What is Comenius?Challenges, opportunities and

inspiration

European Schools Project Associations

March 9th-13th 2011

• Knowledge and information centre for internationalization of education and training in Denmark

• Administration of European and Nordic multilateral and bilateral education programmes

• Assessment of foreign qualifications

• Marketing of Danish education abroad

Comenius

School education

Erasmus

Higher education & advanced training

Leonardo da Vinci

Vocational education and training

Grundtvig

Adult education

Transversal Programme (4 key activities) Policy Cooperation – Languages – ICT -

Dissemination and exploitation of results (valorisation)

The Lifelong Learning Programme

Comenius Objectives

• Develop knowledge and understanding among young people and educational staff of the diversity and value of European cultures and languages

• Have young people acquire the basic life-skills and competences necessary for their personal development, for future employment and for active European citizenship

Decentralised actions

School partnerships• Preparatory visits

• Contact seminars

In Service Training

Individual Pupil Mobility

Assistants

eTwinning

School Partnerships

Partnerships Pupil and development activities

Class exchanges

Partners Min. 3 countries 2 countries

- min. one EU-member

Timespan 2 years contract

Theme Thematic cooperation between classes/ teachers/ heads/ departments

Reciprocal pupil exchange 2 x 10 days

Focus on language

Ingredients

CuriosityCuriosity

Creativity

Commitment

What do you get in return?

Pupils and teachers with

Reflections on own practice, school system and self Intercultural competence

A lot of interesting work International network and contacts

Better language skills European insights

What did they get in return?Comenius School partnership survey of 2007

Students• 80% more interested in and knowledgeable about other countries• 75% improved specialist and ICT knowledge• 75% more motivated to learn other languages• 70% boost of social skills and ability to work in teams• 62% increased proficiency in foreign languages

Teachers• 90% improved knowledge and understanding of partner countries• 82% established long lasting contacts with other schools• 79% stronger European dimension• 75% improved capacity to work interdisciplinary with new teaching methods• 66% improved language skills• 60% better school climate

Activities

• Presentations of school, country, history…• Dancing, singing, music, art, drama• Games• ICT communication• Development of teaching modules• Policy development

50 ways to international projects www.roots-and-wings.dk

Products

• Joint websites and e-journals

• Folders, posters, CD-roms, cartoons, booklets

• Teaching modules

• Policies, guidance materials and so on….

What to submitFormat• Joint Project Application Form - online• Deadline February 2012

Application content• Project basics• Information about partners• Project content and organisation• Project calendar• Budget

Tools for sustainability of the partnership

Four ways to sustain the partnership

1. In service training, incl. job shadowing

2. Individual Pupil Mobility

3. Comenius Assistants

4. Networks

14

Comenius Regio

at least one

other relevant local

organisation

or institution

a local or regional authority

with a role in school education

at least one

school

Consist of 2 partner regions. Each partner region must involve:

“Other Relevant organisations” can include youth or sport clubs, parents and pupils associations, local teacher training institutes, other learning providers, VET institutions and local employers, museums and consulting services/ advisory boards …

15

In Service Training• For teachers and other education staff• Both school and participant benefits

• Courses, conferences and job shadowing

• Duration varies – up to 6 weeks• Grant: course fee, transportation and subsistence

• 3 deadlines a year – January/April/September

16

Assistants

• Students and newly graduated teachers

• 13-45 weeks as assistant teacher

• No expense for the school - but work plan, contact person and support

• Deadline: January 2012

Individual Pupil Mobility• Exchange of pupils between previous/ existing partners • Grant for travel, stay and administration• Pupils should be between 14 and 18 years old

• 17 countries: Belgium (German and Dutch speaking), Austria, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Finland, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Denmark – In 2012 all countries?

• Application deadline: 1 December 2011

For more information on Comenius:

European Commission

http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc84_en.htm

National Agencies:

http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc1208_en.htm

Congratulations