Slide number1 The School Education Action of the European Community’s Programme “Socrates” on Education 2 nd phase: COMENIUS

Participating countries 15 EU Member States EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) Associated countries (bilateral association agreements) : –Central and Eastern European Countries –Cyprus –Malta –Turkey

Comenius - 3 actions 1.SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS 2.TRAINING OF SCHOOL EDUCATION STAFF 3.NETWORKS

Comenius 1 SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

Comenius 1 Three project types : Comenius School Projects Comenius Language Projects Comenius School Development Projects

Comenius School Projects Objective : to develop and reinforce the European dimension of school education Format : at least 3 schools from at least 3 countries for 3 years maximum Area : any theme or topic of common interest to the participating schools

Comenius Language Projects Objective : to improve pupils’ motivation and capacity to learn foreign languages Format : 2 schools in 2 countries for 1 year

Integrated and multidisciplinary projects Part of regular school activities Part of the pupils’ program of study Involve several groups of pupils/classes Bring together various disciplines Involvement of as many pupils and teachers as possible

Comenius School Development Projects Objective : to improve school management and pedagogical approaches School centered : management and staff Format : at least 3 schools in at least 3 countries for 3 years maximum Area : any theme or topic relating to management and pedagogical approaches of common interest to the participating schools

Examples Integration of pupils with special educational needs Integration of ethnic minority groups Preventing and combating racism and xenophobia Conflict resolution; prevention of violence Equal opportunities between girls and boys Acquiring skills in the language of instruction Adapted teaching methods; classroom management Involvement of mediators and teaching assistants Involvement of parents and the local community Co-operation and co-ordination with local authorities such as social services, health services, employment services, youth services and the police

Partners other than schools Objective : to embed projects in a wider school and local environment Examples : parents’ associations, pupils’ associations, local and regional authorities, businesses, associations, non-profitmaking organisations, NGOs, museums etc.

Mobility Support for : –Staff –Pupils Differences according to type of project

Staff Mobility Outside projects : preparatory visits Within projects : –transnational project meetings –head teacher study visits –teacher exchanges –teacher placements –accompanying class exchanges (for language projects only)

Pupil Mobility Comenius School Projects Comenius School Development Projects Comenius Language Projects participation of limited number of pupils in transnational project meetings class exchanges for min. 14 days of min. 10 pupils aged 12 years and above

Financial support Standard amount Variable amount Various project costs Transnational mobility of staff and pupils

Project grant (1) Standard amount : –max 2000 € / year for co-ordinating school –max 1500 € / year for partner school Does NOT cover : –staff costs –transnational mobility Covers : –linguistic preparation –consumables –translation –documentation –software –general administration

Project grant (2) School Projects : –appr. 4-6 staff / year / school –appr. 2-4 pupils / year / school Variable amount : –travel costs : real cost –subsistence costs : for staff in exceptional cases for pupils max. SOCRATES rates

Management Decentralised action Your contact point your National Agency Next deadline: 1 February 2005

National Agencies National Agencies : provide information to schools receive and select applications allocate grants issue contracts and make payments monitor projects and assess project reports

Links with other actions Schools can also : host Comenius Language Assistants participate in Comenius 3 networks

Hosting Comenius Language Assistants Interested schools : send application to National Agency may receive an assistant for 3-8 months do not receive any financial support

Participation in Comenius 3 Interested schools can : obtain information on networks from their National Agency apply for a preparatory visit grant to take part in a network contact seminar apply for mobility funds (the 7 th mobility for staff) within their project to participate in network activities and events