27.05.2004 - Views on New Generation of Education Programmes after 2006

AEGEE educational proposal receives encouragement from the Commission! 

On the 26th of May, at the venue of the European Parliament and under the patronage of Mrs Lissy Groener, European Students' Forum AEGEE organised a seminar entitled "Views on New Generation of Community Education and Training Programmes after 2006". AEGEE took the opportunity to present its proposal of "blended learning", receiving encouragement from the Commission, and comments from the representatives of numerous NGOs dealing with education and training issues.

The seminar panel, chaired by Dan Luca from Euractiv, comprised the representatives of the institutions, NGOs, academic and business world - Mr. Adam Pokorny from the European Commission (DG EAC), prof. Nadine Engels from the Association for Teacher Education in Europe and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Mr. Peter Lacy - Executive Director of The European Academy of Business in Society and the representatives of AEGEE. After the presentation of the new programmes delivered by the representative of the Commission, panellists and participants took a constructive critical look at them, drawing the Commission's attention to different aspects nad judging the programmes from their background's perspective. We believe that all the sectors mentioned above play a very important role in shaping the next generation of education programmes and the results of the seminar will bring a high value for the work of the Commission. 

AEGEE proposed to introduce "Blended Learning", a use of summer courses combined with e-learning. According to the proposal, education programmes should be implemented with special focus on exchanges between the countries, both within the enlarged EU and between the EU countries and its new neighbours. Moreover, in AEGEE's view the new programmes should widely intergrate formal and non-formal techniques of education and training. 

The representative of the Commission concluded: "The Commission widely supports student mobility and language learning. With our post-enlargement new members, The EU has a great challenge to raise, and the proposals of AEGEE fall into this category". The Commission realises the importnace of a constant public consultation with AEGEE and other NGOs and institutions to give the best shape to the new programmes, and thus facilitate its work for the European society. 

The seminar was organised in co-operation with Euractiv.com

AEGEE is one of Europe's largest interdisciplinary and voluntary student associations, operating without being linked to any political party, promoting a unified Europe, cross-border co-operation, communication and integration in academic environment, and at the same time striving to create an open and tolerant society by involving students and young graduates in valuable projects and discussions over the topics of importance for the communities they live in. It is represented in 260 university cities, in 42 countries all around Europe and has about 17000 members.

More information:
Ewa Solarczyk
Vice-President / Director for Public Relations

European Students' Forum - AEGEE
Rue Nestor de Tiere 15
1030 Bruxelles
Phone: +32 2 245 23 00
Fax: +32 2 245 62 60
Web: www.aegee.org
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