European Studies Programme www.european-studies.org

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European Studies Programmewww.european-studies.
org
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What is European Studies?

• Post Primary school curriculum programme
• Funded by Departments of Education in Ireland and
  Northern Ireland
• Links schools across Europe on collaborative,
  cross-curricular projects
• Promotes mutual understanding an appreciation
  of other cultures
• Approximately 300 schools in 25 European regions

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What are the benefits to teachers?

• Collegiality
• Accreditation opportunities eg EAT certificates,
  The International Award
• On-going curriculum development responding to new
  education initiatives
• Resources and materials
• Professional development opportunities
• Encourages innovation creativity
• High level of expertise
• Enhanced teacher confidence

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What are the benefits to students?

• Communicating collaborating with peers in other
  countries
• Developing a range of skills, for example
• Communication - Working with others
• Citizenship - ICT
• Research - Discussion
• Presentation - Problem solving
• Presenting materials for a real audience
• Independent peer learning
• Competitions
• Increased performance and attainment

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What are the benefits to parents and the wider
community?

• Challenges pre-conceptions of staff pupils
• Breaks down barriers which exist between
  different types of schools
• Students gain greater tolerance and understanding
  of different cultures
• Develops community cohesion
• Prepares young people for greater future mobility

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Joining the European Studies Programme

• School completes application form to join
• - Junior Programme 11 15 years,
  (includes European Primary Schools)
• and/or
• - Senior Programme 16 18 years plus
• School then invited to International Teacher
• Planning Conference

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Cluster Composition
On joining schools meet and work in cluster
groups of 5 to 6 schools Clusters composed of
1 Northern Irish school 1 Republic of Ireland
school 2 4 European/UK schools
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Cluster Groups Agreements

• Cluster groups plan agreements of curriculum
  based work for the following academic year
• Agreement then signed by 5 6 members as
  contract on annual basis
• Each school identifies the class(es) who will
  collaborate on the agreed work

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Agreement Consists of

• Core activities with preliminary activity of
  personal profiles exchange
• One topic should be based on theme of conference
  eg Citizenship, Intercultural Learning,
  Creativity Innovation
• Throughout year cluster groups receive office
  support of eg website (including the
  Communication Platform), newsletter, student
  certificates of participation.

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The ESP Co-ordinator year

• Spring Annual international planning
  conference
• Sept. Commence preliminary activities
  eg personal profiles
• October Commence core activity one
• Autumn Christmas Card competition,
• Euroscola competition, Winter
• newsletter, Irish/Northern
  Irish
• School visits

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The ESP Co-ordinator year

• Winter Conference invitations, Grant
• Applications, Regional Training
• Days, commence main
  collaborative
• activity
• Spring Conference
• Completion of collaborative
  activity
• Spring Euroscola
• Summer Issuing of student certificates of
• participation

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Conference Venues
The International Planning Conferences are held
in Ireland (North and South) And Belgium
in The Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe,
Leuven
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At Conference

• 100 delegates from secondary level
• schools from up to 25 different
• countries (average 12 nationalities)
• Conference generally begins Friday
• 1430 and ends Sunday 1130

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At Conference Delegates Receive

• In-service training in the international
  dimension in education
• Materials and resources
• Workshops on relevant topics eg European Funding
  (European national agencies), Pedagogy
• Information on accreditation and assessment
• ICT training

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Conclusion

• European Studies is delighted to welcome schools
  from Ireland, N Ireland and Europe primary (if
  11 years plus), secondary, grammar, special,
  colleges of further and higher education
• Application packs available from
  www.european-studies.org/info.htm