April 2005, Issue no 35
http://resource.regional.net
impact@regionalnet.org

1. Funding Opportunities

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

3. Useful Links

Amsterdam - Maastricht Summer University 2005


The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University has harnessed the expertise available from professionals from all over the world and matched them with motivated participants happy to spend a few weeks of the summer. There is a strong sense of looking forwards, not just of examining the tried and tested formulas of the past.

The AMSU compiles masterclasses, workshops and seminars on a variety of topics, but always dealing with issues of present day civil society. Most of those who take part will be young professionals between 25 and 35 years of age, although some will be younger, some older, from all over the world.

The AMSU offers courses in various disciplines: Art History, Language Studies, Cultural Management, Economics and Trade, Political Science, Health Sciences and Medicine, Journalism, Cultural Heritage, Communication Science.

To register for a course in the Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University programme, it is necessary to complete sign and send-in an application form. Please note that each course has its own form, as there are different selection®istration criteria and course fees. These forms are available under each of the course listings, and should be completed, printed, signed, and returned to us by post or by fax. Electronic submission is not possible as we require your signature. Please note that the signed application form has a financial consequence. After receiving your application form, you will receive an invoice from our office manager. The course fee should be paid before commencement of the course. Visa assistance will only be provided to selected participants after payment of the course fee.

More information
Website: www.amsu.edu
Email: office@ amsu.edu


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World Bank - AEGEE - International Essay Competition
Application deadline: April 15, 2005


The World Bank and AEGEE invite you to participate in an International Essay Competition 'Building a Secure Future Seeking Practical Solutions' by responding to the two following questions:
1) What are the biggest obstacles you face in your daily life?
2) What practical solutions would you propose to build a secure future for yourself and others?

Write an essay answering these two questions, and have the chance to be one of the winners. This Essay Competition is open to any young person between 18 and 25 years old, not enrolled in a PhD programme.

Winning essays will be chosen for their originality, clarity and use of thoughtful yet concrete proposals for building a secure future. Applicants are free to develop their essays in any way they find to be the most convincing. The following approaches may give some guidance in structuring the answer to the second essay question.

Personal Reflection - Describe your own personal efforts to solve a problem or deal with a specific issue (through volunteer work or other type of involvement), showing 1) how your work changed your own life or the lives of others, and 2) how those solutions can be adapted to helping others facing the same challenges.

Policy Analysis - Essays in this category could focus on a particular organisation or public policy. The goal of the essay would be to show to what extent the work of an organisation or a policy has been effective in building a more secure future by addressing issues such as unemployment, homelessness, hunger, gender violence etc. The essays should include concrete recommendations on how a particular project or programme can be improved or reformed to have greater impact.

Academic Inquiry - This approach may appeal to students of life sciences (biology, engineering, environment, etc.) or economics, but also of philosophy and history. It may be used to describe how new technologies might be used to build a more secure future (for example, environmental solutions or agricultural solutions) in their country. Students of history could use historical precedent or examples to build proposals; students of philosophy could look at the response of different philosophical traditions to problems of insecurity and explore reasons for their relevance today.

Finalists will be invited to present their essays to the Jury of Honour during the 2005 edition of the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics in Amsterdam on 23 - 24 May 2005. The competition is an initiative of the World Bank in co-operation with the AEGEE organisation.
The authors of the best ranked essays will be awarded with cash prizes of $5.000 and of $1.000.

More information
Website: http://www.essaycompetition.org
Email: info@essaycompetition.org (Pierre GIRARDIER)


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OSI Budapest - Soros Supplementary Grants Programme
Application deadline: April 15, 2005


This programme was created to assist the citizens of Central and Eastern Europe - CEE, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia, who are pursuing advanced study within this region but outside of their home countries. It is part of the Open Society Institute's overall efforts to strengthen the academic network within and among these countries.

The objective is to support cross-cultural, intra-regional student mobility.

Grants will be offered to :
I. standard eligibility students of the social sciences, humanities and fine and performing arts, who have already arranged for part of the costs of their to be covered.
II. special need students: Roma; refugees; people seeking political asylum; displaced (forced migrants).

Grants are available to undergraduates and post-graduates enrolled at recognised institutes of higher education. The institutes should be outside of their home country or permanent residence and in one of the participating countries.

Participating countries are: Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia & Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Estonia; Georgia; Hungary; Kazakstan; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Lithuania; Macedonia; Moldova; Mongolia; Poland; Romania; Russia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Yugoslavia.

The grants are offered for one academic year and will be granted in amounts ranging from $ 1,000 to 5,000 US.

More information
Website: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/focus_areas/soros_supplementary/guidelines
Email: info@osi.hu


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Transregional Center for Democratic Studies - Democracy&Diversity Graduate Summer Institute, July 10 — 28, 2005, Krakow, Poland


This is to announce the fourteenth annual Democracy & Diversity Graduate Summer Institute in Krakow, Poland, organized by the Transregional Center for Democratic Studies (TCDS) of the Graduate Faculty of Political and Social Science, New School University, New York.

TCDS will again welcome up to forty junior scholars from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, and other parts of the world for an intensive three-week program of study in society, culture, and politics. Offering the equivalent of a full semester’s graduate study at an American university, the Institute brings an interdisciplinary, comparative, and highly interactive approach to bear on the study of social, political, and cultural challenges to democracy and democratization today. The Institute is widely known for creating an intimate transregional forum for lively but rigorous debate on the critical issues of democratic life, and for its interactive approach to the study of today's social, political, and cultural challenges to democracy and democratization.

Core faculty from New School University’s Graduate Faculty will be joined by distinguished international scholars and by guest speakers from the region. Upon completion of the Institute requirements, U.S. graduate students receive full course credits and non-U.S. participants receive certificates. All alumni become members of TCDS's ongoing Transregional Learning Network, through
which they continue interacting and developing contacts with their colleagues in academia and civil society worldwide, and through which they will gain access to opportunities for further study, research, and collaborative projects.

Curriculum
• Contextualizing Feminiist Thought: Issues, Orientations, and Actors in International Perspective — seminar
• Democracy and Its Opponents — seminar
• Globalization and the Politics of Public Memory — seminar
• Sociology of the Public — seminar

More information
Website: http://www.newschool.edu/tcds/
http://www.newschool.edu/tcds/current.htm
Email: lyyra@newschool.edu.


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Europa Fund 2005 - Small projects programme
Application deadline: April 18, 2005


The objectives of the programme are as follows:
1. To raise awareness in Romania on European integration, the enlargement process and the impact of accession;
2. To contribute directly to closer European integration of Romania;
3. To increase the transparency of the European Union actions in Romania.

The priorities identified for Romania in this context are as follows:
1. To stimulate public debate about EU values in relation to Romanian values;
2. To bring European information closer to people’s homes (local/regional level);
3. To adapt European information to special groups’ needs (children, youth, rural population, etc);
4. To support the development of active and functional European information networks at local and regional level.

The Actions to be financed under the Europa Fund should be in-line with the 'Information Strategy of the Delegation of the European Commission for 2005-2007' and the related 8 'Activity Fiches' for 2005.

The Actions to be financed under the Europa Fund should address at least one or both of the following sectors:
1. General European information (i.e. European information for large public on topics of general interest);
2. Tailor-made European information (i.e. European information addressing specific and clearly identified target groups).

The main themes of the European communication are the following:
• European Values
• EU Policies
• EU Institutions
• EU Financing Programmes
• Accession negotiations

WHO CAN APPLY:
Non-profit-making legal persons officially registered as legal persons, with headquarters in Romania or in one of the Member States of the European Union / one of the other states covered by the programme (Bulgaria, Turkey) (non-governmental organisations, inter-governmental organisations, universities, schools, research institutes, chambers of commerce, regional development agencies, local or regional public administration entities, any other non-profit institutions or associations of a social, economic or cultural character).

Applicants may act individually or in consortium with partner organisations.
The Partners they must therefore satisfy the same eligibility criteria as applicants.

N.B.: National authorities (ministries, governmental agencies, etc.) are not eligible as applicants or partners under this programme.

Other organisations may be involved in the Action as associates. Such associates may play a real role in the Action but may not receive funding from the grant

The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 1 Million.
Any grant awarded under this programme must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
• minimum amount: EUR 15,000
• maximum amount: EUR 50,000
No grant may exceed 80% of the total eligible costs of the project.
Applicants and/or partners must ensure the required minimum co-finance (20%) in cash.
In kind contributions is not considered as eligible co-financing.

An applicant may submit more than one proposal.
An applicant may be awarded more than one grant under this call for proposals.

PROJECT DURATION:
The duration of an Action may not exceed 12 months.

More information
Website: www.infoeuropa.ro/fonduleuropa
Email: fonduleuropa@infoeuropa.ro


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Acces to Education for Disadvantaged Groups
Application deadline: April 21, 2005


GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The general objectives of the PHARE programme for improving the access to education for children coming from disadvantaged communities are:
• To improve the conditions of pre-school education and stimulate early enrolment that is critical for children’s social and educational development, particularly for children from disadvantaged groups;
• To stimulate success in compulsory education and improve school success rate of children from disadvantaged groups (prevention of dropout).
• To stimulate the enrolment in second chance programmes at the primary and lower secondary level for students who abandoned compulsory education (correction of dropout).

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The specific objective of the grant fund is to support the county school inspectorates to develop and implement coherent strategies to improve access to education of children coming from disadvantaged communities or groups. The project should contribute to the improvement of school conditions and teaching practices with the aims to facilitate the access to quality education at pre-school and school level, to support the full attendance of children to compulsory education, as well as to prevent and remediate the effects of school drop-out.

The proposals are expected to include all three areas mentioned above in approximately equal proportions.

ELIGIBLE ACTIONS
The main theme of the grant scheme is the creation of inclusive schools, which are open, friendly, tolerant and democratic schools, comprehensive schools with no selection and no exclusion, schools were all the children are valorised and integrated. Such schools will develop a climate of multicultural valorisation, without any discrimination, which will support the integration of the children with special educational needs and the self-identification of Roma children through increase of self-esteem. All projects will address the issue of educating together all children, regardless of their ethnic origin, physical or mental impairments, cultural or socio-economic background, or mother tongue. This will be the key focus of all projects and will be supported by all the proposed activities.

WHO CAN APPLY
The main applicant should be the County School Inspectorate.
Applicants must act in consortium with partner organisations as specified hereafter.
Compulsory partners:
- County Council. This partnership should insure the financial support for the pilot schools. This will consist of coverage of the costs of the activities to be initiated at the local level in support of education activities e.g. employment of the school mediators, day care centres, free meals etc) from at least the last six months of the project implementation.
-Teacher Training House (Casa Corpului Didactic) which will have the responsibility of implementing at the county level, during the project and also after its completion, training of teachers according to the philosophy promoted by the MER through this project.
Optional partners:
Partnership with Roma NGO’s, preferably having previous experience in education or community development projects, is strongly recommended.

The county Psycho-pedagogic Assistance Centre (Centrul Judetean de Asistenta Psihopedagogica), Non-Governmental Organisations acting at the local or county level, with specialisation in education, Specialised Services for Social Assistance, Roma office, Social Services and Child Protection Departments (D.G.A.S.P.C.), other NGO’s etc may be partners as well.

PROJECT DURATION
The duration of an action may not exceed 15 months.

FINANCING CONDITIONS/BUDGET LIMITS
The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 6,000,000 (EUR 4,800,000 PHARE funding and EUR 1,200,000 national co-financing). The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.

Size of grants
Any grant awarded under this programme must fall between the following minimum and maximum amounts:
• minimum amount: EUR 300,000
• maximum amount: EUR 600,000

More information
Website: http://www.infoeuropa.ro
Email: piu@mec.edu.ro


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AEGEE - AEGEE Summer University
Application deadline: May 4, 2005


AEGEE - Association des Etats Generaux des Etudiants de l'Europe (European Students' Forum) is a student association. It promotes the idea of a unified Europe, cross-border co-operation, communication, integration among students and strives to create an open and tolerant society of tomorrow.

AEGEE is an interdisciplinary, voluntary, non-governmental, politically independent and non-profit making association. It is represented in 260 university cities, in 42 countries all around Europe. It's main field of action covers peace and stability, higher education, active citizenship and cultural exchange.

Each year 'Summer Universities' are held by most of the AEGEE local groups (called antennae) in order to promote the intercultural understanding. Students can travel to an antennae in another country, where the host students teach them their language and culture.

It is a general policy that the participating students are hosted for free by the fellow AEGEE members, making travels in Europe affordable, and most important the communication with other students possible.

The summer university contains different kinds of programmes: language Course; language Course Plus; Summer Course; Summer Course Plus; Travelling Summer University; Summer Event. The activities of all antennae are co-ordinated by the European Board (Comite Directeur).

The procedure for applying online for the Summer University:
1. Connect to AEGEE's homepage http://www.aegee.org/su
2. Find the AEGEE antennae nearest to you and become a member
3. Contact the local antennae. You will be familiarised with the AEGEE and assisted to choose up to three destinations. You may then submit your application.

The duration of the Summer University varies between 1 and 4 weeks and the fees between EUR 100 and 240.
A list of the member countries are available at: http://www.karl.aegee.org/aeg-home.nsf/HT/BodyLookup

More information
Website: http://www.karl.aegee.org/su.nsf/Home?OpenForm
http://www.aegee.org
Email: info@aegee.org


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European Cultural Foundation - Cultural Policy Research Award 2005
Application deadline: May 5, 2005


Within the framework of the Cultural Policy Development action-line, the European Cultural Foundation announces the Cultural Policy Research Award (CPR Award) for 2005. Focus: Applied Comparative Cultural Policy Research

The main aim of the Cultural Policy Research Award (CPR Award) is to stimulate academic research in the field of cultural policy, with an emphasis on the usefulness of the research in terms of practical application. The research should throw light on contemporary European cultural issues and problems, possibly analyzing them and working towards new policy solutions.

The CPR Award aims to contribute to the creation of a cultural policy 'infrastructure' - a network of scholars with competence in comparative research related to cultural policy. Additionally, the award seeks to evaluate existing research achievements, connect academic centres, and promote an interdisciplinary approach in the sphere of cultural policy research.
The overall area covered by the award is 'applied comparative cultural policy research'. Preference will be given to proposed research which covers a topical issue affecting contemporary Europe and which considers the possible remodelling of cultural systems, cultural institutions and cultural policy education. The research project must provide new insights and suggest practical policy orientations and/or recommendations for decision makers and thinkers (new policy solutions, proposals of instruments and/or procedures). Research may focus on a variety of topics: legal, economic, social, managerial, ethical, technological and other relevant categories of issues (e.g. in the media&communication sphere) will receive equal attention in the selection process.

Priority will be given to evaluative, comparative and action-research projects which cover the European or macro-regional space. Research outcomes should contain relevant policy proposals for systemic and structural changes, or innovative, new ideas for re-thinking the position of arts and culture in the context of European enlargement and integration.

Young academics, researchers and policymakers (aged 35 or under) are eligible for the 10,000 Euro award. Applications should be submitted between 15 December 2004 and 15 March 2005 through the online application form on the CPR Award website. Candidates are strongly advised to consult the website before applying for advice on how to prepare their applications.

Rules
The CPR Award competition is open to candidates from all European countries. Candidates must be able to speak and write in English. Knowledge of the languages of the accession or bordering countries would be an asset.
Young academics, researchers and policymakers are eligible for the 10,000 Euro award. Candidates must be educated to M.A. level (in social sciences, art&humanities, or public policy research), and must be no older than 35.
Candidates will be assessed according to their qualifications, the relevance of their research project to cultural policy issues, and their vision of how policy recommendations could be implemented.
Only applications submitted through the online application form on the CPR Award website (http://www.cpraward.org/apply.html) will be accepted.

More information
Website: www.cpraward.org
Email: cpraward@cpraward.org (Svetlana Jovicic, CPR Award Manager)


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Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society - Senior International Fellows Program 2005
Application deadline: May 15, 2005


The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society’s Senior International Fellows Program provides professional development training for Third-Sector practitioners from outside the United States who are at an advanced stage in their careers. The program is designed to help build Third-Sector capacity in the Fellows’ home countries.

Fellows are based at The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, where they attend weekly seminars, learn about the work of key agencies and foundations, meet with nonprofit representatives, and study U.S. and international community foundation models.

The topic for the year 2005 will be community foundations.

Fellows will participate in a 1-month seminar on the U.S. and international voluntary sectors. The program will run from October 17, 2005 through November 11, 2005. Based on the seminars, readings, discussions with leaders in the field, and the Fellows’ own experiences, each Fellow will produce a position paper with recommendations for the development, adaptation or expansion of community foundations in his/her country or region. It is expected that these recommendations will draw from the variety of existing community foundation models and will reflect the political, social, economic, and legal frameworks in the Fellows’ home countries. The Fellows will also attend a relevant conference.

Each fellowship covers the cost of tuition and includes a $1,300 stipend to cover living expenses. The Center will also provide suite accommodations proximate to The Graduate Center on 34th Street, as well as round-trip air tickets for travel to and from the United States. Please note: travel dates conform to the beginning and end of the seminar.

A limited number of unsubsidized tuition-based appointments may also be made, pending approval by the selection committee. Tuition information is available upon request. Special thanks to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation for support of this program.

Eligibility and Selection
The program is open to senior-level practitioners over the age of 35 who are citizens of countries other than the United States. Applicants must speak and write English fluently. Candidates must have a strong institutional base and a clear interest in working with the community foundation model.

There is no application form. To apply, prospective candidates should submit the following materials in English: a) a resume or c.v. identifying past and present employment, as well as educational experience; b) a list of publications, if applicable; c) a 2-3 page research proposal for the position paper, indicating research focus and questions; d) a statement outlining a plan to implement the recommendations developed in the position paper; and e) how the fellowship will contribute to the candidate’s professional development. Any overseas experience should also be described.

A cover sheet must accompany the proposal and include the following information: name, address, telephone/fax number, e-mail address, date of birth, educational background, employment history, languages spoken and degree of fluency in each. Two original, signed letters of recommendation are required from scholars and/or staff members of NGOs, nonprofits or donor agencies. An optional writing sample may be included as well.

More information
Website: www.philanthropy.org
Email: CPCS@gc.cuny.edu


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European Commission DG Education and Culture - Town-Twinning
Application deadline: June 1, 2005 (actions between 1 Oct - 31 Dec 2005)


This is an annual programme to support town-twinning schemes. It is intended to promote events and actions which contribute towards a sense of belonging to Europe and reinforcing European awareness. The aim is to establish new and existing links and networks between local authorities in Europe, in view of the important contribution that co-operation and exchanges between local communities make to European integration.

This call is aimed at supporting two kinds of actions.
A. Meetings of citizens of twinned towns and municipalities
The meetings should seek to actively involve the participating local communities. Meetings between citizens should stimulate sharing of experience, debates and all initiatives intended at increasing European awareness among the participants and strengthen the feeling of belonging to the EU.
They should take part in activities that:
o widen their knowledge of the European Union and its politics
o enable active civic participation in Europe, through joint activities and the concrete exchange of experience on questions related to the daily lives of Europeans.
Applications must involve municipalities from at least two eligible countries. Meetings must be organised in the framework of new or existing twinning arrangements between towns and municipalities. They should involve at least ten participants from each municipality. For events involving five or more municipalities, there should be at least five participants per each municipality.
The maximum grant per project is EUR 20,000 and minimum EUR 2,000. The maximum duration of projects is three weeks.

B. Conferences on European themes relating to town-twinning and training and information seminars for town-twinning officers
Thematic conferences must be related to town-twinning and be aimed at raising awareness of European integration and facilitating exchange of experience between towns and municipalities.
The conferences programme should relate to European issues or treat important local issues in a European context.
The training seminars should provide twinning officers with the knowledge and the skills necessary for the promotion of twinning projects with a high quality European content.
Seminars can, inter alia, deal with:
o theory and practice of twinning;
o treatment of EU themes in twinning projects;
o the impact of twinning on raising citizens' awareness of Europe;
o transnational co-operation between municipalities at European level
olanguages in Town Twinning; comparison in twinning work etc.
The applications for thematic conferences must propose an event involving participants from at least two eligible countries. Conferences and seminars must involve at least 20 participants.
Commission support will not exceed 50% of the total amount of the eligible costs, with a maximum funding of EUR 50 000 per project and a minimum of EUR 5 000. The maximum duration of projects is one week.

Eligible applicants are:
For action A - towns, municipalities and their twinning associations/committees.
For action B - towns, municipalities and their twinning associations/committees; other levels of local and regional government; federations and associations of local authorities.

Eligible countries are:
o The 25 Member States of the European Union;
o EFTA/EEA countries - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, only if, by the deadline for submission of grant applications, agreements laying down the arrangements for those countries' participating in the programme have been concluded.
o Candidate countries - Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, only if, by the deadline for submission of grant applications, agreements laying down the arrangements for those countries' participating in the programme have been concluded
o countries from non-eligible countries can participate, but will not receive EU funding.

More information
Website: http://europe.eu.int/comm/dgs/education_culture/towntwin/call_en.html
http://europe.eu.int/comm/dgs/education_culture/towntwin/index_en.html
Email: Towntwinning@cec.eu.int


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European Parliament - Traineeships and Study Visits at the European Parliament
Application deadline: June 1, 2005


The European Parliament offers different traineeships within its Secretariat in order to contribute to the vocational training of young citizens, and to the understanding of the working of the institution. General conditions:
o be citizen of a Member State of the EU, or of an applicant country;
o aged between 18 and 45 years;
o have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the EU, and a good knowledge of a second;
o not have been awarded any other (paid/unpaid) traineeship by or paid employment of an institution of the EU.
o a small number of citizens of third countries may be awarded traineeship in the European Parliament.

Paid Traineeships:
1. Robert Schuman scholarships, general option (primarily economics, law, political science etc)
2. Robert Schuman scholarships, journalism option
3. Ramón y Cajal scholarships, option journalistic scientific training
4. Ramón y Cajal Scholarships at the European Parliament's Technology Assessment Unit (STOA).

Criteria:
o have a university degree after a course or study of at least three years' duration;
o submit written reference from university lecturer;
o for work-experience at STOA: candidates may be from any branch of the natural sciences or technology as well as mathematics, philosophy of science, technology assessment and science and technology policy studies.

Paid traineeships shall be awarded for a period of five months. The deadline for applications are fixed each year on 15 October (for traineeships starting 15 February) and 15 May (for traineeships starting 15 September).
Each traineeship has its own specific criteria which can be found in the regulations.

Unpaid Traineeships are for a duration of one to four months. It offers young citizens the opportunity to complete a traineeship as part of their course at university or equivalent institution, of a high-level vocational training or of a requirement for access to a profession. There are four fixed deadlines a year: 1 October, 1 February, 1 April and 1 June.

Study Visits
The study visits are intended to provide citizens of the European Union with opportunities for more detailed study of specific subjects relating to European integration, either through consultation of documents in the European Parliament's libraries or archives or through contacts with MEPs or specialist officials. Maximum duration of the study visit is one month. There is also a possibility for unpaid research visits to the STOA.

More information
Website: http://www.europarl.eu.int/stoa/scholars/default_en.htm
http://www.europarl.eu.int/stages/default_en.htm
Email: stages@europarl.eu.int


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European Commission DG Education and Culture - YOUTH - Support Measures
Application deadline: June 1, 2005


Support Measures aim to help all those involved in youth activities, or interested in youth matters to prepare and develop projects and initiatives related to the YOUTH programme objectives or Actions.

Support Measures are Action 5 of the YOUTH programme. This is the EU’s mobility and non-formal education programme targeting young people aged between 15 and 25 years.
The YOUTH programme consists of 5 Actions:
1. Youth for Europe (Action 1) supports group exchanges of young people aged 15 to 25;
2. European Voluntary Service - EVS (Action 2) supports voluntary service for individuals aged 18 to 25;
3. Youth Initiatives (Action 3) supports initiatives, which are led by young people themselves;
4. Joint Actions (Action 4) offers the opportunity to develop projects linked to the Community Programmes of Leonardo da Vinci (training) and Socrates (education);
5. Support Measures (Action 5) is targeted at people working with young people and offers a package of possibilities for support measures to develop new YOUTH projects and to improve their quality.

The following types of activity are eligible for support:
o Practical training experience (job shadowing) - to allow youth workers to acquire the skills for organising a transnational project by working in a partner organisation for a limited period of time;
o Feasibility visits - for project managers to discuss a project idea before submitting an application under Actions 1 or 2;
o Contact-making seminars - to bring together potential partners for YOUTH projects;
o Study visits - to learn about youth work provisions in other countries;
o Seminars - to exchange experience and good practice, consultations or policy development etc. with regard to the YOUTH programme and youth policy;
o Training courses - to help those involved in youth work and non-formal education to acquire advanced skills and knowledge for their activities;
o Youth information - to support the production and dissemination of information and training material relating to the YOUTH programme;
o Transnational partnerships and networks - to create new networks under the YOUTH programme;
o Support for quality and innovation - to support participation of young people with less opportunities in the YOUTH programme at national, regional and local levels.
All activities should be non-profit making.

Support measures are open to youth workers; support persons (e.g. youth advisers, assessors, EVS supervisors, mentors, etc.); trainers; information workers, youth officers, managers and policy makers; and all those involved in informal education. Organisations and groups from the statutory and voluntary youth sectors can apply for funding.

Countries eligible to apply:
The programme countries:
o Member States of the EU
o EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
o Candidate countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey
o Other countries also referred to as 'third countries', can participate in activities supporting Youth for Europe and European voluntary service actions, and projects must involve at least two EU Member States. A list of third countries can be found on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide/other_countries_en.html.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/index_en.html
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide05_en.pdf
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/guide/action5_en.html
http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/lsp_action_5_en.html
Email: youth@cec.eu.int


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European training and research centre for human rights and democracy - The role of education for a democratic citizenship, International summer academy on human rights and human security, July 18 – 28, 2005, Graz, Austria
Application deadline: April 15, 2005


Background
The lack of opportunity to study the relationship between Human Rights, Human Development and Human Security has inspired the idea of the ETC International Summer Academy which in the last two years turned out to be a very successful and sustainable event. The ETC established the Summer Academy in the Human Rights City of Graz as a way to enhance the realization of the Human Security agenda. Awareness of the concept of Human Security, shared understanding of its interdisciplinary and cross-cutting character and its potential for international policy and decision-making is a precondition for the effective promotion of Human Security locally and globally. One of the ETC's contributions to this promotion is a direct offspring of the Summer Academy and the enthusiasm of its participants: the scientific online journal Human Security
Perspectives launched in February 2004.

Objectives
o To create a better understanding of the relevance of the concept of Human Security
o To present and discuss indicators defining the state of Human Security
o To explore the linkages between Human Rights, Human Development and Human Security
o To discuss the agenda of the HSN states to improve Human Security
o To learn about the role of international organizations and non-state actors in the field of Human Security
o To promote Human Security, Human Rights and Human Development in a holistic way
o To raise awareness about Human Rights Education as a tool for Human Security
o To provide the basis for capacity-building in Human Security Network states and beyond and networking on governmental, NGO and academic levels on Human Rights and Human Security.

Topics
o The Concept of Human Security
o Linking Human Rights, Human Security and Human Development with Education
o Which Education for a Democratic Citizenship?
o Linking the Concepts of Human Rights Education, Citizenship Education, Peace Education and Intercultural Education
o Building Security through Education - the post-conflict Challenge
o Education, Democratization and Governance-building – Societies in Transition
o The Responsibility of Democracies - Education Programmes and their Implementation under the Auspices of raising Racism, Anti-Semitism and Right Wing Radicalism
o Assessment, Evaluation and Quality Assurance in Human Rights Education and Citizenship Education

Methodology
The Summer Academy draws on the expertise of a selected group of academics, international professionals and decision-makers from various sectors, which guarantees a broad approach to the questions of Human Security worldwide. The training is based on the ETC's Manual on Human Rights Education, Understanding Human Rights; to assure sustainability and multiplier effects the training methods put particular emphasis on an interactive approach. The Academy is designed as a modular course and allows for the transfer of knowledge as well as the acquisition of skills and the shaping of attitudes.

Target Group
The Summer Academy is designed for postgraduate students and researchers, junior staff of ministries and collaborators of NGOs from HSN members and from all over the world with a focus on South Eastern Europe and developing countries.

More information
Website: http://www.summeracademy.etc-graz.at
http://www.etc-graz.at
Email: barbara.schmiedl@etc-graz.at (Barbara Schmiedl, Head of the Training Section)


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OneMinutesJr, May 16 - 22, 2005, Chisinau, Moldova
Application deadline: April 20, 2005


The OneMinutesJr is an international collaboration established in November 2002 by the European Cultural Foundation, UNICEF, and the Sandberg Institute (a postgraduate institute for fine arts). The project promotes a One Minutes video network and competition for young people (12-20) in Europe, Central Asia and North Africa to produce their own video messages and thus to express themselves and learn valuable media skills in the process.

OneMinutesJr are 60 seconds of video made by young people. Like a visual haiku, the length of one minute both challenges the creators to form their ideas clearly and gives them the freedom to express themselves, which is the basic right of every young person.

Within the framework of the OneMinutesJr network we will organize an international workshop in Chisinau (Moldova) for young people (ages 12 - 20) from the following countries: Moldova, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Romania.

The workshop will take place from May 16 - 20. Right after the workshop, the produced films and their makers will participate in the Cronograf Film Festival - http://www.cronograf.owh.md/ in Chisinau (May 19 - 22) and we will link the workshop to the Festival to generate bigger outreach for the produced films, including public screenings and round-tables with the young filmmakers.

The workshop will focus on the topic of migration. Many children in the countries of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union are left without parental care due to migration. For most of them, this is the key issue that makes them live through some dramatic moments. It traumatizes them psychologically and at the same time exposes them to many other risks. We will carefully try to give the workshop participants a chance to voice their fears, their views, their hopes - thus getting a better picture of how they really feel about the changing (Eastern) Europe around them and the impact it has on their immediate environment. Again, we will stress the benefits of artistic video making in this process and will encourage the participants to tell their stories in a creative OneMinuteJr.

Additionally the One Minutes produced during the workshop will serve as a source of inspiration for a reportage competition on the effect of borders in the lives of young people. The competition, organized by the European Cultural Foundation and Villa Decius Association in Poland is meant for journalists and photographers under 35 years of age from the region. The results of twenty reportages along with the One Minute Movies will be compiled into an exhibition that will open in October and will afterwards be exhibited in several European countries.

UNICEF's Regional Office for the CEE/CIS and the European Cultural Foundation will pay for all workshop-related expenses in Moldova.

More information
Website: www.theoneminutesjr.org
www.unicef.org/magic/media/documents/moldova_workshop_application.doc
Email: cschuepp@unicef.org (Chris Schuepp - Coordinator of the Young People's Media Network in Europe&Central Asia)


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Regional Cooperation and European Integration in the Balkans - Call for papers
Application deadline: April 20, 2005


The taskforce on Regional Cooperation and European Integration of the Association Bosnia and Herzegovina 2005 (http://www.bosnia2005.org/) is soliciting submissions on the topic of regional cooperation and European integration in the Western Balkans.

The taskforce seeks to undertake a comprehensive overview over regional cooperation in the region, including a focus on Bosnia in particular. For this purpose, the task force is soliciting papers which deal with case studies of regional cooperation in the Balkans. High-quality studies, between 3000-5000 words in length will be published as electronic working papers and a selection will be presented at the conference in Geneva, October 2005 and/or published subsequently.

These studies should focus on a particular aspect of regional cooperation, be it an organization, a focus of cooperation or any other specifc focus. We are not looking for general studies discussing regional cooperation at large. The case studies should help identify which forms of regional cooperation have and are likely to operate successfully and which ones have failed. We consider regional cooperation broadly, from organized crime, scholarly cooperation to economic or institutional cooperation.

If you are interested in contributing, please submit a 400-500 abstract and short CV by April 20 to Florian Bieber at bieberf@gmx.net. The taskforce will inform you subsequently about the decision which abstracts would be of interest. The first draft of the studies will be due on 30 June 2005. In order to assure a coherent profile which will facilitate publication and presentation, all contributors will be requested to adhere to a general outline, as well as length and formatting requirements.

More information
Email: bieberf@gmx.net (Florian Bieber)


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Europe Day 2005 Pristina - apply now
Application deadline: April 20, 2005


- Free Participation & Full Scholarships for SEE students
- International Professors and Students from all over Europe
- Essay Contact: Win Great Prices

On 9 May 2005, the Academic Training Association (ATA), the European Youth Center and the University of Pristina will organise several Europe Day activities in Pristina. The programme includes six workshops on private sector development, EU integration and business skills. There will also be a plenary session, cocktail, an opening dinner for SEE participants, a classical concert and a great Europe Day party.

Students of all disciplines from South East Europe are invited to apply online for Europe Day now. Participants from outside of Kosovo receive free accommodation and food, a travel reimbursement and a per diem. Local students do not receive food or accommodation. For Students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro, travel will be organized. In May 2004, over 200 students from the entire region participated.

Europe Day essay contest:
Write an essay about 'The advantages and disadvantages of being an EU member' and win free participation in all Europe Day activities plus other great prizes!

More information
Website: www.academictraining.org


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The Regional Youth Center for Information and Documentation in South East Europe ( RYCID) - National Youth Policies - Success or Failure in South Eastern Europe? International conference, May 24 – 29, 2005, Timisoara, Romania
Application deadline: April 22, 2005


With the support of Council of Europe. Dedicated to all you Youth activists that want to improve the process of designing and implementing National Youth Policies across South Eastern Europe.

The conference is meant to be the perfect framework to achieve this by analyzing, evaluating and generating solutions for the present situation (from both NGO’s, Governmental Organisations and international experts point of view).

The taskforce that developed the concept of the conference, its content and programme includes experts in the NYP field at national and regional level, but also experts actively involved in the policy making at European level.

They will present the participants with analysis and evaluations regarding all the phases of the designing and implementing National Youth Policies process (consultations, designing and implementation).

All costs with visa, travel, accommodation & meals are covered by the organisers, so jump to the opportunity and apply to become a participant www.see-rycid.org/application.php or a workshop leader www.see-rycid.org/applicationfaci.php

Participants we are looking for:
- With real and long term interest on the topic of national/local youth policies
- trongly motivated to cooperate and exchange experience regarding NYP development and implementation process
- Committed to follow-up & multiply the outcomes of the conference
- With a certain experience and vision on the topic
- Creative, energetic, proactive, flexible, positive.

Workshop leaders we are looking for:
- Very good English skills (speaking & writing)
- Available to arrive in Timisoara on the 21st of May and stay till the 29th of May
- With a certain experience in moderating international groups
- Summarizing & debriefing skills
- Creative, energetic, proactive, flexible, positive.

More information
Website: www.see-rycid.org/conference
Email: office@youthcenter.ro


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2nd World Culturelink Conference, 'Dynamics of Communication', June 9 - 12, 2005, Zagreb, Croatia
Application deadline: April 30, 2005


The First World Culturelink Conference on Dynamics of Communication and Cultural Change: The Role of Networks was held in Zagreb, Croatia in 1995. Over one hundred cultural researchers and professionals and fifteen international organizations from all continents gathered for the conference, in spite of the wartime conditions in Croatia at the time.

Ten years later, the Second World Culturelink Conference is organized with the aim to examine different aspects of new ways and actors of global communication and dialogue among cultures in the 21st century.

Objectives
The Second World Culturelink Conference is organized with the principal objective to search for and analyse new ways, new instruments and new actors in cultural communication, and research the role of networks in creating and strengthening a global context for sustainable development and dialogue among cultures.

The second objective is to discuss the new public cultural policies, and particularly their role in creating partnerships among public sectors and civil society. Public policy, developed in partnership with civil society and the private sector, is of vital importance to ensuring democratic access to the means of cultural communication. Investing in public cultural policy research is becoming a sine qua non of global cultural development.

The conference also aims to examine aspects of international mobility, primarily based on networking and information exchange. New actors (e.g. regions, local communities) have appeared in this area. The networking of heterogeneous actors offers a multiplicity of new types and areas of cooperation and initiatives in the globalized world.

Within such a framework, it is central to redefine the role of all actors, including states and national cultures, as well as local communities, civil society, professional organisations and individuals participating in the processes of globalization. The transformation processes initiated by globalization have brought to the fore the establishment of new cultural identities, particularly presented through virtual communication technologies. Cultures appear to be both actors and mediators of these changes.
The conference is expected to bring to Zagreb cultural researchers and professionals dealing with processes of cultural communication, with cultural policy and cultural development. As they will be coming from different continents and many different cultural backgrounds, this diversity of views on issues related to the dynamics of communication will give the participants a broader perspective on cultural trends and changes under way throughout the world, and provide ample opportunity for the establishment of collaboration and new projects.

The official languages of the conference are English, French, Spanish and Croatian.

More information
Website: www.culturelink.org/clinkconf.html
Email: clinkconf@irmo.hr


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International Journal on Multicultural Societies (IJMS) - 'Democracy and Power-Sharing in Multinational States'


In the many multi-national democracies around the world today, there is increasing evidence for a potential trade-off between democracy and power-sharing. Political participation threatens the fragile power-sharing arrangements between elites that make democracy possible and maintain social peace in divided societies, a point illustrated by the outcome of the 2004 referendum in Cyprus.

What is therefore needed is, first of all, empirical research that explicitly addresses the tension between power-sharing and democracy and examines in comparative perspective the conditions under which public participation, whether in the form of popular mobilization, direct democracy, or deliberative democracy, threatens elite power-sharing arrangements in multi-national democracies. Second, research is needed that addresses the same question in the context of new states and post-conflict societies, as these may well require a different combination of democracy and power-sharing than multi-national states with a more peaceful recent past and established boundaries. And thirdly, a normative reflection on the possibilities for democratic deepening in ethno-plural societies is called for, which does justice to collective claims for recognition while at the same time allowing for elements of direct democracy and deliberation.

Papers addressing one of these three questions should be communicated to the guest-editor of the up-coming thematic issue. Papers dealing with non-Western regions or countries are particularly welcome. Submissions should be sent to Prof. Matthijs Bogaards, International University Bremen.

More information
Website: http://www.unesco.org/shs/ijms/call_for_papers
Email: m.bogaards@iu-bremen.de (Prof. Matthijs Bogaards)


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New Governance of Immigration, Refugee Protection and Minority Politics in a New Europe: The EU enlargement as a challenge to the European Union migration regime, July 7 – 10, 2005, Montecatini, Italy
Application deadline: April 30, 2005


The Berlin Institute for Comparative Social Research (Berliner Institut fur Vergleichende Sozialforschung e.V. BIVS), member of the European Migration Center (Europaisches Migration Zentrum e.V. EMZ), is currently organising two scientific seminars regarding the topic of International Migration, Refugees and Minority Politics in the Enlarged European Union. This project is partly funded by the PHARE Programme of the European Commission.

We would like to encourage you to apply to the first of these forthcoming ConEst Seminars, entitled 'New Governance of Immigration, Refugee Protection and Minority Politics in a New Europe: the EU enlargement as a challenge to the European Union migration regime'.

There are 20 full scholarships available for young researchers from one of the 10 PHARE programme participating countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia).

Main Focuses of the Seminars are:
o Providing a platform of discussion for processes and networking in the field of European Migration Management.
o The involvement and development of less established researchers in the field of migration.

This is organised through our newly established 'Young Researchers Network' which aims to support and assist younger researchers by creating a network of contacts and promoting the exchange of knowledge. Young researchers are invited to apply to present research results of current work at these seminars alongside more established researchers.

We would also appreciate your support by asking you to inform any suitable students (especially PhD or post-graduate), interns and other possible candidates working in your field that may be interested in attending our seminars.

More information
Website: www.emz-berlin.de


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'Dinner for 25', International Summer University Brave New Europe 2005, July 3 - 16, 2005, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Application deadline: May 10, 2005 (Later applications may be considered if space is still available)


Organized by Young European Federalists Slovenia in cooperation with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Association for Political Science Students POLITUSS.

A two-week long advanced summer course on European Affairs.

In the past years three major issues marked the political landscape of Europe. Enlargement opened the doors to ten new member states and has significantly reshuffled the nature of political affairs in Europe. The historical Constitution for Europe is enabling a start of a very much needed institutional reform, yet the ratification process is far from being secured. Furthermore, new developments in world politics have confronted Europe with several questions, including the one on its unity.

Brave New Europe offers an interactive course on a wide range of topics concerning mainly (but not only) the EU. The summer school is composed of several modules: History, Institutions, Security Issues and External Affairs, Current Political Issues, Law, EU Frontiers, Economics and Youth. Apart from lectures the participants will have the chance to actively debate the issues in workshops, panels and in a simulation game.

If you wish to join 50 of your European colleagues in Ljubljana, to work on Europe, to learn of Europe, to contribute to the debate on Europe, and, of course, enjoy Slovenia, consider this to be the right place for you to spend your summer!

Cost of the program: Euro 250. Participation fee covers: tuition and study material, accomodation and full board for two weeks time, all social activities. All living and studying costs are therefore included.

Partial reductions of participation fee will be offered. Please specify the need in a special letter. Partial travel reimbursement will be offered to all participants (80% attendance required).

To apply, simply fill in the application form on the web site.

More information
Website: http://www.bne-isu.org
Email: bne.fdv@fdv.uni-lj.si


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'Reframing Human Rights', An International Essay Competition and Workshop, October 4 - 6, 2005, Berlin, Germany
Application deadline: May 27, 2005


Irmgard Coninx Foundation
Social Science Research Center
Humboldt-University

For the years to come the Berlin Roundtables on Transnationality will focus on human rights. International conferences and adjunct workshops will address political as well as social, theoretical and pragmatic aspects of human rights today.

In many countries of the world human rights are still being violated. These countries lack the social and political conditions needed to effectively implement these rights. The idea of a right to human rights has not yet found wide currency, either. (for more details see the background paper)

The program will focus on the conditions for implementing human rights in three exemplary areas of human rights policy:
- The right to religious and cultural freedom in secular and non-secular states
- The right to reproductive health and its relation to demographic developments
- The right to security and protection of civil rights.

Essay Competition
Invited are young scholars (maximum 5 years after Ph.D.) and human rights activists. The essay should evolve around the following questions:
In most nation states the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its successor, the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights are formally accepted.
However, human rights are not necessarily respected.
Are human rights universal at all? And: What can give reason for the transnational validity of human rights?
- the UN Declaration of 1948
- natural law as conceived in the era of enlightenment
- the democratic order of modern society
- a common heritage of all cultures
- a common faith in all religions
- the necessities of free trade and communication
- the needs of a new Western Empire ‘Lite’

20 essayists will be invited to join an international conference and workshop in Berlin on 'Reframing Human Rights' from October 4th through 6th. The workshop is chaired by Stefan Gosepath, professor of philosophy at Justus Liebig University Giessen.

The Irmgard Coninx Foundation will cover costs of travel to and accommodation in Berlin for invited participants of the competition. Furthermore, for the best essay the Irmgard Coninx Foundation will award to one workshop participant a three months research grant in Berlin for the year 2006 at the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) and Humboldt University. The recipient will be invited to join the workshop in 2006. The Irmgard Coninx Foundation will provide for a monthly stipend of 1000 Euro.

More information
Website: http://www.irmgard-coninx-stiftung.de/en/roundtables/roundtables.htm
Email: info@irmgard-coninx-stiftung.de


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Alliance of Universities for Democracy - 2005 AUDEM Conference, October 23 – 26, 2005, Yalta, Ukraine
Application deadline: May 28, 2005


Host Institutions: National Technical University 'Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute', Dnipropetrovs'k State Financial Academy, Yalta University of Management, Consortium for the Enhancement of Ukrainian Management Education - CEUME

Theme: Educating for Democratic Citizenship in a Globalizing and Changing World

Founded in 1990, the Alliance of Universities for Democracy (AUDEM) is a consortium of American and Central European, East European, and South-East European universities united for the common purpose of supporting institutions of higher learning in North Central/Baltic, Central, South-East and Eastern Europe in the transition to their democratic roles in building civil societies and in market-driven economies. Currently, AUDEM’s members number over 110 institutions of higher learning in CEE and the United States (For more information about the Alliance and its Members, please go to www.audem.org (Website is still under construction).

The Alliance of Universities for Democracy (AUDEM) will hold its Annual Conference in Yalta, Ukraine from 23 to 26 October 2005. This year’s Conference promises to be one of the best ever. We invite papers and presentations from colleagues in the USA, the Baltic States, Central Europe, South-Eastern Europe, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Central Asia and other newly independent states. Some funding may be available to support participants from AUDEM member universities in Eastern Europe. The funding will be very limited; all participants are encouraged to seek funding from their universities and other sources.

The central themes of this year’s AUDEM conference will be (a) the university in the European and global space and (b) the role of universities in promoting Democratic Citizenship. Because we are meeting in Ukraine and in Yalta, we want to take the opportunity for reflection on history (the Yalta Conference of 1945) and on recent developments (the 'Orange' electoral revolution, developments in Georgia, etc.) in the region. We therefore also invite presentations that reflect on current political, social and cultural developments as well as a look back in history. And we also invite presentations in the arts, humanities and social sciences. But we welcome all topics and we invite you to submit your ideas.

At last year’s conference in Pecs, Hungary, we initiated a major new AUDEM initiative, to develop the University Partnerships for Education and Citizenship (UPEC). This project links member European and US universities with the purpose of enriching democratic citizenship and civic engagement among university students. UPEC has been developed through the collaboration of AUDEM with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), The Council of Europe, The New York Times and The International Herald Tribune. UPEC is an extension of the American Democracy Project (ADP), organized in the United States by AASCU and The New York Times. ADP is a national project by member universities throughout the United States to advance democratic citizenship and civic engagement among American university students.

We invite all interested universities and colleagues in Central and Eastern Europe and the US to work together on UPEC to help advance democratic citizenship and civic engagement in Central and Eastern Europe and the United States.

The Conference is held in English. It is desirable but not required that presenters bring copies of their presentation or a substantial abstract. Overhead projection and power point will be available. Time allotted will be about 20 - 25 minutes for each paper plus a limited time for questions.
Colleagues may submit one or more presentation proposals. Requirements for submission: A one-page abstract as follows: (a) name(s) of presenter(s); (b) title of presenter; (c) department or faculty and name of university and country; (e) e-mail address, FAX number, mailing address; (f) title and abstract; (g) please indicate under which track or tracks you are submitting the paper.
Send proposals to Mr. Gabor Czeh at the University of Pecs.

More information
Website: www.audem.org
Email: audem@ki.pte.hu


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Esbjerg International Summer School 'Identity and social values in Europe - Visions for a modern solidarity', July 10 – 23, 2005, Denmark
Application deadline: June 1, 2005


A seminar for young people of age 18-30 for 2 weeks in Esbjerg International Summer School to learn, share views, establish friendships and have fun.

The topics will cover:
- modern solidarity and social responsibility
- back to culture and values in politics
- Europe and globalization
- visions on ethics
- sustainability in working life

The International Summer School is authorized and supported by Danish Ministry of Education and participants will be issued schools' international certificate. The working language of the programme will be English.

The summer school will be a combination of:
- study-sessions
- working groups
- parliaments
- cultural nights
- parties & alternative cultural programme
- reflection groups
- excursions

Lodging and accommodations will be in single rooms in modern campus hotel of Esbjerg Folk High School with meals 3 times a day.

The participation fee is 160 Euro per participant, covering full programme and lodging.

More information
Website: www.eh.dk/ey2005
Email: kl@eh.dk (Kerttu Lohmus, Programme Manager)


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American University in Bulgaria - Living the European Dream, 5th Annual Balkan Parliament, October, 2005
Application deadline: July 15, 2005


The 5th Annual Balkan Parliament brings together undergraduate and graduate students, interested in politics and international affairs, giving them a unique chance to experience the complex world of the Balkan and global politics first-hand!

The core of the event is the international politics simulation, somewhat similar to a Model UN, but, arguably, much more dynamic. Lectures, workshops, and panel discussions provide further opportunities for participants to get in touch with prominent leaders, both from Bulgaria and abroad. We also organize a special excursion to Sofia - your chance to visit the Bulgarian Parliament and meet the real parliamentarians there!

The participation fee of 90 Euro (~120 US) includes all accommodation, food, a trip to Sofia, and all of the conference materials. We are able to provide financial assistance in the form of fee reductions and/or limited travel funding to qualified participants.

More information
Website: http://bp.aubg.bg
Email: balkanparliament@aubg.bg


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EGN - European Governance Network


As a result of a project cofinanced from European Commission, a new European Network is born. The name of this network is: EGN - European Governance Network.

At the moment we have 34 partners in 15 countries (Bulgaria, Germany, Georgia, F.Y.R.O. Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey and UK). But our intention is to develop the net also at national levels and in other countries: so we would like to invite you to become partner in this net.

At your disposition there is a very useful intranet that permits you to stay in contact with all partners at same moment: you have 2 levels (national and international).
There are only few rules to be respected:
1) An annual fee of admittance of only 100 Euro (this is the cost of intranet software for each partner)
2) If you come from one of the described 15 countries to ask the permission to the National Coordinator of your country and to the European Coordinator (EURO-NET): there is no problem for any partner to become new member (it's just a communication that you can send also directly to us and that we forward to the National Coordinator just to inform him that there is for him an other national partner)
3) If you come from different countries to ask the permission only to the European Coordinator (EURO-NET).
Then you will receive the username and password to use the intranet.

At moment in intranet there are the following sectors:
1) European Governance
2) Partners
3) Statute
4) Link
5) National Intranet (one for each different country)
6) International Intranet
7) In each intranet (National&International) there are the following sectors
a) Communication
b) European programs
c) Evaluations
d) Gadgets
e) News
f) Partners and proposals
g) Proposal from external organisms
h) Project list to be realised for the net partners
i) European voluntary service
l) Bulletins
In future you should have other sectors.

Every days we give the possibility to participate to a number of 7-10 new projects expecially in Leonardo, Socrates and Youth but also in e-government, Daphne, Ceepus, ICT, etc.

You can use this instrument to:
- create new projects
- have new partners
- learn something about Europe
- participate to new initiatives
- find new collegues
- have new partnerships
- find solutions for your problems.

More information
Website: www.egnetwork.info


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International Gateway Kelowna - English as a Second Language Programs for International Students


International Gateway Kelowna offers personalized and practical ESL programs for Ages 12+, high school preparation and placement, internships and summer and winter camps and a generous commission structure for referrals.

Classes
IGK currently hosts 60 students from Japan, Korea, Colombia, Vietnam, the Czech Republic, Taiwan, Switzerland and Germany with 5 adult classes of 6-10 students per class and one high school ESL preparation class of 6 students. We are offering the following afternoon electives - TOEFL, TOEIC, Media, Canadian culture, Cambridge FCE, Business English and Conversation.

Partner programs
Our graduates can transfer directly to a variety of high schools, colleges and technical schools in Kelowna, Vancouver and the USA, the U.K. without TOEFL or IELTS.

ESL Action Programs for Adults
ESL+Agricultural and Wine tours, Farm stays, ESL+Golf and ESL+Office Worker tours are offered weekly from 1-4 weeks from May-October.

ESL Action Programs for Youth
We will be offering a 1 or 2 week Winter Camp for ages 8-18 in Kelowna and Big White Ski Resort from January to March starting every Monday for individuals and groups. We also offer ESL+Modeling for Ages 12-16 from January-March (integrated with Canadian children). Our popular summer camps include ESL plus options in golf, ice hockey, soccer, horseback riding and equestrian skills, and recreation for individuals and groups that can be integrated with Canadian children.

More information.
Website: www.igcanada.com


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http://www.balkanyouthproject.net/engl/01/06.html
BYP 'Youth Resource Manual' on the WEB


The Balkan Youth Project Resource Manual for Youth NGOs in South East Europe was designed and produced as a guide and organisational strengthening tool for youth NGOs in the region. It provides youth organisations in the Balkans -local, national or regional - with useful information on organisational capacity building and overviews of youth policy development in the countries of SEE, aiming to give a broader perspective to those interested in a greater co-operation at the regional level, as well as to those looking for information on a particular country in the Balkans.

The Resource Manual focuses on several important aspects of youth organisations' work:

o NGO Legal frame in SEE. This section surveys legislation in Central and Eastern Europe ('CEE') addressing organisational forms, registration, governance structures, economic activities, political activities, reporting, termination, liquidation, the concept of 'public benefit status', implications for NGO tax/fiscal benefits, reporting, and government view of non governmental organisations.

o Youth NGO Capacity Building. This chapter of the manual deals with several topics of particular importance to youth and youth NGO work such as Strategic Planning, Fundraising, Leadership and Project Management. It aims to provide youth organisations with knowledge and skills, which could be used in work of youth organisations in order to increase their organisational skills and capacities.

o Sustainability. This section deals with various aspects of sustainability, tackling organisational and financial sustainability, trying not to give the final answer on the question 'how to become more sustainable in our work', but rather serving as reference and resource for future work of youth organisations on this issue.

o Partnership instead of competition. Partnership between youth NGOs locally, nationally or regionally is one of the most crucial things in youth work. Many youth NGOs tend to implement projects jointly, getting involved in formal or informal partnerships with other youth NGOs. Recognizing this trend, the manual contributes to this process by disseminating the information on several youth networks, supporting partnership between youth NGOs in the region, on behalf of the Balkan Youth Project.

o Youth work information. This manual section was envisaged as a reference for those interested in Youth Policy development in the region. It comprises documents, which are of particular importance and relevance to youth work in the region, as well as information on current Youth Policy development in the countries of the region. It is based on 11 indicators developed by the Council of Europe, Directorate for Youth and Sports (Informal education; Youth Training Policy; Youth Legislation; Budget for youth activities; Policy on information; Policy on different levels/ state and local; Researching of youth needs; Youth participation; Governmental Intersectoral co-operation on youth issues; Innovations; Youth counselling bodies).


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http://www.youthforum.org/en/our_work/balkan8.htm
Funding Database for the Youth NGOs from the SEE on the WEB


The BYP funding database aims at informing the youth NGOs in SEE about existing funding opportunities offered by different national, international and private organisations and foundations at the European and international level.

South-West University 'Neofit Rilski' - MA in Cultural Policies and Cultural Management, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
The course in Cultural Policies and Cultural Management is hosted by the Department of Cultural Studies, Faculty of Arts.

General information:
The course lasts for 1 year. First term is dedicated to cultural policy issues. During the second term students will be encouraged to work on cultural management. Methods of teaching comprises of theoretical lectures with demonstration, seminars with case studies, group discussion, project / essay presentation.

Curriculum:
Part I
The purpose is to introduce the role cultural policy play in shaping the modern societies and also provide one provocative view of understanding different concepts and principles in cultural development. The subject covers the history of Bulgarian cultural policies and cultural development and the role of culture in contemporary Bulgarian society. The accent is put on the understanding of core concepts and issues - e.g. cultural development, instruments of cultural policies, democratization and decentralization, pluralism and cultural rights, participation vs. consumption, cultural production etc.
The subject covers the role of EU in the cultural field. Cultural policies benefit from a stronger connection with economic policies, social policies, research, urban development and from this point of view the subject explores linkages between culture and social change.

Part II
The subject covers the development of specific skills and knowledge in the field of cultural management. The accent is put on the understanding of core concepts and issues – cultural market, cultural leadership, entrepreneurship, project management, cultural tourism development. The student is expected to have basic knowledge in cultural studies, theory of culture and arts. The course is comparative in focus and group / activity driven.


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www.witt-project.net
ICTs in Eastern and Central Europe


Women's Information Technology Transfer (WITT) launched a portal site to link women's organizations and feminist advocates for the internet in Eastern and Central Europe. www.witt-project.net is both a website, providing ICTs strategic information to all, and supporting, in a collective way, Central and Eastern European women in developing a web as an instrument in their social activism. WITT is committed to bringing women's actions, activities and struggles to the spotlight, promoting the use of free software as a way to highlight women's voices.

WITT is one of the first organizations of its kind to train women's non-governmental organisations in Central and Eastern Europe to use Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in their communication strategies. The WITT website has been developed for women to share their experiences with ICTs, to learn about training events provided by WITT and to develop expertise in advocacy on gender and ICT issues. Women can publish on the website in their own language (8 languages are available to be used as the site develops). During the annual WITT Trainers Exchange Event (TEE 2005), held in Ohrid, Macedonia from 12-15 February 2005, WITT trainers learned how to operate this collective website, learning how to write efficiently for the web and how to publish live using the GPL (General Public License) Publication software Spip (the site has been totally created by WITT members). Participants in WITT trainings will need only a few hours to be able to appropriate the technology for using the website effectively. This is a great strength both of the Spip system and the WITT philosophy that technology is a tool to be used, not feared.

The Trainers Exchange Event, hosted by Akcija Zdruzhenska, a Macedonian organization of feminist trainers, was attended by 16 women from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Moldova, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Poland and Serbia and Montenegro. All these trainers are active within the women's movement or social movements in the region, many in the area of ICTs. The purpose of these events is to build powerful partnerships between the trainers and for WITT to maintain a pool of women who will not only promote ICT use but also promote a feminist analysis of ICT use.

WITT was initiated in 2002 by ENAWA - European North American Women Action as
part of it's training program. It will become an independent entity early in 2005, with its seat in Croatia and Focal Points throughout the region. Focal Points are women working within organizations who represent WITT and organize local WITT trainings. http://www.witt-project.net


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www.WorldTradExnet.com


World SMEs Global E-Marketplaces Centre is one of the most serious Global E-marketplaces projects which is made to increase the exports of SMEs.

SME Information and Technology Development Centre producer of www.WorldTradExnet.com which gives worldwide service with 21 portals in 12 language, support SMEs to take a place in global competation and provides services to increase their exports.

www.WorldTradExnet.com is the first Global E-marketplace of the world that provides an automatic SMS alert system for its members.

SME Information and Technology Development Center, has developed so many projects about expanding business of SMEs into Global Competation by sharing the advantages of internet and communication technologies.

It is aiming to expand into international markets, get use of unlimited advantages of internet and to strengthen communication needs, trademark and image recognition of thousands of SMEs members.

www.WorldTradExnet.com has been using by World SMEs with its global promotion, creating trade mark, improving export, online education and other services. It is also reaching thousands of small and medium sized enterprises. It is expected to reach 600.000 member SMEs by end of 2005.

SME Information and Technology Development Centre is in connection with the investors from all over the world to develope new projects for SMEs.


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Euroregional Center for Democracy

Semenic Nr. 10
300035, Timisoara
Romania

Tel: + 4 0256 221 471
Fax: + 4 0256 436 633


http://www.regionalnet.org


Editor:
Camelia Cocioba

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