9) Marie Kubanková, Project manager, Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic)
1. Was it the first time for you to participate in a peer review?
Yes, the participation in the SKILLS+ project peer review was a new experience for me.
2. Why did you decide to participate in the SKILLS+ peer review exercise?
I welcome challenges , and once it was established that VSB – Technological University is a partner of the INTERREG EUROPE project, becoming a peer was a great experience for me.
3. What did you like most about the peer review?
I found the discussion with the representative of Managing Authorities, ICT clusters and also SMEs , amusing. I carefully considered the discussion among experts along with the exchange of views, and came to the concluded comparison.
4. How will the learning gained from the peer review be helpful in the future?
Our team and myself included, enhance our involvement in international projects in general, in the peer review process and also in the area of ICT. Participation in project activities brings the „bigger picture” into view, and also highlights the necessity of considering ICT as key enabling cross technology that requires new ways of management acess to the full potential of the internet .
10) María José Pérez Pérez, Project manager, Castilla y Leon Regional Government - Regional Ministry for Culture and Tourism (Spain)
1. Was it the first time for you to participate in a peer review?
It has been the first time for me to participate in a peer review.
2. Why did you decide to participate in the SKILLS+ peer review exercise?
I actually didn’t decide to participate in the SKILLS+ peer review. It was part of my duties as officer of Castile and Leon dedicated to the project management.
3. What did you like most about the peer review?
What I liked the most it’s that it has been an opportunity to learn first-hand by discussing directly with people daily involved in issues regarding the project objectives. I think that the dialogue climate created between the review team and the host could be further exploited in future activities.
4. How will the learning gained from the peer review be helpful in the future?
I have learnt more about the issues tackled in the project and I believe that it’s going to be useful for my job as project officer in the next steps of the project’s activities.
Also, personally speaking, it has been a rewarding experience to expend more time talking to project partners. It’s not new that discussing themes around a table with colleagues is always a very good way to exchange ideas and learn. I think that this format is useful when partnerships are already a bit mature but still have time ahead to exploit all the benefits coming out of the trust and climate created.
11) Andžejs Stepančuks, Spatial Planning Expert, Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia)
1) Was it the first time for you to participate in a peer review?
Yes, this was my first time.
2) Why did you decide to participate in the SKILLS+ peer review exercise?
It was a great opportunity to meet real and what’s is also important successful entrepreneurs and support organizations from other country and participate in this shared experience which combined learning from others as well as sharing some of our own achievements.
3) What did you like most about the peer review?
Informal atmosphere combined with platform to ask any question imaginable to dig deep and understand why some of support mechanisms have succeeded while others have failed, the same applies to companies and their stories.
4) How will the learning gained from the peer review be helpful in the future?
I have already shared my experience with colleagues and we will definitely use it in our daily work related to entrepreneur support and digital uptake in our region which is predominantly rural.
12) Ana Odvitović, Head of Business Related Infrastructure Sector, Innovative Zadar Ltd. (Croatia)
1. Was it the first time for you to participate in a peer review?
Yes, it was the first time for me to participate in a peer review, so I can't exactly make any comparisons.
2. Why did you decide to participate in the SKILLS+ peer review exercise?
SKILLS+ peer review exercise seemed like a good opportunity to discuss common isuses with colleagues from other countries, as well as to learn from already established good practices.
3. What did you like most about the peer review?
I think open discussion and networking was the most valuable part of peer review.
4. How will the learning gained from the peer review be helpful in the future?
The whole experience and meeting new colleagues was a very valuable personal experience for me. However, I think even greater value will arise from developing cooperation among stakeholders included and implementing good practices from the other countries in our area.