Commission publishes Socrates call for proposals
The European Commission has launched a general call for proposals for the Community action programme in the field of the Socrates programme. This year's additional annual priorities, which complement but do not replace the permanent priorities, are the following. Applicants are invited to consider the messages given below in the development of their proposals. - Preparation for the enlargement of the Union Efforts within the Socrates programme will be stepped up by applying a policy of positive discrimination towards the candidate countries in selecting and funding involving these countries, subject to their being of the necessary quality. - Sustainable development The Socrates programme is called upon to contribute to an economy based on the principles of sustainability and mutual solidarity and to generate projects in this field. It is important to note that the term 'sustainable development' covers economic, societal-cultural and environmental aspects in a mutually reinforcing way. - Stability and security The Socrates programme can contribute to achieving a fruitful intercultural dialogue. - Future challenges to education and training systems A joint 'detailed work programme', adopted by the Education Council and welcomed by the European Council in Barcelona in 2002 includes the following priority themes: new technologies, basic skills as well as mathematics, science and technology. Applications submitted under Socrates are expected to play an important role in supporting the implementation of these priority themes, as they are entirely consistent with the programme's objectives. - Promoting equal opportunities In this field, the Socrates programme has the following permanent priorities: promoting equality between women and men, addressing the needs of disabled persons, helping to combat racism and xenophobia, helping to offset the effects of socio-economic disadvantages. In view of the European year of disabled people in 2003, the programme will give special emphasis to projects and activities designed to eliminate barriers that prevent people with disabilities from full participation in education, to promote their fullest inclusion in society and to help to change attitudes and mentalities. - Lifelong learning Applicants under Socrates are invited to develop and submit projects around the key themes of the Commission's communication 'Making a European area of lifelong learning a reality'. These are valuing learning, guidance and counselling, investment in learning, learners and learning opportunities, basic skills, innovative pedagogy. - The e-learning action plan Socrates will be an important player in implementing the e-learning action plan, as the use of ICT in education is a permanent horizontal priority for the programme as a whole. The additional annual action-specific priorities are set out below: - Comenius 1 - School partnerships Applications are welcome under three types of projects: Comenius school projects, Comenius language projects and Comenius school development projects. Proposals from the latter two will be particularly welcome. - Comenius 2.1 - European cooperation projects Priority will be given to projects making a significant contribution to innovation in the training of school education staff, with particular emphasis on new aspects of the role of the teacher. The following is an indicative list of topics which such projects might address: - mobility activities of student teachers - preparing student teachers and teachers to use new information and communication technologies - the role of the teacher as a 'facilitator of the learning process' - preparing teaching staff to use specific methodologies for teaching through the medium of a foreign language - school leadership teams - raising interest for the study of scientific and technical subjects - strengthening links with working life and research - developing cooperation between a network of different players to support pupils: - developing methods for improving school attendance and achievement levels. - Comenius 2.2 - individual training grants Priority will be given to persons who can demonstrate that their mobility activity has the potential to support them in their role as multipliers within their respective institutions and/or promote the creation of new school partnerships. - Comenius 3 - Comenius networks Priority will be given to: - networks designed to promote European citizenship - networks focusing on interdisciplinary topics - networks focusing on aspects of school improvement. - Erasmus 1 - curriculum development projects Special attention will be given to projects that: - integrate ethics into business, engineering, medical sciences, natural sciences, communication and information sciences - respond to the future skills needs in the area of communication and information sciences - promote intercultural dialogue and understanding between European and its neighbouring regions - develop a European dimension in study programmes in genomics and biotechnologies for health - focus on the development of complete first and second cycle programmes in line with the Bologna process - present links and synergies with other Erasmus activities. - Erasmus 1 - intensive programmes Particular emphasis will be given to projects that: - respond to the future skills needs in the area of communication and information sciences - aim at a multidisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship - integrate ethics into business, engineering, medical sciences, natural sciences, communication and information sciences - promote intercultural dialogue and understanding between Europe and its neighbouring regions - deal with issues linked to genomics and biotechnologies for health. - Erasmus 3 - thematic networks Special attention will be given to: - applications aiming at study areas not addressed by other projects in this action - applications that relate to two or more study areas in a cross and multi disciplinary approach - applications aiming at analysing 'transversal' themes linked to the changing role of universities - applications for the dissemination of results of thematic network projects - applications that aim at facilitating transparency, innovation and quality assurance of higher education - applications that will present links and synergies with other Socrates activities. The call for proposal also invites applications relating to: - The Grundtvig programme: European cooperation projects, Grundtvig networks, decentralised actions; - The Lingua programme: promotion of language learning, development of tools and materials; - The Minerva programme. See the call for proposals for annual national priorities for decentralised actions.For further information, please consult the following web address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/socrates.html(opens in new window) Socrates, Leonardo and Youth technical assistance office: Tel: +32 2 233 0111 E-mail: info@socrates-youth.be To see the full call text, please consult the following web address: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/dat/2002/c_160/c_16020020704en00120030.pdf(opens in new window)