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ACA Newsletter nr 415 March 2001
The European Union aims to become "the world's most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy within 10 years, capable of sustained economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion". To reach this goal, one is intensifying the efforts in training and education. On the Europa server, it has been established a webpage on this issue, containing an overview of initiatives and political priorities. The page can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/top_agenda.html
In connection with the Stockholm Summit of 23-24 March, the European Commission adopted on13 March a Communication on the Impact and Priorities of the eEurope 2002 Initiative. The document contains an analysis of existing actions and sets priorities for the future. The e-Europe initiative is a part of EU's strategies for increasing access to and active use of the Internet. The report gives an overview of the development in the use of Internet in the EU countries. The number of users is rising, but the Commission would like to see even higher numbers, especially in regarding the possibilities for e-business. The document can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/information_society/eeurope/index_en.htm
In a Press Release of 26 February 2001 the European Commission welcomes the European Parliament and Council adoption of a Directive on mutual recognition of professional qualifications. The new Directive is a simplification of existing Directives, and will facilitate recognition of professional qualifications in other EU countries for nurses, dentists, veterinary surgeons, midwives, pharmacists, doctors and architects. The Member States are obliged to implement the new regulations within 1 January 2003. Read more about this on http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/people/qualif/diplomaslim.htm This simplification Directive will promote free movement of workers by facilitating access to regulated professions in other Member States. Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein said: "There is an urgent need for Community action to promote recognition of professional qualifications across borders. Adoption of this Directive will make it easier for people wishing to work in regulated professions in another Member State. At the same time, the Directive will contribute to labour market flexibility and the creation of a truly European labour market to enable citizens to move around the EU to take up work."
The democratic reforms taking place in Yugoslavia lately have resulted in an opening for participation in the Tempus programme. The European Training Foundation in Turin, who is administering Tempus, has made a list of which educational institutions in Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo that are open for exchanges and cooperation. For more Tempus information, check out http://www.etf.eu.int
HERO is the name of the new national website for higher education in the United Kingdom. It means "Higher Education & Research Opportunities in the United Kingdom" and is initiated by the research councils and the largest educational institutions in UK. The main aim is to be the primary Internet portal for higher education and academic research in the UK, and to be the natural entry point for enquiries about UK higher education for the widest possible range of customers. HERO will include news and features on all aspects of higher education. It can be found at http://www.hero.ac.uk
"…The Bologna Declaration is not one of those statements which sometimes emerge from Brussels or intergovernmental gatherings, but must be seen as an essential turning point in European Higher Education, deeply affecting Higher Arts Education …" The various fields of education seem to be taking the Bologna process seriously. One example is a European-wide Socrates Thematic Network in the field of higher arts education, which is focusing specifically on the consequenses of the Bologna process for the art education sector and asking: Will Higher Arts Education survive Bologna? The Hogeschool Gent in Belgium hosts the network, and one of the key aims is to develop a joint sector-wide framework gradually leading to a soundly based opinion on the position and profile of Higher Arts Education within the European Higher Education Space. On the 27 and 28 April 2001, there will be held a launching event for the network. Read more on ELIAs website: http://www.elia.ahk.nl/ Other educational sectors are also reflecting on the practical consequenses of Bologna. The European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI) has discussed the impact for their field and presented their view on the process at http://www.ntb.ch/SEFI/Index.html
The European Commission has come out with a call for tender for the Socrates/Leonardo/Youth Technical Assistance Office. Since May 1995, ACA and its partner organisation ESMU has administered the technical assistance for the EC through the so called ETAPE consortium. The present management contract will expire at the end of July 2001. Depending on final approval from the ACA members, ACA will in the framework of ETAPE, bid for the new contract. Tenders must be submitted by 2 April 2001. The TAO provides technical assistance to the European Commission's Directorate-General Education and Culture and External Relations for the implementation of the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and Youth programmes. The TAO has a staff of close to 100 highly qualified specialists, who are responsible for the organisation of thousands of project proposals, contracts and reports every year.
The ACA Secretariat is pleased to note an increase in interest of relevant organisations to join ACA as a member. Already a few months ago, a membership request had been received by EGIDE, the French mobility agency. CIRIUS, the Danish Centre for International Cooperation and Mobility, has now officially announced it will become a member, too. There are also very positive signals from the Flemish rectors' conference, VLIR, and its hogescholen-complement, VLHORA, as well as from the Portuguese Foundation of Universities. A first contact with ACA was made by the Icelandic national agencies for Socrates and Leonardo. At the level of associate members, the American Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange as well as EUNIS, a European higher education association in the field of computer science might be coming up with membership requests. |
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