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ComeniusTHE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF COMENIUS WHO WAS JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS (J.A. KOMENSKY)?
COMENIUS is the first of eight actions within the SOCRATES community programme for general education. It is subdivided into three parts: Comenius 1: School Partnerships
Comenius 2: Training of School Education Staff
Comenius 3: Networks
The overall objectives of COMENIUS are to enhance the quality and reinforce the European dimension of school education, in particular by encouraging transnational cooperation between schools, contributing to the improved professional development of staff directly involved in the school education sector, and promoting the learning of languages and intercultural awareness. COMENIUS seeks to help those learning and teaching in schools to develop a sense of belonging to a broader and outward-looking European community - a community characterised by diverse traditions, cultures and regional identities, but rooted nevertheless in a common history of European development. COMENIUS contributes to enhancing the quality and reinforcing European dimension of school education by:
COMENIUS contributes to promoting the learning of languages in school education in Europe by transnational measures designed to:
COMENIUS contributes to promoting intercultural awareness in school education in Europe by transnational activities designed to:
THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF COMENIUS School Partnerships (COMENIUS 1) In School Partnerships (Comenius 1) schools can apply for support for three types of projects: School Projects, Language Projects and School Development Projects. When applying for a project, each school has to submit a "Comenius Plan" to its National Agency. A school wishing to set up a Comenius 1 project may apply for a Preparatory Visit grant to cover the costs for preparatory meetings between the partners involved. A school may also host a Comenius language assistant for a period between 3 and 8 months. Comenius School Projects and Comenius School Development Projects may be supported for a maximum of three consecutive school years. For Comenius Language Projects, the project duration is normally one school year. In cases where both exchanges cannot be organised during the same school year, the activity period may be extended to two consecutive school years. Comenius School Projects promote transnational co-operation between schools. They give pupils and teachers from at least three participating countries an opportunity to work together on one or more topics of mutual interest. This co-operation enables participants to exchange experiences, explore different aspects of European cultural, social and economic diversity, increase their general knowledge and learn to understand and appreciate each other's views. Comenius School Projects should be integrated into the regular activities of the school, take place within the curriculum, involve several class groups, and have as wide an impact on the school as possible. Comenius Language Projects seek to increase young people's motivation, capacity and confidence to communicate in other European languages. A Comenius Language Project is carried out by groups of at least 10 young people aged 14 or older from partner schools in two participating countries. Its main element is not formal language instruction as such, but the learning of languages through work with young people from another country on a topic of mutual interest. Project work should be integrated into the regular school activities and take place within the curriculum. In Comenius Language Projects at least one of the two partners will normally be from a country where one of the less widely used and less taught languages is used. In this way, many pupils will thus have an opportunity to get to know a language which they would not normally learn. Indeed, this is seen as one of the main aspects of the European added value of these projects. Reciprocal pupil exchanges lasting at least 14 days (including travel) are an integral part of Comenius Language Projects. The exchanges are working periods where the two groups of young people work closely together on the project using foreign languages as a means of communication and learning. The pupils will usually stay with each other's families during their stay abroad. This will further enhance the opportunity to learn the partner language and to get to know the partner culture. Each project should result in a 'product' produced jointly by the two groups of pupils. The product, if based on the written or spoken word, should be produced in the languages of the two partners or in a mixed language version in which both languages are fully represented. COMENIUS School Development Projects At a time when the roles of the school and school staff are rapidly changing and the autonomy of schools in many countries is increasing, direct co-operation between schools on questions related to management and pedagogical approaches can be of particular importance. In this context, Comenius School Development Projects give school managers and teachers an opportunity to exchange experience and information, to develop together methods and approaches which meet their needs and to test and put into practice the most effective organisational and pedagogical approaches in the participating schools. Broad thematic areas for the development of a project could, for example, include the prevention of conflict and violence; integration of ethnic minority groups into mainstream schooling, flexible and personalised teaching methods and classroom management; or development of pupils' skills with a view to enhancing their employability. These projects will often involve co-operation with bodies from the schools' local community, such as local authorities, social services, associations and business. An eligible institution wishing to set up a transnational co-operation project may apply for a preparatory visit grant to enable appropriate staff members and - in the case of Comenius 1 projects - pupils to undertake a preparatory visit of up to one week. This may take either of the following forms: a) a visit to one or more eligible institutions in one or more other countries participating in SOCRATES; b) participation in a partner-finding contact seminar organised by National Agencies or Comenius networks. As a general rule preparatory visit grants will be awarded to institutions with no previous project experience. An eligible institution wishing to obtain a preparatory visit grant must apply to its National Agency. The application forms and details of the closing dates for applications are also available from the National Agencies. These will also give advice on how to search for a suitable partner school by other means, e.g. using the Internet. Hosting a Comenius Language Assistant Under Comenius 2, future language teachers may apply for a grant to spend 3 to 8 months as a "Comenius Language Assistant" at a host school abroad. Such assistants may be assigned to any institution eligible under Comenius 1. The assistantship has two main objectives :
A host school must designate a teacher to supervise the assistant, look after his or her welfare, monitor the progress of the assistantship and act as contact person throughout. Assistants receive a grant to help cover mobility costs resulting from the assistantship. This includes travel and a monthly contribution towards subsistence costs. The host school does not receive any financial support to organise the assistantship, as it will receive full benefit from the presence and the work of the assistant. A school wishing to host a Comenius Language Assistant must submit an application to the National Agency in its country by 1 March before the school year in which the assistantship is to take place. The application form is available from the National Agency. The application must be accompanied by the school's Comenius plan. The National Agency will try to match the school's requirements with the wishes of the future language teachers applying for such a grant. Each school wishing to participate in Comenius 1 or host a Comenius Language Assistant has to develop a Comenius Plan in which it sets out the role that European co-operation activities are expected to play in the further development of the school. Therefore the Comenius Plan, while being short and simple, should contain a brief description of the school and its existing and/or planned European activities. It serves as an important reference tool for the National Agencies who can then assess each school's application in relation to its individual circumstances. Each school has to submit only one Comenius Plan regardless of the number of projects for which it wishes to apply. Training of School Education Staff (Comenius 2) Comenius 2 is designed to promote the professional development of all types of staff involved in school education. It does so by supporting transnational co-operation projects and mobility activities, All phases and aspects of professional development - initial training, induction, in-service training - are covered.
European co-operation projects for the training of school education staff European co-operation projects for the training of school education staff normally cover one of the following activities:
Project partnerships for European co-operation projects under Comenius 2 must include at least one eligible institution involved in the initial and/or in-service training of teachers or other categories of school education staff in each of at least three participating countries. At least one of the participating countries must be a Member State of the EU. Partnerships in the field of intercultural education, those working with pupils at risk of social exclusion, and those relating to the education of children of migrant workers, Gypsies and travellers and occupational travellers, will be eligible for support only if one of the partner organisations is directly involved in the training of school education staff. This is due to the nature of these projects. Projects under Comenius 2 may be supported for a maximum of three consecutive years.
Comenius Networks (Comenius 3) Comenius Networks are a new initiative under the second phase of the SOCRATES programme in the field of education. The main goal of Comenius Networks is to create links between projects carried out by school partnerships and those relating to the training of school education staff. Comenius Networks will be based on subjects of common interest with the aim of promoting European co-operation and innovation in school education in various thematic areas. Such networks will constitute:
To be eligible for support, the partnership proposing to develop a network must include at least one organisation from each of six different countries participating in SOCRATES. Most participants in the networks will be institutions (schools, training institutions, research centres, educational authorities, associations, companies) which are currently taking part in projects, are initiating new projects or have completed projects under Comenius 1 or 2 or both. Their work will be further enriched by other organisations with particular expertise in the field concerned. Educational specialists and decision-makers participating in Arion study visits under the SOCRATES programme may also be involved. For Comenius Networks projects are selected in two phases. This means that there are two important deadlines:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) You can download this document from here.(PDF format.)
WHO WAS JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS (J.A. KOMENSKY)? The choice of the name COMENIUS for this part of the SOCRATES programme is a reminder of Europe's rich educational heritage. A century before the Enlightenment, Comenius (1592-1670), born in what is today the Czech Republic, was a theologian, philosopher and pedagogue who believed that only through education could man achieve his full potential and lead a truly harmonious life. He was one of the founding fathers of modern education, but, having lived through the period of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), Comenius was also a cosmopolitan and universalist who strove incessantly for human rights, peace between the nations, social peace and the unity of mankind.
In COMENIUS, as in the SOCRATES programme in general, there are two basic types of management - centralised and decentralised:
Centralised procedures apply under Comenius 2 (European cooperation projects for the training of school education staff) and Comenius 3 (Comenius Networks). Decentralised procedures apply under Comenius 1 (School partnerships) and Comenius 2 (Individual training grants).
The COMENIUS programme is open to participants from the following countries:
COMENIUS applies to all institutions involved in school education; it also applies to bodies responsible for school education systems and policies at local, regional and national level, to associations working in the field of school education, social partners, companies, trade organisations etc. N.B.: individuals (pupils, students, teachers ...) in most cases can participate in COMENIUS only through their home institution.
Transnational mobility grants All three parts of COMENIUS offer grants for Preparatory Visits; Comenius 1 and Comenius 2 offer several types of project-related mobility grants which, in the case of Comenius 1 projects, are partly also available for pupils. Comenius 2 offers also individual training grants for school education staff. Mobility grants under COMENIUS 1 projects The following transnational mobility activities are supported within School Partnerships (COMENIUS 1).
Grants for staff will contribute to the transnational travel and subsistence costs. Grants for pupils will only contribute to the transnational travel costs. Support for subsistence costs will normally not be awarded, as pupils are expected to stay with host families on a reciprocal basis. In Comenius School Projects and Comenius School Development Projects, support for transnational staff mobility will normally be granted to some 4-6 persons per school per year. In Comenius Language Projects support will be granted to one person per school to take part in a project meeting before the actual class exchanges are undertaken. Transnational mobility grants for pupils in Comenius 1 will normally enable some 2-4 pupils per school per year to participate in project meetings of School Projects and School Development Projects. The purpose of the grant is to encourage the active participation of pupils in the development of the project and the project meetings between the participating schools. In COMENIUS, grants for the mobility of entire classes will only be available in the context of reciprocal class exchanges under COMENIUS Language Projects (COMENIUS 1). Mobility grants with COMENIUS 2 In addition to the mobility grants for participation in transnational project meetings the following grants are offered within Comenius 2: Grants for Initial Teacher Training (Student teacher placements) These grants will support student teachers for a period of 1 to 10 weeks of supervised study and, where possible, practical training in another participating country. It can only be awarded within the framework of a Comenius 2 project for the promotion of student teachers mobility. Applicants are selected by their home institution. Language Assistantships Future language teachers may be awarded a grant to spend 3 to 8 months as a "Comenius language assistant" at a host school abroad. Such Assistants may be assigned to any institution eligible under Comenius 1. Grants for in-service training Grants are available to enable teachers or other categories of staff working in the school education sector to participate in in-service training activities (« courses ») lasting between one and four weeks in a country other than the country in which they normally work.
The procedure for submitting an application for support under SOCRATES varies according to the part of the programme under which the application is made. The table below sets out the application procedures for COMENIUS. Two basic types of application and selection procedure will apply:
The application forms for each Action contain additional information and guidance for applicants. These forms must be used when submitting an application for support. Overview of Application Procedures
School partnerships Form for COMENIUS 1 Renewal Application Form for School Partnerships Preparatory Visits Form for COMENIUS 1 Full Proposal Form for COMENIUS 2.1 Form for institutions wishing to host a COMENIUS Language Assistant under COMENIUS 2.2B Form for COMENIUS Language Assistant under COMENIUS 2.2B Form for In-service Training Courses under COMENIUS 2.2C Pre-Proposal Form for COMENIUS 3 Full-Proposal Form for COMENIUS 3
SOCRATES-COMENIUS Week During the Socrates-Comenius Week starting on the 26 November 2001 the European Commission together with the Socrates National Agencies organise a series of awareness-raising events in all participating countries. Its common theme is Comenius and the European dimension in school education in general, and it will highlight the achievements of Comenius in developing this European dimension and the notion of a European identity, not only for participating schools and the pupils and staff within, but also with parents and the surrounding educational communities. Socrates-Comenius Week is intended to illustrate that the impact on those coming into contact with Comenius in any way is both immediate and lasting, encouraging and reinforcing their commitment as citizens of Europe. The decentralised events in the participating countries during this one week in November will include exhibitions, information and dissemination events at local/regional/national level. In order to ensure cohesion and highlight European backing for these decentralise activities, the Commission has organised and co-ordinates a central European event in collaboration with the National Agencies. 150 children and adults from all participating countries active in Comenius are invited to Brussels during the Socrates-Comenius Week, from the 24/11 to the 27/11. They will exchange their experiences in Comenius, present their projects in an exhibition, work together, and will have the opportunity to meet Commissioner Viviane Reding and other prominent guests such as Members of the European Parliament and national ministers. The National Agency will organise the following activities at National Level :
This is the agenda for the Socrates - Comenius Week European Event Venue : Brussels: Albert Borschette Conference Centre (CCAB)
Event follow-up: COMENIUS Week book including information on 30 projects from exhibition, balloon messages, records of participants' contributions. The European Commission has selected Guze Delia Primary School, Siggiewi to participate in the Comenius Week in Brussels. Apart from the activities in Brussels, there will also be various decentralized information and dissemination activities taking place during the same period in each of the 30 Socrates/Comenius participating countries, amongst them Malta. These will include conferences, as well as exhibitions and events within schools. On the 27th November 2001, in conjunction with the activities in Brussels, a Comenius day will be held at the Upper Barrakka Garden, Valletta. 42 schools will participate in this activity. During this activity, around 250 coloured balloons will be launched at 12 p.m. Simultaneously, the participants in Brussels will also release their balloons at the same time. A card will be attached to each balloon expressing a message of hope in all the European languages. The activity is meant to mark European Co-operation in Education and will be the symbol of the encounter between Europe and the world of education.
Comenius 1 Contact Seminar - 'Arts in the Curriculum' - 17 – 20th January 2002 The Socrates Co-ordinating Committee – EUPU together with the British Council in the UK organised a Comenius 1 Contact Seminar in Malta from 17 – 20 January 2002 for primary schools, in order to promote the creation of Comenius School Projects. The Seminar focused on Arts in the Curriculum and it was held at St. James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity in Valletta. Primary teachers and heads, from the following countries, attended this Contact Seminar : Germany, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom. The programme contained lectures and workshops. There was also time to create partnerships and to work out projects. Teachers brought material about their schools and regions that was displayed for all the participants during the whole contact seminar. They also brought national food or drink that was used at the European Aperitif. A cultural tour was organised in Valletta. The participants had the opportunity to visit the beautiful co-cathedral and museums. The Minister of Education, Dr. Louis Galea; Dr. Joseph Mifsud, Chairperson Socrates Committee - EUPU; Mr. Joseph Sammut, Chairperson of the EUPU; and Mr. Ronnie Micallef, Director of the British Council in Malta, addressed the meeting. The seminar was also led by Ms. Annhelica Scerri, from the Socrates/Comenius National Agency in Malta; Ms. Vicky Gough, from the Socrates/Comenius National Agency in UK; Mr. Egil Eiene, from the Socrates/Comenius National Agency in Norway; and by Ms. Antonella Turchi, from the Socrates/Comenius National Agency in Italy. After this contact seminar 6 schools will be participating as from the year 2002. The themes adopted from the Contact Seminar were Play Out (games and art outdoors); View from my window; Electronic Story Telling and Digital Folk Tales; Folk Tales and Story Telling through different Arts; Traditional Games and Festivals; and My World, Your World.
Comenius Information Seminar - 22nd October 2001 On Monday 22nd October 2001, an information seminar for all Educational Leaders and Heads of Schools on 'Malta's Participation in EU Educational Programmes' was organised. During this seminar, Dr. Joseph Mifsud, Chairperson Socrates Co-ordinating Committee, gave a presentation on the COMENIUS Programme and on how to initiate COMENIUS Projects.
IMPORTANT: IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE SOCRATES OFFICE IS NOTIFIED OF ANY APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED UNDER THE CENTRALISED ACTIONS. THE SOCRATES OFFICE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE OF PART OF THE EVALUATION OF THESE APPLICATIONS AND ANY APPLICATIONS SENT DIRECTLY TO BRUSSELS WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOCRATES OFFICE WILL BE PENALISED IN A WAY THAT PART OF THE EVALUATION ESSENTIAL FOR THE SELECTION OF THE PROJECT, WILL BE MISSING.
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