North-South Centre - European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity

Nş 75 | Winter 2011

Global Education News is an electronic newsletter where national global education coordinators or practitioners can share global education news and best practices, useful thematic links and educational materials. It also serves as a medium for the North-South Centre global education network national coordinators' own use.

Dearest and esteemed global educators,

We are happy to share with you NSC programme of activities for 2011. A year which will see the consolidation of its GE capacity-building programme, through the continuation of the GE e-course scheme and through the translation process of the Global Education Guidelines. In the meantime NSC efforts to promote GE in EU member States will be pursued, enhancing the successful collaborative work between the NSC and the European Commission in this field and in the field of the Africa-Europe Youth policy.

All these activities prove the growing involvement of stakeholders, namely the NSC GE network and international partners, and you are invited to get acquainted more in detail to all this collective work through the NSC Global Education webpage, regularly updated. It is also through the GE webpage that we invite you to get acquainted to the activities foreseen for the first quarter of 2011, namely the GE e-course.

Get acquainted and, above all, share and disseminate the information within your respective networks and partners, at national and international level. Beside the Global Education activities you can also share relevant information about the NSC Youth programme as well as NSC calendar of activities.

Meanwhile keep the ball rolling and forward this message to your partners in order to share...

... the call for applications for the GE Spring e-course (deadline 18 February), which will take place from 28 February to 25 March;

... the content of the Global Education Week 2010 edition special webpage with all your partners and stakeholders.

The rhythm is given!

Looking forward for a captivating semester together and wishing you an enjoyable reading!

1. NEWS FROM NORTH-SOUTH CENTRE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE & THE GLOBAL EDUCATION WEEK NETWORK

 

2. OTHER NEWS

    . Intercultural Cities - can cities learn to perceive cultural diversity not as a threat but as an opportunity? How can they make diversity work to their advantage? Can the city become the focus of collective identity bridging ethnic and religious identities? In the context of the Council of Europe and European Commission joint programme “Intercultural Cities” several pilot cities will review their policies through the "intercultural lens" and develop intercultural strategies in order to meet the challenges of a world in motion. Follow this programme through its newsletter

    . Amnesty International Norway has established an International Centre for Human Rights Education in Oslo. The establishment is part of Amnesty International's efforts to develop centres of expertise. This new International Centre for Human Rights Education will plan and coordinate new programs, evaluate and develop existing and contribute to skills development and strengthening of the large international network of human rights education coordinators. Read more...

    . A stronger Europe - the Hungarian presidency comes at a critical time for the European project. Hungary took over the presidency of the EU council in a critical period. The challenges Europe is facing are numerous and call for even stronger and broader cooperation than ever before. A transformation of incredible speed and depth is happening, and Europe must be able to hold its own… read full article

 

3. USEFUL LINKS

    . The European Training & Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC) has been set up 1999 in Graz. It conducts research and training programs in the fields of  human rights, democracy and the rule of law in close co-operation with the University of Graz. Special emphasis is put on innovative training for trainers programs for civil servants, police, army, as well as for members of international organizations and NGOs in Austria and abroad. Simultaneously, basic research is conducted with a particular research focus on South Eastern Europe.

    . The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP), founded in 1989, leverages the resources of Columbia University and those offered by New York City as a center of non-governmental organizations and international organizations to provide grassroots human rights advocates with academic, skills-building and networking opportunities. Through workshops, seminars, participation in University courses and other activities as well as meetings with policy makers and potential funders, Advocates share their experiences, reflect critically on their strategies, and plan future campaigns. … more

 

4. USEFUL RESOURCES


. Global Education Guidelines
The North-South Centre is happy to announce that the Global Education Guidelines, a handbook for Educators to understand and implement Global Education, is accessible on-line. more...

 

5. MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

    Calls

    . The Global Disability Rights Library project announces a call for organizations to apply to receive a free digital Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL). Applications are open to disabled people's organizations, universities, and agencies in developing countries. Sixty organizations will receive the digital library to empower them to disseminate valuable disability rights knowledge and toolkits to their communities. More…

    Request of partnership

    . World University Service (WUS) in Germany needs your help in collecting texts on Global Education from different countries – WUS, in cooperation with the University of Mainz plans to translate relevant texts on Global/Development Education into German. WUS is therefore collecting texts in English, French, Russian, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese that either deal with GE/DE on a theoretical level or are political decisions. The texts should be of importance on a national level or for the development of GE/DE in your respective country. The texts will be published on the websites wusgermany (political) or globaleslernen (theory).
    For additional information or to send requested material please contact: Karola Hoffmann & Birgit Glindmeier, Goebenstr. 35 - 65195 Wiesbaden, Tel.: +49 (0) 611 9446170 – Fax: +49 (0) 611 446489, infostelle@usgermany.de

    Sharing good practices

    . Forum 18 is a Christian web and e-mail initiative to provide original reporting and analysis on violations of the freedom of thought, conscience and belief of all people, whatever their religious affiliation, in an objective, truthful and timely manner.

    . The Open Society Foundations Early Childhood Program promotes healthy development and wellbeing of young children, through initiatives that emphasize parent and community engagement, professional development and government accountability. OPF work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. It activities have grown to encompass the United States and more than 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

    Training courses / Scholarships

    . European Wergeland Centre - reminder: application deadline for the Summer Academy 2011; 25 February! There are still some available places for Summer Academy: Democracy at School, which will take place in Warsaw, Poland, 9-16 July. It offers training for head teachers, teachers and NGO/parents’ representatives in the field of education for human rights and democratic citizenship.

    . The ETC (European Training & research Centre for Human Rights & Democracy) International Summer Academy on Human Rights and Human Security 2011 will be held from 10 to 20 July 2011. Please access information about : Overview ; Objectives ; Topics ; Draft ; agenda ; Application ; Tuition / fee / payment ; Venue / accommodation ; Contact ; Flyer ... Application deadline: 31 March 2011

    . HREA (Human Rights Education Associates) has launched a third introductory e-course: Human Rights in Europe. For more information about short and specialised distance learning courses offered by HREA, please visit: hrea courses. Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) is an international non-governmental organisation that supports human rights learning; the training of activists and professionals; the development of educational materials and programming; and community-building through on-line technologies.

    . Human Rights Education Associates Distance Learning Programme : upcoming courses in the second trimester of 2011 (27 April-17 July)
    Information & application for the courses
    Since 2002, over 3,500 human rights defenders, development workers, staff members of international organisations and graduate students have successfully participated in Human Rights Education Associates (HREA)'s distance learning courses. … more

    Job opportunities / Fellowships

    . GLEN, the Global Education Network of young Europeans, is looking for a Network Officer (formerly European Coordinator), whose tasks will be to support the coordination of the GLEN Network. 
    The deadline for application is the 3rd March 2011, via email AND via post. You can find more information on GLEN under GLEN Europe.
    For questions and further information, do not hesitate to address laure.heinrich@giz.de from the GLEN Steering Committee!

 

6. EVENTS

    . International Summer work camp “Global Palestine”- 6th-20th September, 2011
    This program has been designed to bring 40 individuals from around the world to Palestine in order to foster relationships, exchange skills and ideas, and progress cultural exchange in an academic setting. The international Summer camp will bring together people from around the world who are interested in experiencing the unique place and people in Palestine. Our goal is to host volunteers interested in the Middle East question, from above all,  while Palestine may seem daunting, it is also a highly rewarding environment to study firsthand. We strongly encourage motivated and serious men and women to apply. The daily program of the international summer camp consists of daily voluntary work at the campus delivered by international volunteers to local students on the topics mentioned in the link provided below. In return, the internationals will be involved in workshops that are administered by professors from our University on the Middle East issues that are of interest to them.

    . 3rd Annual Symposium on University Rankings and Quality Assurance in Europe 2011 – 14th April 2011 - DG Education and Culture, European Commission
    Event Details Website Register to Attend

    . EUROCLIO Annual Conference - register now, while there are still places available, for the EUROCLIO Annual Conference in the beautiful surroundings of Krzyzowa, Poland! From the 8 to 9 April 2011, EUROCLIO, in cooperation with its Polish partners are organizing the 18th Annual EUROCLIO Conference in the beautiful historical surroundings of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe. This conference is an opportunity for participants to learn about cross-border history, exchange experiences with Polish and German history educators and provide input on the EUROCLIO Policy 2020. The costs for the event are € 300, - for a double room and € 350, - for a single room. This includes two nights’ accommodation (April 8-9) with breakfast at the Kryzowa Castle, the on-site conference activities, all meals, as well as pick-up from and to Wroclaw airport. Since rooms are limited, please hurry and register before February 20th. During the conference, participants will be offered an inspiring programme including guided tours of the Krzyżowa estate and the city of Wroclaw to get a unique insight into the local history and heritage,  a round-table discussion with Polish and German history educators and civil society actors to learn about cross-border initiatives in the field of history, heritage and citizenship education and an engaging workshop to create a “Compass for Responsible History Teaching” in a Globalizing Society. You can download the Draft Programme 18th Annual Conference 2011and the Background Information here. You can register online here.  For more details, please contact Maria Kazamiaki.

 

7. SPECIAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

    . The European Commission adopts a 12 point Action Plan to support the Millennium Development goals This is the first major policy statement of new Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
    The aim is for the EU to take a lead in getting back on track towards the MDGs in the five years which remain to the 2015 deadline. The full set of documentation is now available online through europa development services

    . 2011 World Social Forum -…more

    . World Social Forum website

    . World Social Forum Virtual Media Centre

    . World Economic Forum website

    . Davos: World Bank Robert Zoellick on the World's Challenges … more

    . Progress Towards the MDGs
    There has been considerable progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Despite the global economic crisis, the target to reduce by half the number of people living in extreme poverty is within reach. Rapid growth has occurred in East Asia and Pacific and poverty rates have been dropping in South Asia. However, progress at the country level is uneven, with only 49 of 87 countries on track to achieve the poverty target. Read More …

    . Education Key to Achieving Millennium Development Goals
    To reach the second Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education by 2015, school systems with low completion rates will need to train teachers, build classrooms, and improve the quality of education. They also need to remove attendance barriers such as fees, transportation, and security concerns. Read More …

    . Education
    The World Bank’s online education atlas and education Millennium Development Goal (MDG) monitor have both been updated with new data from UNESCO. The education atlas includes thematic world maps of 62 key education indicators, and the MDG monitor generates charts to illustrate each country’s progress toward the education MDGs. Read More …

    . Achieving Gender Equality at the Heart of the MDGs 
    The third Millennium Development Goal aims at promoting gender equality and empowering women. Developing countries continue to make progress towards this goal, especially gender parity in primary and secondary education. Sixty-four countries have achieved gender parity in enrolment, and another twenty are on track to do so by 2015. But 22 countries are seriously off track, the majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Read More …

    . Growth or Redistribution for Human Development? Neither?
    The authors of this study asked whether economic growth or pro-poor income redistribution influenced aggregate health and education attainments. The paper examines data for Morocco and Vietnam, and finds that growth and changes in income inequality played only a modest role in boosting school enrolments in both countries. Sector policies and other socio-economic changes appear to have played a larger role. Read More … 

    . Ten Things You Never Knew About the World Bank
    This interactive map of the world will tell you “ten things you never knew” about the World Bank’s work in your country. Start clicking to learn about the initiatives under way in any country of interest. Read More …

 

8. CAMPAIGNS