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European Commission launches Comenius Regio
03.11.2008, 10:46
The European Commission on 3rd November launched Comenius Regio, a
new action under the Lifelong Learning Programme, at a conference in
the Committee of the Regions. With an annual budget of EUR 16 million,
Comenius Regio Partnerships will support cooperation between local and
regional authorities, schools and other learning organisations across
Europe.
The European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel', said: "Europe's diversity is a stimulus and an opportunity for our school children. School masters and education authorities are increasingly recognising just how valuable it is to make it easier for schools to interact and learn from each other throughout Europe. Already, over 30,000 schools take part in the 'virtual' partnerships offered by our eTwinning programme, for example. Now I am pleased to be able to add Comenius Regio to the 'tool box' for promoting understanding among our youngsters in Europe. This action will help satisfy the demand that exists among educational authorities for facilitating cross-border cooperation among schools in Europe."
The President of the Committee of the Regions, Luc Van den Brande, underlined: "European cooperation in the field of education means direct investment in Europe's future. For students and teachers alike, Comenius Regio will offer new perspectives for European partnerships. All over Europe, regions and local authorities are responsible for education policies. Comenius will provide them with financial support and practical tools for the exchange of best practices. The Committee of the Regions fully supports this outstanding initiative."
Comenius Regio Partnerships fund regional cooperation in school education, and promote the exchange of experience and good practice between regions and municipalities in Europe. They aim to help regional or local authorities with responsibility in school education to improve educational opportunities for school-age children. Within these bilateral cooperation projects the two participating regions are free to choose any topic of relevance and interest to them. For example, projects could work on school management issues, better integration of pupils with migration backgrounds, entrepreneurship education or reducing early school leaving.
Schools and other relevant partners within the region or municipality, such as a youth club, a library or museum, must be integrated in project activities. Both cross-border cooperation and cooperation between regions in different parts of Europe are welcome.
Comenius Regio Partnerships can contain a wide range of actions like exchanges of school education staff, joint teacher training activities, peer learning or study visits. They can also launch a variety of other activities in the regions involved, for instance surveys, trials of new educational approaches or awareness-raising campaigns.
The deadline for applications for grants is 20 February 2009. Applications must be made by the local or regional school authorities. Successful applicants will be selected by summer 2009, and the actions can start from August 2009. The grants will support partnerships for two years. The funding will contribute to the costs of mobility between the partner regions and the project activities.
The Commission expects to fund around 500 regions through the Comenius Regio action. It is managed by the Comenius National Agencies in each country taking part in the Lifelong Learning Programme.
To find out more:
European Commission home page for the Comenius programme:
www.ec.europa.eu/education/comenius
List of Comenius National Agencies:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/national_en.html
Source: www.cor.europa.eu