text: The Significance of Education Programmes for Dynamic Entrepreneurship in Maximizing Regional Competitiveness Gordana Ćorić, Iva Senegović, Ivana Bekić 1 Introduction There are a very few topics and issues that would make various stakeholders unanimously agree upon. Undoubtedly, one of them is that "we are living in knowledge-based societies" and some authors consider 'knowledge' as the main future driving force of the development of the society and economy (Krings, 2006). In terms of the topic of this paper, The Significance of Education Programs for Dynamic Entrepreneurship in Maximizing Regional Competitiveness, it raises a question: Could well-educated entrepreneurs and their teams, who drive innovations, spread entrepreneurial attitude and provide faster, knowledgeable responses to dynamic changes in the society and economy, influence the increase in competitiveness of their countries, regions and cities? Furthermore, the paper addresses the following growth issues: (a) What are the reasons behind relatively poor entrepreneurial results in Croatia? (b) What has been done in order to create enabling environment for expanding knowledge-based entrepreneurship? (c) Are there some gaps in offering adequate education programs for sustainable, growing entrepreneurs and dynamic entrepreneurship? Although the main reported obstacles to competitiveness-enhancing efforts in achieving stable growth are financial indiscipline and increased unemployment, the attempts to raise the awareness of the importance of growing entrepreneurship is becoming more and more important. This paper will make an attempt to research one of the "soft issues" - the significance of the educational programs for growing SMEs (gazelles) in Croatia and their role in increase of regional competitiveness. The increased attention given to Croatian growing businesses (gazelles) in the last six years, intrigued authors to explore (1) the linkages between two start-up approaches (out of opportunity and out of necessity) and growing businesses, (2) eventual discrepancy between the amount of support provided to start-up launching/development, in comparison to training support to growing ventures, and to define (3) recommendations on how to maximize regional competitiveness in entrepreneurship by creating education programs that would provide more support for growing businesses. 1.1 Definitions The competitiveness is defined as the "ability of a firm or a nation to offer products and services that meet the quality standards of the local and world markets at prices that are competitive and provide adequate returns on the resources employed or consumed in producing them" (businessdirectory.com). According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012 (p.11), Croatian economy belongs to the group of so called efficiency driven economies in transition to more advanced stage (innovation driven economy), from 2-3. In this report, Croatia has been ranked as 76th (out of 142 countries), and scored global competitiveness index of 4,1 (out of 7). Regional competitiveness is the ability of the region to ensure economic growth over time, including the ability to attract and retain productive capital and competent human resources, and to be innovative in a broad sense (Borozan, 2007; Borozan, 2008). It should be based on identifying and strengthening the unique combination of specific resources that region has. Dynamic entrepreneurs are described as those who "manage and lead growth companies", and called "winning performers, gazelles, hidden champions, etc." (Twaalfhoven, 1993). While describing differences between the small or medium-sized company owners, the dynamic entrepreneurs were described as "growing, vision opportunistic, global, expanding, with external resources, professional team, in search for competition, risk taking and sharing, and rather oriented to success, then to survival (Twaalfhoven, 1993). Gazelle (company) is defined as follows: "A high-growth company that is increasing its revenues by at least 20% annually for four years or more, starting from a revenue base of at least $1 million. This growth pace means that the company has effectively doubled its revenues over a four-year period. As gazelle companies are characterized by their rapid growth pace, rather than their absolute size, they can range in size from small companies to very large enterprises." David Birch's identification of gazelle companies followed from his 1979 report titled "The Job Generation Process," wherein he identified small companies as the biggest creators of new jobs in the economy. Birch estimated that gazelles accounted for only 4% of all U.S. companies, but accounted for 70% of all new jobs. Birch noted that the growth pace of gazelle companies far outpaced that of the Fortune 500 elephants and Main Street mice" (Investopedia). Formal education is an activity that is performed in the institutional and publicly verified forms of education. The aim is to acquire professional knowledge, skills and abilities. It includes: primary education, secondary education, and tertiary or higher education. It is carried out in accordance with special regulations of relevant state institutions and agencies. Upon completion of this program participants will receive a public document which indicates the degree of completed education. Non-formal education includes organized learning processes aimed at training adults for work, various social activities and personal development. It is conducted in adult education institutions, companies, associations, unions, political parties, sports associations, and various other centres. It is carried out independently of the formal education system and does not lead to the issuance of public documents. Informal learning represents activities in which adults accept views, values, skills and knowledge from daily experience and other influences and resources from their environment. In contrast to the formal and informal education, it is not necessarily intentional (Adult Education Act, Article 3, Class: 602-01/06-01/01, Zagreb, February 2, 2007). The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) project is the world largest ongoing annual study of the entrepreneurial activities, aspiration and attitudes. It also researches the trends, and the assessment of policies introduced to support entrepreneurship in respective countries. The project was launched in 1999 in 10 countries, by today the number of participating countries rose to around 85. GEM report for 2011, estimates there are near 400 million entrepreneurs in 54 countries, in addition to new hires and job creation expectations in the coming years. It also shows that underdeveloped and developing countries have relatively high share of necessity-based entrepreneurship and lower level of opportunity based entrepreneurship. (Bosma at al., 2012). The main tool for measuring entrepreneurial activity in countries is TEA index (TEA is an acronym which stands for "total early-stage entrepreneurial activity; originally, TEA measured "total entrepreneurial activity") and it represents the percentage of the adult population - either nascent entrepreneurs or owner-managers of baby-businesses. GEM defines two types of nascent entrepreneurs: those who started opportunity-perceived businesses and those whose businesses are necessity-based, started as the other options failed or were unsatisfactory. In all reports since Croatia joined the GEM project, the TEA Opportunity vs. TEA Necessity in Croatia has been positioned below the average for all GEM countries, which is the characteristic of poorer and entrepreneurially less successful countries. People in higher-income countries have more employment opportunities and better social welfare programs for unemployed, so they more often enter into entrepreneurship out of perceived opportunity. 1.2 Small- and medium sized companies in Croatia In 2009, Croatian small and medium-sized enterprises make up 99.4% of all registered businesses, 64.7% of total employment, 44% of the gross domestic product and 40.5% share in total exports of the Republic of Croatia (Strategy of Learning for Entrepreneurship, 2010, p. 11). Developed countries have an economic growth rate of 2-3% per year, but Croatia needs growth of 7% to 9% long-term to solve its economic problems. According to estimates by economic analysts, it is necessary to annually set aside 5% to 7% of GDP for interest payments of foreign debt (Delač, 2010). Thus, the population remains available to less disposable income, which inevitably affects the standard, state of health, education and other indicators of economic development, including the entrepreneurial activity. Many studies and analysis, both in Croatia and the EU, emphasize the importance of small and medium enterprises in the economy of the country and their potential contribution to the economic growth. Small and medium-sized enterprises achieve economic growth not only through creation of a large number of new companies, but also by encouraging diversity of entrepreneurship in regional and local communities. It is also recognized that the degree of diversification affects the potential for economic growth (Drucker, 1985). A component of TEA index - identification/recognition of business opportunities is described as the presence of job opportunities, availability of information about them and the ability to recognize opportunities into a venture (Singer at al., 2006, p 56). Previous GEM research has proven that there are entrepreneurs who started entrepreneurial activity because of the perceived opportunities, and they are more growth-oriented companies than those who were forced to become entrepreneurs due to unfavorable situation (Singer at al., 2006, p 16). In Croatia, there are more of these who enter into entrepreneurial activity out of necessity rather than those who become entrepreneurs due to perceived opportunities (Singer at al., 2006, p 17). The trend has been presented in the Table 1. Table 1: Identification/recognition of business opportunities Source: CEPOR, Letter to national experts responding to GEM questionnaire, 2011 In terms of recognition of business opportunities, after an initial lag reported in comparison to other countries, since 2004. Croatia maintains results close to the average recognition of business opportunities of all participating countries, but it is still lower in comparison to the best in class. These data raise the question of (1) competence of Croatian entrepreneurs to identify business opportunities and (2) possession of appropriate knowledge and skills to launch and grow business ventures. Research has not proven that entrepreneurial training will necessarily result in successful enterprise performance, but it has been proven that the entrepreneurs, who were not funneled through some form of education, tend starting non-innovative, common, already seen jobs. Almost 18% of the variability in a company's performance can be accounted for with entrepreneur knowledge (Gomezelj Omerzel and Antončič, 2008.). Training increases the potential for entrepreneurs to influence the factors prevailing in the firm's environment (Littunen, 2000) 1.3 Growing companies (gazelles) in Croatia As the awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship and sustainability is increasing, the need to research Croatian entrepreneurs has spurred. It has also been inspired by increased interest for the growing SMEs (gazelles) in the global markets. In 2006, Croatian business magazine Business.hr had launched the project Croatian Gazelles, and since then studied fast-growing Croatian companies, defined by achieving (cumulative) turnover growth of at least 30% in the three preceding years. Database with entries of 8787 companies for the period between 2006 and 2011 has been analyzed (business.hr). Among these companies, every year since 2006, there is a selection of the most successful fast-growing companies. Some of them report impressive growth rates expressed with three-digit or four-digit percentage growth rates, achieved in the reference period of three consecutive years. However, some of them demonstrate smaller growth in turnover, but they have been present for more then once at the 6 (six) annual listings of Croatian gazelles. Regional Distribution of the gazelles is presented in the Figure 1: Figure 1: Regional distribution of Croatian gazelles (2006-2011) Source: Business magazine Gazelles, special editions for each year (2006-2011) Figure 1 shows that the gazelles in the City of Zagreb outnumbered the gazelles in other regions. This finding will be confronted with the regional competitiveness index and the results of the research of offered education programs for growing companies. 2 Regional Competitiveness Index in Croatia Regional disparities are Croatian reality. The average income is three times higher in richer than in poorer regions, and it is necessary to implement adequate policies at national, regional and local level, in order to enable that entrepreneurial momentum spread to less developed regions and help them catch up with the developed ones. The Regional Competitiveness Index is a tool developed by the National Competitiveness Council of Croatia, based on the methodologies of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). It measures and ranks the competitiveness of the three regions (NUTS2): Northwest region, Central and Eastern (Pannonia) region, and the Adriatic region. It also measures and ranks the competitiveness of 21 counties (NUTS3). The Regional Competitiveness Index is also based on a set of factors, policies and institutions that affect sustainable productivity. It evaluates quality of business environment and business sectors, and the quality of their interaction. Figure 2: Statistical Division of Croatia (counties in 3 regions) Source: Regional Competitiveness Index of Croatia, 2010 According to the ranking results of three NUTS2 regions and 21 counties (Figure 3 and 4) 2), Northwestern Croatia is ranked first. It is followed by Adriatic Croatia in second place, then Central and Eastern Croatia in third. This is identical result as in 2007. Figure 3: Ranking of regions in Croatia in 2007 and 2010 Source: Regional Competitiveness Index of Croatia, 2010 Overview of the counties' rankings is based on the values of the 8 statistical indicators and 9 perceptive indicators of competitiveness. The top 5 counties are Varaždin County, the City of Zagreb, Istria County, Međimurje County and Zagreb County, which are also the top 5 in terms of the Regional Competitiveness Index. The ranking of these counties was the same in 2007, only Varaždin and Međimurje Counties and the City of Zagreb have switched places. Figure 4: Regional Competitiveness Ranking of 21 counties in Croatia in 2007 and 2010, and statistical and perceptive ranking in 2010 Source: Regional Competitiveness Index of Croatia, 2010 The counties ranked as least competitive are Požega-Slavonia County, Vukovar-Srijem County, Sisak-Moslavina County and Lika-Senj County, i.e. counties that suffered most in the Homeland War. All ten counties with the lowest competitiveness rank also have the lowest development index (below 75% of the average of the Republic of Croatia). This correlation suggests that the cause of their poor development is, for the most part, also the cause of their poor competitiveness. Regional Competitiveness Index measures statistical and perceptive values of competitiveness pillars. Network diagrams presented in Figure 5 illustrate their regional competitiveness profile based on the business environment and business sector quality. Figure 5: Regions' competitiveness profiles – statistical and perceptive indicators Source: Regional Competitiveness Index of Croatia, 2010 Business environment is measured through (a) statistical indicators (demographics, health and culture, education, basic infrastructure and public sector, business infrastructure), and (b) perceptual indicators (locational advantages, local government, infrastructure, rule of law, education, financial markets and local competition). The education is measured through both statistical and perceptual indicators. Perceptive indicators are showing better results of evaluation of education in all three regions then the statistical ones. Both indicators are the highest for the Northwestern region, and the perceptive indicator of education is higher then the statistical one, while the indicators for education in the Adriatic region are showing the opposite result: the statistical are almost twice as better then the perceptive ones. It is important to compare both indicators (actually: facts versus perception), and thus act accordingly: increase the number and quality of programs, or better market educational activities. Business sector is measured through (a) statistical indicators (investments and entrepreneurial trends, development of entrepreneurship, economics results – level, economic results – trends), and (b) perceptual indicators (technology and innovation, clusters, marketing and management). 3 Education for Entrepreneurship in Croatia Lack of research and development projects in education for entrepreneurship in Croatia is one of the main reasons for underdevelopment of the field. Research on educational needs is necessary to ensure successful and efficient development of entrepreneurial education in all aspects of education and learning. Specifically, the lack of systematic research in the field of education, especially education for entrepreneurship, makes strategic approach to the problem impossible. At the national level, the current state of education and learning for entrepreneurship is not specified, nor are the entrepreneurial competencies. Exact development guidelines are also not defined (Learning strategy for entrepreneurship 2010-2014", p 10.). 3.1 Data and Methodology The methodology included research of the regional specifics in GEM 2006-2010 data, on-going research on entrepreneurship education, regional entrepreneurial potential, quality of performance, and comparison of these findings with the Croatian gazelles' research (2006-2011) and regional competitiveness indices (2007, 2010). Since the GEM project is not primarily focused on growing companies and gazelles, and the research sample is quite small, the research might be significant just for indication of further research directions. However, the authors plan to do additional quality research in the future. 3.2 Previous Research A few research initiatives have been done and strategies have been written only recently to address this problem. The two that received the most attention are "Learning strategy for entrepreneurship 2010-2014" (from May 2010) and the survey conducted by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, with financial support from the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, titled "Analysis of the need for education and training in small and medium-sized companies, with special emphasis on entrepreneurial skills". It was firstly conducted in 2009 and planed to be carried out continuously. The survey analysed several segments of education: the use of governmental incentives for education, cooperation of economy and educational institutions, desirable entrepreneurial features of managers needed for future operations, and most wanted education profiles. The survey is presented in the Learning Strategy for Entrepreneurship 2010-2014 (May 2010), and generated a set of very useful suggestions for the decision makers: There is a need for organizing information campaigns that would encourage the small and medium-sized companies to use state incentives for education more frequently, Computer literacy must be enhanced, Planning of future governmental incentives must be done based on training needs analysis, The role of supporting institutions for entrepreneurship, in the development of small and medium-sized companies, must be enhanced, Cooperation between education and economy must be strengthened in order to increase competitiveness. Entrepreneurship, which is in most cases created from necessity, without adequate education and training programs, are hardly able to accept greater challenges. Training programs for entrepreneurs, created or supported by the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, and other national, regional or local institutions, mitigate such an approach and initiate new processes which support Croatian entrepreneurs during different phases of their entrepreneurial ventures. In addition to standard training programs for new entrepreneurs, there are also programs available in the growth and development phase that help entrepreneurs acquire necessary practical knowledge and skills. Accordingly, different institutions offer different possibilities of acquiring entrepreneurial knowledge and skills. Most of them are directed towards start-up entrepreneurs in order to help them overcome initial difficulties before and immediately after becoming entrepreneurs. They can be formal, non-formal and informal in nature. Formal education for start-up entrepreneurship is organized in schools (in charge of secondary education) and universities, polytechnics and vocational education institutions (in charge of higher education). Secondary schools with economic or entrepreneurial prefix in Croatia are grouped according to the statistical distribution of the Republic of Croatia in three main regions, and their distribution is shown the Table 2, based on information presented in the public document from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports: "Secondary Education Institutions and Their Programs": Table 2. The number of economic and entrepreneurial programs in secondary schools in three Croatian regions Source: Public document from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports: "Secondary Education Institutions and Their Programs" As it is evident from the Table 2, there is a problem of centralization of economic and entrepreneurial programs that are conducted mainly at the secondary education institutions in the City of Zagreb. Distribution of economic and entrepreneurial programs in the higher education is somewhat different. Specifically, although there is an obvious dominance of such programs in the City of Zagreb, the Adriatic region is at the forefront of their total number, with most equal distribution of all. The public document from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports: "Institutions of Higher Education" served as a basis for survey of number of economic and entrepreneurial programs in tertiary education institutions, presented in the Table 3: Table 3. The number of economic and entrepreneurial programs in tertiary education institutions in three Croatian regions Source: The public document from the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports: "Institutions of Higher Education Non-formal education is organized by different supporting institutions for entrepreneurship, such as: regional development agencies, centres for the promotion and development of entrepreneurship, technology parks, business incubators, and others. They are responsible for organizing round tables, workshops, seminars and conferences focused on the development of SMEs and entrepreneurship as a whole. They are working on promotion of self-employment in entrepreneurship, provide counselling, education and business information, preparation of business plans, as well as organizing joint fairs and trips to visit other centres in order to exchange experiences and disseminate good practice. Some of them additionally offer location and financial support. The list of supporting institutions for entrepreneurship is provided by the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, and their distribution is shown in the Table 4: Table 4. The number of supporting institutions for entrepreneurship in three Croatian regions Source: Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship As it can be seen in the Table 4, the absolute dominance in quantity, but also in variety of supporting institutions for entrepreneurship, is located in Osijek-Baranja and Split-Dalmatia County. Osijek-Baranja County is also known for its very good connection of institutions of formal and non-formal entrepreneurial education. The lack of supporting institutions are found in Lika-Senj, Virovitica-Podravina and Krapina-Zagorje County, which count only one supporting institution for the whole county - the development agency. That lack in quantity does not necessarily mean lack in quality, clearly illustrates an example of Krapina-Zagorje County with only one supporting institution - development agency, offering very diverse set of programs, particularly for start-up businesses. One of such is Virtual Business Incubator "Business Angel" – the program that consists of two parts: 1. Screening of the entrepreneurial concept and introduction to the holders of the projects – entrepreneurs; 2. Workshop which deals with topics of a business plan. The aim is that participants, as their final assignment, present their own business plan with clear indication of the need for investment. The best business plan is then rewarded with: certain amount of money grants, subsidized interest rates on credit, local warranty guarantee fund, consulting and mentoring services. The second program that draws attention is "Network for Developing Entrepreneurship", which encourages cross-border cooperation between Croatian and Slovenian regions. The aim of the program is to activate the target group of young people and enhance their entrepreneurial potential - to motivate them, to develop entrepreneurial and other skills needed for active performance in the labour market and develop new business ideas; and to ensure transfer of knowledge, experience and cooperation among potential young entrepreneurs and existing SMEs on both sides of the border. 3.3 Research During the process of articulating the research questions, it was discovered that previous research did not give enough attention to the issues of the context. For example, there is a lack of research on which context has the most impact on Croatian entrepreneurial activity in different phases (including start-up phase, survival phase, and growth phase) and what is the impact of developed soft entrepreneurial infrastructure (training, education) and other support mechanisms on success of some counties/regions in Croatia? Although a lot of research has been done about the impact of education on motivation to become entrepreneur, there is a lack of research dealing with the entrepreneurs' need to continue with education once they've become entrepreneurs. Due to distinct (almost extreme) regional differences, the significance of regional context in shaping entrepreneurship capital (including knowledge, skills, and other resources required for both start-up and growth of entrepreneurial ventures) should be carefully examined. The emphasis in this paper is given to the number and variety of educational programs aimed to growing companies. In order to diagnose the state of entrepreneurial learning, with the emphasis on non-formal programs created for the dynamic entrepreneurship, the authors of this paper contacted all of the mentioned institutions, centres, ministries and associations, at the national, regional and local level. The survey was sent to a total of 107 e-mail addresses of the relevant institutions for this question (the example of questionnaire that was sent to the institutions is available at the link https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGNMM0dST05GbDliZkVnNFBlRzVMUUE6MQ#gid=0). The contact persons have been carefully chosen to be responsible for our area of interest within their institutions. Only six representatives of supporting institutions filled in the questionnaire and four representatives sent an e-mail in response to an inquiry sent to them. Given the very low response rate, the authors have had to seek an alternative way of finding the necessary data and information, mostly through Internet sites of the institutions and personal contacts. VIDRA Agency for Regional Development of Virovitica-Podravina County, with its activities - training of numerous entrepreneurs, providing them with technical assistance and information about opportunities for their development and growth through various programs, has had a very positive impact on improving the business climate and business activities in the County. VIDRA's way has also contributed to a strong growth in the border area of Croatia – Hungary, initiating and taking part in cross-border projects from IPA. It was declared the most successful development agency in 2011. Besides VIDRA, it is also important to mention the following supporting institutions with distinguished programs for dynamic entrepreneurs: Development Agency Zagreb – TPZ, Zagreb County Regional Development Agency, Varazdin County Development Agency, PORA Development Agency of Podravina Prigorje, Osijek Centre for Entrepreneurship, Regional Development Agency PORIN, Science and Technology Park, University of Rijeka Ltd., Zadar County Development Agency, Istrian Development Agency, etc. 4 Research Findings According to the research done by the authors of this paper, complete educational support provided by supporting entrepreneurial institutions for start-up entrepreneurs in Croatia can be grouped into six sections: Programs that encourage cross-border cooperation between neighbouring countries and their regions (i.e. The Wealth of Rural Areas in a Joint Tourism Offer (CRO-SLO) Project, EDU-PRENEUR (Entrepreneurial Education for European Pupils/Students Innovators), Project "YES – Youth Entrepreneurial Spirit" (CRO-SRB), …); Programs that support entrepreneurship among certain target groups (i.e. Seminars for Women – New Entrepreneurs, The program of education and counselling of deaf women in entrepreneurship "We are Deaf, but Capable", Workshop on "Women in Business", Network for Developing Entrepreneurialism, EDU-PRENEUR, YIBE – Youth in Business and Entrepreneurship, Project "YES – Youth Entrepreneurial Spirit", Student Entrepreneurship Program – creating and running student mini-companies, Family Business seminar, …); Programs that facilitate entry into entrepreneurship by simulation of business start-up or by taking over someone else's business format ("Franchising from A to Z", Student Entrepreneurship Program, …); Programs that promote sustainable development of regions by specializing in a particular segment characteristic for that area (i.e. project "YES for Gorski kotar", Centre for Education in Tourism - CET "Sacred Hill", …); Implementation of projects and measures of the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship - "Education for Entrepreneurship" (i.e. Basics of Entrepreneurship, Introduction to Entrepreneurial Environment, Fundamentals of IT, Marketing, Business Plan, EU Funds, Negotiation Skills and Rhetorical Skills, …); Educational and advisory support for entrepreneurs protégés of a certain supporting institution (i.e. technology parks, business incubators, etc.). Research has shown that there is a wide range of educational services available for start-up entrepreneurs through non-formal education. However, most of them provided the standard programs of the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship. It is a smaller number of entrepreneurial supporting institutions that improve the average of the majority with highly innovative range of educational programs aimed at different target groups, fields and activities that go beyond expectations (i.e. Development Agency Zagreb - TPZ, Center for Entrepreneurship ROSA, Varazdin County Development Agency, Development Agency North, Business Park Bjelovar, Osijek Centre for Entrepreneurship, Centre for Entrepreneurship Pula, etc.). Informal education for start-up entrepreneurship happens in different settings: centres, schools and colleges, streets and shopping malls, people's homes, workplaces, and other social, cultural and sporting settings. Often, there is a combination of the few within the same day. Informal educators use a variety of methods, like: group work, casual conversation, play, individual work and casework. They place conversation at the centre of their activities (Smith, M. L. 1997, 2005, 2011). In the field of informal education in Croatia, there is a significant production of business content, but it is unsystematic. It is limited to web sites, web portals, specialized magazines, conferences, presentations and the like, where the contents are set up depending on the objective of creators of information. Others focus on motivating students to opt for entrepreneurship after completing their formal education. In Croatia, year after year, there are an increasing number of requests received by the National Council for Higher Education for approval of new studies and new universities with the entrepreneurial character. There is a possibility that such uncontrolled growth of interest will compromise the quality of higher education systems in Croatia. To illustrate, in 2006, the National Council for Higher Education received 65 applications for approval of proposed new undergraduate, graduate and vocational studies and 16 for the establishment of new universities. In 2007, applications for 91 studies and 22 new colleges were received. Such a sudden, uncontrolled rise of initiatives in higher education has already led to problems, especially in entrepreneurship education, where the greatest interest was presented (Report of the National Council for Higher Education, 2008). Many colleges and other high education institutions have lost or face losing their license to operate due to a number of reasons: lack of permanently employed staff having an appropriate level of education or the teaching title, inadequate teacher ratio to the number of students, and such. The University of Applied Sciences Vern' was one of the few private vocational high education institutions in entrepreneurship education, highlighted as example of good practice. According to the second part of the authors' research, complete educational support provided by supporting entrepreneurial institutions for dynamic entrepreneurs in Croatia can be grouped into six sections: Programs of assistance for entrepreneurs in times of crisis (i.e. How to Manage a Company in Times of Crisis, How to Understand Business Finance, Business Planning, Alternative Marketing, I Am My Own Designer, Secrets of Guerilla Marketing, Knowledge Required for Survival and Development, … Programs that support internationalization of businesses (i.e. How to Export – HIO, EU Funds, Creating a Successful Research, Benchmarking Export Plan, Market, Training center for new technologies, Innovative Cross-Border Network of Small Exporters - CB NET (CRO - SRB), Franchising from A to Z, Let the Internet be Your Sales Specialist, Seminar "How to Become an Exporter" and "Investment Planning for the Purpose of Export and EU Legislation Relating to Export", Promotion of Products and Services on the Internet, Inclusion of E-business, Improving Business Competitiveness Via E-business, … Programs that facilitate cooperation between businesses and research institutions (i.e. SPRINT - Continuous Support to Innovative and Technological Companies in the Cross-border Area (CRO and SLO)), Academy for Entrepreneurship, … Programs that promote sustainable development of regions by specializing in a particular segment characteristic for that area (i.e. Project "Development of Rural Tourism in the County of Zagreb" - Help of the Government of Flanders to the Countries of Central and Southeast Europe, By Association to Success: Clusters, the workshop entitled "The Importance of Cross-Border Clusters for Developing Economies of Both Regions" (Hungary-Croatia), workshop "The Role of Tradition in Establishing Tourism Destination Supply", Safety and Food Quality (HACCP and ISO 9001), Organic Agriculture and Manufacturing, Sustainable Development, … Implementation of projects and measures of the Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship - "Education for Entrepreneurship", "Improving business competitiveness via e-business", and others (i.e. Negotiation Skills and Rhetorical Skills, Quality Management, Business Planning, Project Cycle Management, Project Management, Personnel Management, Success by Partnership, "E-business" workshop, Risk Management, ... Specialized courses for a particular industry sector (i.e. Passive House, Pressure Equipment, intensive courses in certain business technologies, courses in advanced technologies programming and scripting, etc.). As far as formal education for the dynamic entrepreneurship, at undergraduate level, the only high education institution that offers courses on the subject is the University of Applied Sciences VERN'. The name of the course is "Dynamic entrepreneurship" and is mandatory course for the 3rd year students of the Entrepreneurial Economics study programme. In the first years of the programme, students are thoroughly acquainted with the basics of entrepreneurship, learning how to start their own company, to develop a business plan and to successfully implement it in their own entrepreneurial ventures. The "Dynamic Entrepreneurship" then introduces students to the process of growth in companies, in order to complete the spectrum of knowledge necessary for gaining practical experience through student practice or first employment. Other high education institutions offering business economics study programmes deal with dynamic entrepreneurship only superficially, as a few hour lectures within some other courses. At graduate level, there are several programs that recognize the importance of dynamic entrepreneurship. One of such is Graduate Program in Entrepreneurship which is carried out at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Economics. The aim of "Growth Strategies of SMEs" course is to develop a sound conceptually based approach to the practice of managing and supporting the growing SMEs. At the heart of the module is an exercise where the students undertake a growth audit in a company of their choice. The practice is that the owners of the chosen companies upon completion of the audit provide a critique of results. The second graduate program in Entrepreneurial Management can be found at the University of Applied Sciences VERN'. The course of interest within the program is called "Managing Business Growth". It explains company lifecycle and most common mistakes in each phase of company's lifecycle, and also provides advice on how to avoid or resolve these mistakes by building adequate managerial teams for each phase, and understanding the interests and commitments of various stakeholders. Overall responsibility for implementation and development of entrepreneurial learning in the education sector lies on the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports and its agencies, the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, Croatian Chamber of Economy, Croatian Chamber of Commerce, the Croatian Employers Association and the Croatian Employment Service, as members of the Coordination E4E-Entrepreneurship Education, and related institutions at national, regional and local level. E4E is the advisory body of the Croatian Government, whose task is to monitor and propose measures for the development of education and learning for entrepreneurship, giving opinions on draft laws and implementing regulations and monitoring of the Learning strategy for entrepreneurship and Action Plan. Since there is little experience on systematic entrepreneurial learning available even at the national level, let alone the regional one, of utmost importance are international institutes and different centres which are organized to support research and disseminate good practices on entrepreneurship education. One of such is the Regional Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning for Southeast Europe, initiated in 2007 by the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Croatia. The aim was to establish structured co-operation amongst the countries of South Eastern Europe (precisely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia /the Former Yugoslav Republic/, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) on life-long entrepreneurial learning. Initially it was financed solely by the Government of the Republic of Croatia, but now the bulk of the financial support is ensured by the European Commission within the framework of the Multi-beneficiary envelope of the IPA Programme. 5 Conclusion The paper provided an overview about regional distribution of gazelles, dynamic entrepreneurship education programs, and regional competitiveness index in the three Croatian regions. The authors defined the missing links related to maximizing regional competitiveness and growth oriented entrepreneurs, so as the contribution of dynamic entrepreneurship education programs to these goals. Entrepreneurs' motivation depends on perceptions of entrepreneurship and business owners, and affects the share of the growing businesses in the structure of the economy. Entrepreneurial efficiency therefore depends on the attitude of national policy makers to growing businesses (Singer at al., 2006, p 56). As long as the number of necessity-driven new entrepreneurs outnumbers opportunity-driven new entrepreneurs, the forecasts for growing and sustainable businesses are not promising. Since necessity driven businesses lack creativity, innovativeness and viability, domination of such start-ups will leave Croatia far behind the desired status of innovation-driven economy. Growing businesses are the most effective link between the entrepreneurial capacity and economic growth in the country (Singer at al., 2006, p 27). Developed countries with their economic policies tend to increase the number and viability of companies with growth potential, bearing in mind that well designed key entrepreneurial framework, appropriate interaction with macroeconomic conditions and tailor made support programs for majority of stakeholders are necessary to increase survival rate of companies and enable progress to those with potential to grow. Research has shown that there is a wide range of educational services available for dynamic entrepreneurs in Croatia through non-formal education. As opposed to the ones available for start-up entrepreneurs, these are much more specialized and tailored to the market needs and the needs of entrepreneurs themselves. They recognize the specific time and situation Croatian entrepreneur is confronted with today. Dominant themes are: export and EU legislation relating to export, preparing businesses for the use of EU funds, inclusion of e-business, assistance in times of crisis, etc. Several programs consist of a series of one-day workshops covering basic areas of business and basic business skills. The programs can last for several months, include a certain number of hours of free counseling, and the entrepreneur him/herself chooses a coach in one area in which business has the greatest need for advice and help. The number of fast growing enterprises (gazelles) is the highest in the City of Zagreb, which also represents the most competitive region in Croatia, and has the highest quality educational support for dynamic businesses. The growing companies are observed and evaluated through the innovative use of new technologies, innovativeness in developing new products, exposure to competition and the capacity of the new employment (Singer at al., 2007, p 29). It is noted that the application of new technology and capacity to create new products are basic assumptions of growing businesses. This is, in the same time, a justification for key recommendation to increase number, scope and quality of educational programs for dynamic entrepreneurs. Well-educated entrepreneurs and their innovative teams spread entrepreneurial attitude and have better chance to provide responses to changes in business on a timely manner. However, there are some gaps in the offer of education programs for sustainable, growing entrepreneurs and dynamic entrepreneurs. Increasing the number and quality of such programs, will reduce that gap, and thus, contribute to the increase in competitiveness of their countries and regions. The entrepreneurial results in Croatia could be much better with the appropriate attention to the educational programs to real job creators – fast growing companies. Furthermore, such programs should help in creation of enabling environment for expanding knowledge- and innovation-based entrepreneurship. The policymakers should, by all means, avoid situations where lack, decline or stagnation in providing support programs for growing businesses, particularly educational programs for dynamic entrepreneurs, fail to stimulate the economic growth through growth of the company. Better exposure of growing companies to educational programs may contribute to better use of potentials, and maximize both regional and national competitiveness in Croatia. References: • Abell, D. F., Köllermeier, T. eds. (1993). Dynamic Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe. Delwell Publishers, The Hague • Agencija za cjeloživotno učenje, Što je cjeloživotno učenje?, available at: http://www.aoo.hr/Page.aspx?id=21, [retrieved on 30.4.2011] • Agency for Science and Higher Education (2010). Number of students by HEI type in 2009/2010 [online]. Available at: http://www.azvo.hr/en/statistics/number-of-students--by-different-criteria/by-types-of-study-programmes-and-heis-in-20092010 [retrieved on 3.6.2011] • Birch, D. (1987). Job Creation in America: How Our Smallest Companies Put the Most People to Work. New York, Free Press • Borozan, Đ. (2008): Regional Competitiveness: Some Conceptual Issues and Policy Implications, p. 50-63. available at http://www.efos.hr/repec/osi/journl/PDF/InterdisciplinaryManagementResearchIV/IMR4a03.pdf, [retrieved on 3.4.2012] • Borozan, Đ., Frajman-Jakšić, A. (2007). Assessing the Croatian Competitiveness in the International Perspective, in: Contemporary Legal and Economic Issues, Barković, I., Lulić, M. ed. Faculty of Law, J.J. Strossmayer University in Osijek, Osijek • Bosma, N., Wennekers,S. and Amoros, J.E. (2012) Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2011 extended report: Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurial Employees Across the Globe, available at http://gemconsortium.org/docs/download/2200 [retrieved on 3.4.2012] • Business Dictionary (online), available at: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/competitiveness.html, [retrieved 4.4.2012] • Central Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Croatia, 2010. Croatia in figures. [pdf] Zagreb, Central Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Croatia, available at: http: //www.dzs.hr [retreived on 3.6.2011]. • Central Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Croatia, 2011. News. [online], available at: http: //www.dzs.hr/default_e.htm [retreived 3.6. 2011]. • Charan, R. and Tichy, N.M. (1998). Every Business Is a Growth Business. Times Books, Three Rivers Press • Commission staff working document: Progress towards the common European objectives in education and training (2010/2011) - Indicators and benchmarks (Brussels, SEC(2011), available at http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc/report10/report_en.pdf, [retrieved on30.4.2011] • Croatian Chamber of Commerce, 2008. Centar za razvoj ljudskih potencijala. [pdf], available at: http://www2.hgk.hr/en/depts/education/centar_za_ljudske_potencijale2008.pdf [retrieved 21.1.2012]. • Croatian Chamber of Commerce, 2011. Croatian economy 2010. [pdf], available at: http://www2.hgk.hr/en/depts/makroek/Hrvatsko%20gospodarstvo%202010%20godine.pdf [retreived on 18.1. 2012]. • Delač, D. (2010) Mikroekonomija za poduzetnike i menadžere. Zagreb: Grupa VERN d.o.o. • Drucker P., 1985. New Knowledge. In: S. Scott, ed. 2002. Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Practice and Principles, New York: Harper and Row, Ch.9. • E4E, 2011. About us. [online] available at: http://www.e4e.com.hr/?lng=en [retreived on 27.12.2011]. • EFER (1996): Europe's 500: Dynamic Entrepreneurs – The Job Creators. European Foundation for Entrepreneurship Research/Uitgeverij Delwell, The Hague • European Forum for Entrepreneurship Research, available at: www.efer.eu • Gazele, business.hr, www.business.hr/hr/Gazele • Gazelles (business magazine), special editions for each year (2006-2011) • GEM, 2007. Rezultati GEM istraživanja po godinama. [online], available at: http://www.gemhrvatska.org/rezultati2002.html [retrieved 18.1.2012]. • Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: Global perspective on entrepreneurial education and training (GEM Special Report on Education and Training), available at: www.gemconsortium.org, [retrieved on 23.4.2011] • Gomezelj Omerzel, D. i Antončič, B. (2008) Critical Entrepreneur Knowledge Dimensions for the SME Performance, Industrial Management & Data Systems (Vol. 108 No: 9, pp.1182 - 1199), available at www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0263-5577&volume=108&issue=9&articleid=1752505&show=pdf [retrieved 28.3.2012] • Government of the Republic of Croatia, 2010. Strategija učenja za poduzetništvo 2010-2014. [pdf], available at: http://eobrazovanje.mingorp.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/Strategija%20u%C4%8Denja%20za%20poduzetni%C5%A1tvo%202010%20do%202014%20usvojena%20na%2060%20sjednici%20Vlade%20RH%2010%2006%202010.pdf [retrieved 18.1.2012] • Graduate Program in Entrepreneurship, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek Department of Economics, available at: http://www.pspefos.hr/index_en.html [retrieved on 20.1.2012] • GrowthPlus (2006): Europe's 500 – Job creating companies. Key Results of 2005, available at: http://www.europes500.com/pages2/Key_results.htm [retrieved on 20.9.2006] • Investopedia (online), available at http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gazellecompany.asp#axzz1rgXbI2d7, [retrieved 4.4.2012] • Kelley, D., Bosma, N., Amorós, J.E. and Global Entrepreneurship Research Association (2011). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor - Global Report 2010, available at: http://www.gemconsortium.org/about.aspx?page=pub_gem_global_reports [retrieved on 15.03.2011] • Krings, B. (2006) The sociological perspective on the knowledge-based society: assumptions, facts and visions. Published in Enterprise and Work Innovation Studies No. 2 (November 2006) pp. 9-20. available at: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/7110/1/MPRA_paper_7110.pdf [retrieved on 26.3.2012] • Littunen, H. (2000) Entrepreneurship and the Characteristics of the Entrepreneurial Personality, in International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research (Vol. 6, No, 6, 2000, pp. 295-310), available at: www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=1355-2554&volume=6&issue=6&articleid=1455212&show=pdf [retrieved 28.3.2012] • Ministarstvo gospodarstva, rada i poduzetništva, Operativni plan poticanja malog i srednjeg poduzetništva za 2011. godinu, available at: www.mingorp.hr, [retrieved on 14.4.2011.] • Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship (2011). Operational Plan for support of SMEs for the year 2011, available at: http://www.mingorp.hr/default.aspx?id=1618 [retrieved on 16.3. 2011] p.5. • Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Institutions of Higher Education [retrieved on 16.1.2012] • Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Secondary Education Institutions and Their Programs" [retrieved on 16.1.2012]. • Nacionalno vijeće za visoko obrazovanje: Izvješće o radu Nacionalnog vijeća za visoko obrazovanje u 2007. godini, Zagreb, lipanj 2008. • National Council for Higher Education (2006) Report of the National Council for Higher Education in 2007, Zagreb, June 2008. • Povjerenstvo za obrazovanje odraslih: "Strategija i akcijski plan obrazovanja odraslih", srpanj, 2004. • Reference for Business, Encyclopaedia of Business (2nd ed.). Sustainable Growth, available at: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Str-The/Sustainable-Growth.html, [retrieved on 09.04.2011] • Schwab, K. ed. (2010) Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011. World Economic Forum, available at: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2010-11.pdf [retrieved on 2.10.2010] • Schwab, K. ed. (2012) Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012. World Economic Forum, available at: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GCR_Report_2011-12.pdf, [retrieved on 29.3.2012] • Singer, S., Lenardić, M. eds. (2007). Regional Competitiveness Index Croatia 2007 [pdf], National Competitiveness Council and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Croatia, available at: http://www.konkurentnost.hr/Default.aspx?sec=142, [retrieved 21.1.2012] • Singer, S., Lenardić, M. eds. (2010). Regional Competitiveness Index of Croatia 2010 [pdf], National Competitiveness Council and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Croatia, available at: http://www.konkurentnost.hr/Default.aspx?sec=142, [retrieved 21.1.2012] • Singer, S., Šarlija, N., Pfeifer, S., Borozan, Đ., & Oberman Peterka, S. (2003) Što Hrvatsku čini (ne)poduzetničkom zemljom?. [pdf], available at: http://www.gemhrvatska.org/Gemrezultati.pdf [retrieved 21.1.2012]. • Singer, S., Šarlija, N., Pfeifer, S., Borozan, Đ., & Oberman Peterka, S. (2006) Global Entrepreneuship Monitor: Što čini Hrvatsku poduzetničkom zemljom? Rezultati GEM 2002-2005 za Hrvatsku, CEPOR, Zagreb • Singer, S., Šarlija, N., Pfeifer, S., Borozan, Đ., & Oberman Peterka, S. (2007). Global Entrepreneuship Monitor: Što čini Hrvatsku poduzetničkom zemljom? Rezultati GEM 2006 za Hrvatsku, CEPOR, Zagreb, p. 8 • Smith, M. L. (1997, 2005, 2011) Introducing informal education (the encyclopaedia of informal education), available at http://www.infed.org/i-intro.htm [retrieved on 21.1.2012] • Središnji ured za razvojnu strategiju i koordinaciju fondova Europske Unije: "Program za cjeloživotno učenje", available at: http://www.strategija.hr/hr/fondovi/programi-zajednice/aktualni-programi-u-rh/llp-program-za-cjelozivotno-ucenje, [retrieved on 23.06.2010.] • Stevenson, H. (1993) The Nature of Entrepreneurship in Abell, D. and Köllermeier, T. ed. Dynamic Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe, 2nd edition, The Hague: Delwel Publishers (p. 3-5) • Strategija učenja za poduzetništvo 2010.-2014. Zagreb, svibanj 2010, available at http://www.e4e.com.hr/pdf/60_sjednica_vlade_rh_1.1_strategija.pdf, [retrieved on 20.6.2011] • Strategy of Learning for Entrepreneurship (2010), Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, Zagreb, Croatia, p. 11 • The Key Competences for Lifelong Learning – A European Framework as part of the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on key competences for lifelong learning, Official Journal of the European Union (30 December 2006/L394), available at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2006/l_394/l_39420061230en00100018.pdf, [retrieved on 24.10.2011] • Twaalfhoven, B. (1993) Chapter 2: The Role of Dynamic Entrepreneurs in Abell, D. F., Köllermeier, T. eds. (1993): Dynamic Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe. Delwell Publishers, The Hague • Twaalfhoven, B., Wilson, K. (2004) Breeding More Gazelles: The Role of European Universities, European Foundation for Entrepreneurship Research (EFER), available at: http://www.efer.eu/pdf/RP-Breeding%20Gazelles-TheRoleofUniversities.pdf [retrieved on 30.3.2011] Twaalfhoven, B., Wilson, K. (2006) Universities as Centers of Dynamic Entrepreneurship , European Foundation for Entrepreneurship Research (EFER), available at: http://www.efer.eu/pdf/Summary_of_Centers_of_Dynamic_Entrepreneurship_presentation.pdf [retrieved on 30.3.2011] • Wilson, K. (2008) Chapter 5: Entrepreneurship Education in Europe in Entrepreneurship and Higher Education, OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Programme, available at: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/10/13/42961567.pdf [retrieved on 23.4.2011] O avtoricah Gordana Ćorić, B.Sc. (Econ),University of Applied Sciences VERN'. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com Iva Senegovic, B.Sc. (Econ),University of Applied Sciences VERN' E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com Ivana Bekic, B.Sc. (Econ.),Polytechnics/University of Applied Sciences VERN' E-mail: email@example.com Nazaj


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Meet Juan Rios Cantu, an 18-year-old Mexican teen who happens to also be the CEO and co-founder of Higia, a startup tech company.
If you think about it, there are already a handful of entrepreneurs in their teens but what differentiates Cantu from his peers is his invention of women's underwear with a unique feature.
Called the Eva bra, the invention he designed has recently grabbed headlines for its potential to provide users with a means for the early detection of breast cancer.
The concept is so good that even the Mexican President has his eyes on Cantu.
With the Eva bra, the general idea is it uses tactile sensors to constantly monitor things like the color, texture and temperature of the user's breasts. These vital information can then be forwarded to an oncologist which is highly crucial for early detection.
And the thing is, Cantu's motivation for coming up with the potentially life-saving idea is nothing short of sad since he nearly lost his mom—who has undergone a double mastectomy—to the dreaded disease.
"When I was 13 years old, my mom was diagnosed for the second time with breast cancer... And all this pain and suffering, a result of a late diagnosis due to the fallibility of current breast cancer detection methods," he said.
For now, the bra is just a prototype but it already shows promise after winning this year's Global Student Entrepreneur Awards which granted Cantu a $20,000 (about P1 million) prize.
Here's to hoping that this wonder boy will eventually complete the Eva bra and have it rolled out for the public soon so we could see less women suffering from breast cancer. Way to go kid!

subset: commoncrawl


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We hope to despatch your order the next day if made before 12.00 noon, depending on how many orders we have to fulfil. No deliveries will be despatched on Mondays, Fridays or the weekend. Deliveries may be available at a minimal charge to local destinations, i.e 5 - 10 mile radius from Wadebridge. Delivery is only available to the UK mainland.
We prefer to send your products frozen, raw, packed with ice packs in a poly box so that you can bake them off as and when you like but we can,still send them freshly baked the day we despatch your order to ensure utmost freshness on delivery. If you receive your items cooked they can then be frozen for at least 3 months and reheated in either a microwave or conventional oven, ideally defrosted or from frozen. Cooking instructions for frozen items will be included in their label.
Please ensure you send the correct postal address including name and postcode, especially if different from your home address. If you are unable to stay in to receive delivery please make alternative arrangements or you will have to pick up from your local courier depot. We cannot take responsibility for spoilt goods due to non collection. If you have pacific instructions for the courier to leave the delivery at a certain spot/garage/porch etc please make this clear when you order.
Please include a telephone number for the courier's consignment note. If you would like to collect directly from us then please give us a ring on 01208 815600


text: Our showroom highlights all the brands we work with. Located in the heart of Copenhagen, on Klosterstræde 23, 3rd floor, our showroom is open Monday through Friday. In addition to a traditional showroom set-up, we have a "beauty room," in which beauty products can be showcased to their full potential.


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The Cambodian government gave away nearly 800,000 hectares (two million acres) of public land in concessions to private companies last year, a local human rights group said in a report Thursday, as Phnom Penh residents and villagers in northwestern provinces staged protests over land seizures.
Cambodia-based ADHOC said in its annual report that in 2011, the government issued 123 land concession licenses to private companies by transferring the status of land use from public to private.
The licenses cover a total of 752,000 hectares of land, two thirds of which are protected forest and wildlife preserves, it said.
ADHOC Director Thun Saray blamed the land concessions for provoking serious disputes across the country and urged the government to reconsider its policy.
"The government should keep the land for villagers. [It could] ask the private companies to bring good crops to plant and good planting techniques, but let the villagers farm and have the companies just wait to harvest and process it," Thun Saray said at a press conference launching the report.
"If we can do that, all parties will profit," he said.
Land disputes are a common problem in Cambodia, where an estimated 30,000 people a year are driven from farmland or urban areas to make way for real estate developments or mining and agricultural projects.
Cambodia's land issues date from the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime, which banned private property and forced large-scale evacuations and relocations throughout the country.
Thun Saray said that so far, the Ministry of Agriculture has given concessions of 2.2 million hectares of land—which amounts to 12 percent of Cambodia's total land area—to 225 companies.
He added that the Ministry of Industry has given 56 companies licenses to explore mines, and that there may be more companies that have received land licenses from other ministries.
Living standards
The government argues that it has made the land concessions to private companies in the hopes that people's living standards will be improved.
"The land concessions have improved the economic situation of and provided employment for villagers," Cambodia's Council of Ministers Spokesman Phay Siphan said.
"Their living standards have changed," he said.
But some disagree that the land concessions bring jobs and prosperity to many villagers, who are instead evicted from their homes.
Thun Saray said agricultural companies that were provided land concessions by the government had moved to evict villagers from the areas without compensation.
Opposition political Son Chhay said that the government's policy of giving land to private companies is not economically beneficial for the villagers involved.
"[They] result in evictions and increased poverty because those companies evict people without proper compensation," he said.
The land concessions have also provoked serious disputes over land and housing throughout the country.
In 2011, 127 communities were evicted from their land to pave the way for takeover by land concession companies, Son Chhay said.
Land disputes
Meanwhile, Cambodians in the northwest and in the capital staged protests over the loss of their land on Thursday.
In the northwest, more than 200 villagers protested in front of the Battambang provincial court, demanding it reconsider its decision to hand a plot of land they have been farming over to suspected land speculators.
The villagers, from Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces, said they had been farming the land since 2003 until the court handed the 600 hectares (1,500 acres) over to two tycoons.
They demanded that the the court reverse its decision and hand back the land, which they say is state-owned public land and therefore should not be given to private individuals.
In Phnom Penh, over 100 residents from the city's Boeung Kak community staged a protest in front of the city hall demanding that city officials recognize the demarcation of their community land.
The protest followed a promise last week from city officials to resolve issues over allocation of alternative land for evicted families based on an assurance from Prime Minister Hun Sen in September.
Nearly 20,000 people have either been evicted from their homes in the area or are at risk of losing them since a Cambodian-Chinese company, Shukaku, which is owned by a politician from the ruling Cambodian People's Party, was granted a 99-year lease in the area in 2007 and began building a luxury residential project.
The protesters denied an allegation made by a local newspaper that they are members of the political opposition and that their protest is designed to serve the opposition's interest.
"They want to confuse the public and [make them think] that the protest is not because of our housing. They want the public to think we are bad people," community representative Tep Vanny said.
Several residents were imprisoned on assault charges during the forced eviction.
Reported by RFA's Khmer service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.


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|« Back
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Senator Luz Escamilla holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing and a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah.
On November 4, 2008, Luz was elected to the Utah State Senate representing Senate District 1, becoming the first Latina elected in the Utah State Senate and the first immigrant elected in the Utah State Legislature. She is serving her third term in the Utah State Senate after being reelected in 2012 and 2016. Senator Escamilla serves in the senate leadership team as the Senate Assistant Minority Whip.
In 2005, Luz was appointed by Governor Jon Huntsman as the first director for the State Office of Ethnic Affairs. In this position, she oversaw the directors of Asian, Black, Hispanic / Latino and Pacific Islander Affairs. She currently works as vice president for Zions Bank in the Community Development Group representing Zions Bank in community and business relationships across the states of Utah and Idaho. At Zions Bank, she has worked as director for the Business Resource Center, as well as the Hispanic / Latino market manager.
Luz has served in many capacities in different boards of nonprofit organizations and other agencies. She currently serves on the boards of the Girls Scouts of Utah, Guadalupe Schools, and Primary Children's Hospital, as well as the Women in the Economy Commission.
Senator Escamilla has been honored with different recognitions including:


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Handcrafted heirloom quality furniture and built in cabinetry.
Using locally available woods our fine furniture is built from our own designs in limited edition.
We also accept commissioned signature pieces and offer one of a kind artisan inspired projects.
Saratoga Woodworks offers custom handcrafted furnishings and wood doors and windows.
Servicing custom orders all over Vancouver Island, serving our towns close by in Courtenay, Comox, and Campbell River as well as filling many custom orders to Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver and all over Canada and the US.
We create pieces that showcase the beauty of our local woods and last for generations.
Handcrafted Furniture Products Available:
- Coffee & End Tables
- Dining & Board Room Tables
- Built In Cabinetry
- Book Shelves
- Mantles & Bars
- Client designed products welcome
Every piece of valuable wood is hand selected and treated individually through the milling process.
This insures high quality control and minimizes waste. Saratoga Woodworks focus is on solid wood fabrication, we source many local woods here in the Comox Valley. For some of our heirloom pieces we have used Big Leaf Maple, Figured Maple, Rustic Maple, Wild Cherry, Alder, Yew, Douglas Fir and Walnut.
We can also create a signature piece with your very own special wood.
Let us create something functional and beautiful from a piece of wood that has extraordinary meaning for you. Our finished product is quite often the result of a design collaboration with Craftsman and client.


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A Night in Bethlehem
Wednesday, Dec. 13
Make this Christmas season an experience your family will remember! "Travel back" to ancient Bethlehem and see what daily life was like when Jesus was born. Children will be able to craft necklaces, knead bread, practice scroll writing, and more! Visit with friends in the Jewish home and learn about their customs and lifestyle. Before the night is over, the whole family will get to meet "Mary & Joseph" and hear about an amazing new baby, lying in the manger!
This event is FREE for the whole family, so invite your friends & neighbors. Nonperishable food donations will be collected for the ECHO Food Shelf.
Questions? Email Kari Rodman or call 507-387-5606.


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Opening Sequence
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What Trump can do to get U.S. factories out of China
N.Korea launches more short-range missiles
Powell reassures Fed will defend U.S. economy
Blinded under IS rule Iraqi teen realises radio dream
Closing Sequence


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2015 Formula One Rolex Australian Grand Prix: Free Practice Report
Nico Hülkenberg VJM08-01
FP1: 1:32.261 (P13) 19 laps
FP2: 1:30.473 (P10) 30 laps
Nico: "It was a fairly normal Friday with everything running smoothly. The long run performance was pretty good, especially the feeling and confidence I had with the car. So the balance is okay; it's just that we need to find some more performance, especially over a single lap. With almost 50 laps today I think we are quite well prepared going into the weekend.
Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team


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We now get into Nontransitive Dice and Other Paradoxes. If there is a transitive relationship between things labelled A, B and C, then if the relationship holds between A and B, and B and C, then it also holds for A and C. For example, if A is heavier than B, and B is heavier than C, then A is heavier than C. One of the most well-known examples of nontransitivity is the old rock-paper-scissors (or, rock-paper-scissors-Spock-lizard) game.
(All rights belong to their owners. Images used here for review purposes only. Efron's non-transitive dice.)
The above four nontransitive dice were created by statistician Bradley Efron. You allow a partner to choose one of the four dice, and you pick a die from the remaining three, You both toss your dice, and the highest number wins. Even though your partner picks first, you can always find one die from the remaining three that will give you a 2/3's chance of winning. The reason is that people have a preconceived notion that "more likely to win" is transitive between pairs of dice. In the above illustration, die A beats B, B beats C, C beats D, and D beats A.
Gardner goes on to talk about John Maynard Keynes "principle of indifference" (from A Treatise on Probability) – "If you have no grounds whatever for believing that any one of n mutually exclusive events is more likely to occur than any other, a probability of 1/n is assigned to each." That is, if you have 6-sided dice that are obviously not loaded or misshaped, each of the faces has a 1/6th chance of coming up on any given throw. With a coin, heads and tails have a 1/2 chance each. The problem is in deciding which events have equal probabilities of happening. Martin gives the following example.
You have a packet of 4 cards, two red, two black. You shuffle them and deal them face down in a row. Two cards are picked at random, such as by putting a coin on the desired ones. What is the probability that both of the selected cards are the same color? One argument is: "There are three equally probable cases: The cards are either both black, both red, or different colors. In two cases, the cards match, so the probability is 2/3." The second argument is, "There are 4 possibilities, The cards are either both black, both red, or card x is red and y is black, or x is black and y is red. Either they match or they don't, so the probability is 1/2." Puzzle for the week: What's the correct answer?
Or, say you have a covered bucket with red, yellow and blue balls inside, but you don't know what the distribution is for each of the colors. What are the odds that the first ball you pull out will be blue? Applying the principle of indifference, on the first try, either the ball is blue or it isn't, so you assign 1/2 to it being blue. Otherwise it will be red or yellow, so the odds for each are 1/4. But if you change the question to what are the odds of the first ball being red, then the probability of getting red first is 1/2 and for blue it's 1/4, which is a contradiction. The same argument can be used for whether there's life on Mars or not. The point is that if you don't know the probabilities for an event, the principle of indifference is going to fail you.
The "most notorious misuse" of this principle was by Blaise Pascal, and is known as Pascal's Wager. (Taken from the wiki article.)
""God is, or He is not." But to which side shall we incline? Reason can decide nothing here. There is an infinite chaos which separated us. A game is being played at the extremity of this infinite distance where heads or tails will turn up. What will you wager? According to reason, you can do neither the one thing nor the other; according to reason, you can defend neither of the propositions…
Yes; but you must wager. It is not optional. You are embarked. Which will you choose then? Let us see. Since you must choose, let us see which interests you least. You have two things to lose, the true and the good; and two things to stake, your reason and your will, your knowledge and your happiness; and your nature has two things to shun, error and misery. Your reason is no more shocked in choosing one rather than the other, since you must of necessity choose. This is one point settled. But your happiness? Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is." In other words, in matters of faith, always bet that the faith holds true. If it doesn't, you haven't lost anything (except for all that stuff your faith made you sacrifice along the way.)
The interesting thing is that you can make the same arguments with equal force to any of the other major faiths. And a similar version was written by H. G. Wells in Apropos of Dolores, "While there is a chance of the world getting through its troubles, I hold that a reasonable man has to behave as though he was sure of it. If at the end your cheerfulness is not justified, at any rate you will have been cheerful."
There's a lot of reader feedback in the addendum this time, and suggestions for other versions of the nontransitive dice. R. C. H. Chang, from Bath University, England, (at the time), came up with a game using one die. Each face is numbered 1-6, each number is a different color as shown in the chart. The first person picks a color, and the second player selects a different color. The die is thrown, and the person whose color has the highest value wins. Picking the color just to the right of player 1's in the chart will give you a 5/6 chance of winning.


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Jupiter Alto Sax Neck
This neck is specifically for the Jupiter alto models 769 and 767. It works with the Jupiter alto saxes with a Hi F#.
They used to come to me with a nickel-plated octave key. They now come to me with a lacquered brass key as shown. The lacquered brass key has the profile of the Roman god Jupiter engraved on the octave key.
I also have the Jupiter alto sax replacement neck for the Jupiter alto models 667 and 669. Also for alto with High F#. Drop me an e-mail if interested…see below.
November 17, 2015:
I got this inquiry:"I am looking to replace a bent saxophone neck for an old Jupiter SAS-767. I see that you have a replacement that says it is for one with high F#. The old neck has the "cutout" for the F#. Does the new one have this cutout?"
To which I replied: "I buy the necks from a reputable source, but none of them have a cutout in the tenon. I had, frankly, not really considered that. If the F# tonehole is in the neck receiver, the full neck tenon would at least partially occlude/obstruct it."
The Outside Diameter of the tenon is 24.4mm. The tenon length is 21 mm.
Shipping to continental U.S. via USPS Priority flat rate small package for $6.50. For overseas shipment, please contact me.
This is a factory new item. No returns.
I also have the Jupiter #667GN neck available. It is intended for the Jupiter alto models #667 and #669. Frankly I see no difference between the #767 and #667 necks, but maybe there is a difference nonetheless.
I haven't written a webpage for that yet, so you will have to contact me directly. It is $10 more ($99) plus shipping.
E-mail me to place an order. Thanks.


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I have three upcoming posts in the works:
1-on the adventures of a Scion owner
2-on the books I've read recently
3-on why I like the term "Christian humanist"
Stay tuned.
PS-Sorry Sheffield. I know you hate teaser posts.
Friday, February 26, 2010
And coming soon...
I have three upcoming posts in the works:
Posted by JD at 6:25 PM
1 comments:
- Sheffield said...
Coming soon...my thoughts on this post.
- February 28, 2010 at 3:42 AM
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Recommended by 96%
4 User photos
Leighanne · Married on 06/23/2012
Cielo at Castle Pines is a beautiful venue and a perfect dream for every brides wedding. The entire staff was extremely professional and helpful to make our big day everything we had imagined. From the elegant set-up to the promt and knowledgable service, the team at Cielo made every effort to make sure our wedding ran smoothly and that it did! The day could not have been more perfect. A huge thank you to Stacy, Roz and the rest of the staff for their great efforts!Sent on 08/01/2012
Sydney · Married on 07/14/2019
Cielo at Castle Pines
Cielo at Castle Pines has been amazing. The venue is outstanding and all the staff has been amazing. They really work hard to make your experience everything you want.Sent on 12/16/2018
Amber · Married on 07/13/2019
Amazing venue
This place was gorgeous and the staff were outstandingSent on 07/29/2019
Rachel LaHoda · Married on 06/15/2019
The most amazing venue
We had our June wedding at Cielo and I am so SO happy we did. The venue was absolutely perfect and looked amazing. I had so many guests compliment our venue with comments such as "it looks magical" "this is the perfect place" "this is absolutely stunning." Beyond being absolutely beautiful, the staff is incredible. We worked with Stacy throughout this process, and she is such a wonderful human. Everything went off so smoothly and they are pros at making things run smoothly and preparing for the day so that you aren't worried at all when it actually gets here. the entire staff are genuinely kind lovely people, and care about you and making this experience everything you want it to be. I wouldn't change a thing if I could do it all over again, which is such a huge gift in and of itself. I highly highly recommend this incredible venue.Sent on 07/29/2019
Meagan · Married on 03/09/2019
Amazing Venue
Venue staff is very accommodating and the pictures do not do the venue justice! It is absolutely beautiful!Sent on 08/04/2019
Jennifer · Married on 09/03/2017
I can't say enough about Cielo and the staff that work there. At the time I was looking at venues, my fiance had just returned from overseas and we were moving to his new duty assignment. As a result we booked the venue almost two years before the wedding. I was a little nervous at first because of some of the horror stories of venues double booking or forgetting about a booking when it was made so far out. However, the staff at Cielo stayed in contact with me over the last two years, answered all of my questions, and helped ensure that everything went smoothly, and even offered to help when we had a slight mix up with the transportation. The venue was lovely, the staff were excellent, and we got the wedding of our dreams. Quick clarification, the total money we spent at Cielo also includes the bar package we purchased.Sent on 09/08/2017
Elizabethkloeppel · Married on 08/19/2017
Great experience
We had a good experience here. We loved the space and elegance of cielo as well as how professional the staff was.Sent on 03/01/2019
Katherine · Married on 06/22/2017
What a beautiful Gem and a class act place. My husband and I wanted an outdoor ceremony but an indoor reception. I should start by saying this was a destination wedding, we live in Arizona. We had only the website of the venues to sell us on their venue. Cielo was the only place that was exactly what you see on the website. Their website had a ton of helpful information from up to date price list to vendor information that ultimately helped us find our wedding planner as well. This venue is a wonderful family owned place. This place has the trees an outdoor gazebo and it has the beautiful elegance of high ceilings, gorgeous staircase, and bridal suite. They are very hands on and very detailed to make sure you don't miss a thing for your wedding day! Because of their detail and our wedding planner I was not worried at all on my wedding day. This venue has a short scenic drive to it that sets a wonderful mood for a beautiful venue. We were so glad we chose Cielo at Castle Pines.Sent on 07/30/2017
Britta · Married on 12/17/2016
I would get married there again next weekend! I loved it! Such a beautiful venue. So helpful the day of the wedding!Sent on 12/27/2016
Ashley · Married on 09/20/2015
Cielo at Castle Pines was the perfect venue for my wedding and reception. The bridal suite easily fit me, my six bridesmaids, and my mom as we were getting ready for the big day. We were also able to book them for 12 hours so I was able to spend most of my time getting ready at the venue. I decided to place my ceremony in front of the waterfall which provided a gorgeous background for my ceremony pictures! The main room is perfect for any reception because there is a lot of space so they can have a large wedding as well as spread out tables nicely if there aren't a ton of guests. I loved the fireplace and spiral steps, they added really elegant touch to an already beautiful room! The staff was also really professional and helpful thought my entire planning process! I would recommend Cielo at Castle Pines to anyone because they will help you have the wedding of your dreams!Sent on 10/27/2015
Stephanie · Married on 08/14/2015
Cielo is really a great place for a wedding if you want to have the ceremony and reception in the same place. It is so beautiful, that you can really cut down decorating costs because the venue itself is so great. I had an outdoor ceremony. You can get the perfect tree backdrop, while keeping it accessible for grandparents. Not only that, it is also not far from hotel accommodations. The fountain and fire pit where also so easy to use for photos. Even the guests took advantage of the beautiful venue for their photos.Sent on 11/09/2015
Julie · Married on 07/25/2015
Had a beautiful and wonderful wedding! Would absolutely recommend Cielo to others. The staff is so easy to work with and so flexible!Sent on 08/02/2015
User4409223 · 2+ years ago
Cielo at Castle Pines was the perfect place to host our wedding! We fell in love with the place when we walked in! Stacy, Todd and Angie were all amazing people to work with! We would recommend Cielo to anyone! They made our wedding a dream come true!Sent on 05/28/2015
Karen · Married on 10/19/2013
Our wedding on October 19th, 2013 was BEAUTIFUL! The ceremony space and reception hall are both so beautiful and spacious at Cielo. Not only that, the weather was gorgeous. Stacy and the rest of the staff were so easy to work with, and so helpful. Stacy was so quick with her email replies, and that's really important when you're a stressed bride that needs to know an answer, ASAP. We planned out an indoor option in case of bad weather, which would have been just as beautiful as the outside option. Certain months there are discounts on rates for being the "off-season" which was really nice! I would definitely recommend Cielo if you're looking for a pleasant experience with a venue that has a Colorado feel :)Sent on 10/28/2013
Amanda · Married on 08/31/2013
Thank you SOO much!!Sent on 09/30/2013
You made my Wedding Day SO special!! This venue was absolutely beautiful, and we had nothing but AMAZING compliments from our guests. I will never forget this day, and I have your facility to thank! I will definitely recommend you to family and friends.
Thank you SO much!
Amanda Nickerson
User2741231 · 2+ years ago
Cielo at Castle Pines is a beautiful place to have a wedding. The staff is very helpful and friendly! I would highly recommend to anyone who is looking to have their wedding in an outdoor setting with a little bit of elegance!Sent on 06/19/2013
User2890338 · 2+ years ago
Cielo is such a BEAUTIFUL Venue!Sent on 12/21/2012
User1587688 · 2+ years ago
The moment you pull up to Cielo at Castle Pines you know it will be stunning inside and out and stunning is even an understatement! Everything about the venue is beautiful. This is the perfect setting for an amazing indoor/outdoor wedding. The staff is very friendly, accommodating and knowledgable. The only concern was the expense for the venue and the alcohol, but if having a spectacular venue is on the top of your must have list for your wedding, as it was for me, then Cielo is the right place for you!Sent on 07/31/2012
Lindsey · Married on 09/09/2011
Great people and extremely easy to work with!Sent on 01/06/2012
Lindsey · Married on 10/10/2009
I couldn't have asked for a better venue. Aside from being absolutely gorgeous (wall-to-wall windows, hardwood floors, marble and granite counter tops, bridal suite, grand staircase, foyer, large fireplace, behind-the-scenes catering kitchen, and surrounded by pine trees outside), Cielo at Castle Pines was friendly, patient, and accommodating. Always available when I needed to call, they worked with my schedule, my vendors, and around what I wanted (when I wanted it). Stacy, especially, was a godsend. She helped everyone stay happy and organized. I am a tough critic and thanks to Cielo, this was one of the best days of my life. They were PERFECT (that's right - perfect) and worth every penny.Sent on 11/10/2009
Although their profile says no outside catering is allowed, you can choose from a list of preferred caterers. Aside from alcohol, the caterer is the only list from which you must choose a vendor (you can have anyone else for any other vendor service). No outside alcohol is allowed due to liquor license restrictions.
Sheridan Fidelman · Getting married on 05/23/2020
Love love love cielo!
Cielo was the first venue we looked at for my daughter's wedding. After looking at another 8 venues we came back to Cielo and booked it. Stacey is so easy to work with and we are looking forward to a beautiful wedding in 2020.Sent on 03/09/2019
Sara · Married on 05/26/2012
Stacy and the whole staff at Cielo did a fabulous job with our wedding. We have received nothing but positive feedback about the venue and how beautiful it was. My husband and I fell in love with Cielo the moment we stepped inside, its beautiful hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings are breathtaking! The only reason I have to give 4 out of 5 on value is that the liquor options are pretty expensive but besides that it was well worth the money.Sent on 06/24/2012
Nicole · Married on 09/25/2009
The Cielo staff are great. They are very on top of everything and organized. Its quite expensive but worth it. In my opinion, it is one of the only venues that can be switched from an outdoor to an indoor ceremony quickly and without chaos and inconvenience. Its just as beautiful inside as it is outside. I would highly recommend this venue.Sent on 04/08/2010
User2481619 · 2+ years ago
When Geoff and I started the process of looking for a location for our wedding we wanted to find a place that could hold both the ceremony and reception... with the ceremony outside and the reception inside. We toured many different placed all over the Front Range and Cielo had us from the moment we stepped inside. It is beautiful, stunning, elegant, luxury, and perfectly Colorado. The gardens outside and the grand hall inside were the perfect spot for our wedding day. The bridal suite and grooms room were perfect for getting ready and hiding away before we began. Stacy and Roz were both fantastic to work with and very responsive to all questions. Cielo is worth every penny. We loved it and I cannot wait to get all of my pictures back to show the stunning background.Sent on 06/17/2013
Jill · Married on 07/30/2011
Cielo is a beautiful facility. I got to take my grandmother and mother with me to a bridal show about a year before the wedding and all they could talk about what how beautiful it was. One of the things I was most excited about was showing the venue off to all my friends and family. Cielo is beautiful inside and out and exudes class and elegance. The size, decor, style, and appearance were unmatchable. We received so many compliments on the venue and how elegant the reception was. Picture perfect!!Sent on 10/18/2011
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Prayer as Privilege
Ever try defining what prayer is to you? Prayer can be defined or described in so many ways! From talking to God, a petition to God, earnest request to God, to commune, supplicate, plead to a divine being, etc.
The fact is that we can come up with so many meanings and definitions for what prayer is and what it personally means to us, but can we actually agree with one particular word to describe prayer? I propose that one word best describes prayer, and that word is privilege!
I keep coming to this word when it comes to what I see prayer as! Why? Well, the fact is that anyone can define what prayer means to them, but when we actually label prayer as a privilege we personalize it, and it will have more of an impact to our prayer life (or at least it should).
Personally, it impacts my life because seeing prayer as a privilege moves my actions of prayer from "I got to pray" or "I have to pray" to "I get to pray" and "I want to pray"!
So knowing that prayer is actually a God given privilege and that we have a so called "open door" to God's throne, and that the Creator of the universe delights in listening to our prayers, why is it so difficult to pray? In short, it's all about relationship. Prayer will always be way simpler to communicate and share your heart with someone, especially when you have a great relationship with them.
Mercy Hill Church and the Mercy Hill Prayer Ministry would like to help you see prayer as a privilege. Here are a few of upcoming prayer events at Mercy Hill:
- Worship & Prayer Night
- At our Lake Country location on Wednesday, April 20 at 7PM
- The third Wednesday of every month
- A night of seeking God & lifting up needs
- Worship, Prayer & Fasting
- At our Bay View location on Friday, April 29 at 6PM
- Prayer team members present from 6PM to 12AM and a time of worship every hour
- We invite you to also join us for a 24 hour fast starting and ending at 6PM
- We will break the fast together with dinner at 6PM on Saturday, April 30 followed by Worship Experience at 6:30PM
- Weekly Prayer Meeting
- Every Wednesday at 6:30PM in Bay View
It is a time to come together to pray and intercede for the church
- Every Wednesday at 6:30PM in Bay View
Finally, if you would like to reflect on prayer during your devotional time this week, I suggest you reflect on one of the following verses: Jeremiah 33:3, Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 88:13, Psalm 99:5, James 5:16b, Matthew 26:41, Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 11:27, 2 Chronicles 33:12


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Join the A-Team
Each year, thousands of people from all over the world enjoy 3 days of music, camping, and more at Alive. However, it all couldn't happen without the help of our amazing volunteers. We have a variety of positions ranging from Guest Services, to Stage Crew. If you're interested in joining the A-Team at Alive this summer, we'd love your help!
Want to earn free tickets and other awesome perks by bringing your friends to Alive? Join our Alive Ambassador Program! When you sell tickets to your friends, you can earn rewards to make your Alive experience even greater.
Stay tuned for 2020 info.
In addition to 3 days packed with entertainment and other activities, there will be a variety of unique and interesting goods for sale in our Marketplace, plus delicious food and drink. Over the three days, thousands of attendees walk through our Food Court and Marketplace tent. If you're interested in having your company, non-profit, school, or food vendor be represented at Alive 2019, check out the info and applications below.
We greatly appreciate all efforts to support and promote the ministry of the festival. Feel free to download videos and graphics from our Alive 2019 Promo Pack below to share with your church, student ministry, workplace, or any other area you'd like! If you'd like festival flyers to distribute or a retractable popup banner for your church, let us know. Also, if you're interested in heading up an "Alive Sunday" at your church—a weekend where you show our promo video and talk about Alive—please get in touch with us.
Each year at Alive, we have a talented team of photographers help us capture all the incredible things happening at the festival. Many of the images go on to be used on the website and social media platforms. If you'd like to join us as a volunteer photographer at Alive 2019, learn more and apply and the link below.


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- Local
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- Message from the President
Tatiana Tatarinova, Head of Computational Biology at the University of Glamorgan
She thinks if we could develop medicine which are taken our genotype and other information into account, there would be more effective to prevent cancer. To achieve her goal, the Fujitsu's supercomputing system is irresplaceable.
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The Story of Your Life pt. 5 My Next Step Today Is:
- I will seek to memorize James 1:19
- I am determined to live a lifestyle of restraint
- Whatever I do, I will seek to do it all for the glory of God.
- I will invite someone to come with my family to church this next Sunday.
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Father Dylan's Sermons & Talks
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever -Heb 13:8
Sunday, 20 July 2014
No Sermon this week: Back for next Sunday!
Fr Dylan is away this Sunday on his summer holiday
Posted by
Fr. Dylan James, Catholic Priest in West Moors, England
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