M. Fedorov also in 2012 to organize the Yekaterinburg-student competition and the trip to the Astana Economic Forum to meet in Kazakhstan Nobel Laureates of Economics for discussions.

Within a Leonardo da Vinci project 18 students from Lapland Vocational College, Vocational College Lappia and Kokkola Business Institute will have 4 to 8 weeks on-the-job learning periods in Estonia, Germany and Great Britain.

The project is intended to develop the content and assessment methods of e-commerce modules. Three students will be directly at the EUCVOT-headquarter in Cologne in spring 2012.
 

The European Union is currently engaged in a fight for jobs and prosperity during a severe economic and financial crisis. At the heart of the Europe 2020 Strategy adopted last year by the EU Member States is the conviction that there is the need to innovate to get Europe back on the path to growth. Europe has to innovate in order to tackle the major societal challenges such as sustainable mobility, climate change, energy security, health and the ageing population. These ideas are at the core of Innovation Union, presented a year ago today by the European Commission.

Most importantly, the European Commission is now working to finalise the proposal for Horizon 2020, the most ambitious research and innovation funding programme to date. The Commission is proposing to increase significantly this investment in growth and jobs, with a budget of 80 billion euro between 2014 and 2020. Horizon 2020 will be built around three distinct, mutually reinforcing pillars that support the Europe 2020 and Innovation Union goals. Firstly, to strengthen the EU’s world-class position in science and research. Secondly, to support even more business research and innovation. Thirdly, to focus on tackling the major challenges faced by the society (more). The first European Innovation Convention will take place on 5 and 6 December 2011 in Brussels.