Commission announces Socrates call for proposals
The European commission has announces a general call for proposals for the Community action programme in the field of education: Socrates. The second phase of the Socrates programme covers the period from 2000 to 2006 and has a budget of 1,850 million euro for the Member States. The Socrates programme promotes cooperation under eight actions: Gomenius, Erasmus, Grundtvig, Lingua, Minerva, Observation and innovation in education systems and policies, Joint actions and accompanying measures. The call should be read in conjunction with the guidelines for applicants, which is available from the reference below. This call relates to the following actions: Comenius Programme - school partnerships; - initial and in service training of school education staff. Erasmus Programme - curriculum development projects; - intensive programmes; - thematic networks. Particular emphasis will be given to projects that will focus on the use of information and communication technologies, in line with the eLearning initiative. This applies in particular to innovative combinations of physical and virtual mobility, the impact of the educational use of ICT on structures and methodologies in higher education institutions and the creation of new learning environments with a European dimension. Projects that respond to the increasing role of universities in the learning society will also be particularly welcome. Particular emphasis will also be given to projects that will ensure a European dimension in discussions on higher education, and to those which contribute to sustainable development, employment and enlargement. Grundtvig Programme - European cooperation projects; - Learning partnerships; - Mobility for the training of adult education staff; - Grundtvig networks. Lingua Programme - Promotion of language learning; - Development of tools and materials. Minerva Programme Minerva is the key action for the implementation of the eLearning initiative. Project coordinators are invited to take the following issues into account when submitting proposals: - understanding changes, assessment of the pedagogical and organisational impact of ICT, identification of suitable areas for progress; - experimenting and analysing the impact of new learning environments, including: new organisational settings, innovative teacher training, the use of new devices and new software by pupils, new types of community centres of networks, virtual campuses; - involving innovative use of technology; - developing creative initiatives in the field; - identifying best practices in the use of ICT, and analysing the conditions of generalisation of such practices. Observation and Innovation Programme and Joint Actions Programme A separate specific call will be issued for these programmes. Accompanying measures - promoting scientific and technical studies; - promoting equal opportunities.Application and selection procedures in Socrates vary, depending on whether the action concerned is managed centrally by the Commission or on a decentralised level by the national agencies designed by participating countries. This information is given in detail in the guidelines for applicants. Guidelines for applicants are available from the following web address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/socrates.html or from national Socrates agencies.