To date, over 50 000 education and vocational training specialists have taken part in the Study Visits programme. Will this be your year?
The study visits are addressed to those who are responsible for the development of education and vocational training policies at local, regional or national levels. For example, the visits welcome directors of vocational education and training establishments, guidance centres and validation and accreditation centres; teacher trainers; education and training inspectors; representatives of employers associations and trade unions (social partners).
The programme provides a forum for discussion, exchange and mutual learning on themes of common interest at EU level in order to:
• enable those exercising important responsibilities at local, regional, sectoral or national levels to better understand specific aspects of education and training policies, and explore themes of common interest in other countries;
• further the exchange of advice, ideas and information between all those participating in the programme, both visitors and hosts;
• enrich the flow of information between participating countries and at European level, including the policy-making level.
The themes of the study visits mirror the priorities of European and national training policy:
1. Key competences for all, including creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship;
2. Improving access, equity, quality and efficiency in education and training;
3. Keeping teaching and training attractive and improving leadership;
4. Education and training for employability;
5. Implementing common European instruments and tools, principles and frameworks
6. for lifelong learning, including lifelong guidance;
7. Trends and challenges in lifelong learning strategies;
8. Development of learning communities, involving all actors in education and training;
9. Promoting cross border mobility in lifelong learning.
If you wish to participate in a study visit, you can find all relevant information and application forms at http://studyvisits.cedefop.europa.eu.
All study visits scheduled between September 2010 and June 2011 (content, venue and dates) will be presented in a catalogue which will be posted in late January on Cedefop’s study visits website.
From 2010-2011, there will be two application rounds. The first will be for study visits held between September 2010 and February 2011.
Application round starts: 8 February 2010
Deadline for applications: 31 March 2010
The programme is open to nationals and residents of any of the 27 EU Member States, as well as the EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and candidate countries (Turkey, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).
Candidates are selected by the National Agencies (listed in the website) which are responsible for managing the programme in participating countries.
Successful applicants will receive a grant by their National Agency to contribute to travel and subsistence expenses.