EU, CROSS-BORDER AND INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
County Monaghan VEC has been, and continues to be, actively involved in many of the European funding programmes available to the education and training sector, including:
• INTERREG
• PEACE
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Socrates - Comenius
• International Fund for Ireland
Co Monaghan VEC has received funding from these programmes to run a variety of projects, which provide education and training opportunities for a wide range of groups and individuals.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Currently, Co Monaghan VEC is involved in two important projects:
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BA in Early Childhood Studies Programme
This is a partnership project developed by Co Monaghan VEC, Monaghan County Childcare Committee, The Border Counties Childcare Network and Stranmillis University College Belfast. The project involves the delivery by Stranmillis personnel of a four-year part-time BA in Early Childhood Studies programme at MIFET (Monaghan Institute of Further Education & Training).
In May 2004, the project received funding from ICBAN under the INTERREG 111A programme. The first year of the course began in Sept 2004. Currently, 24 childcare practitioners from North and South are participating in the BA programme. The programme is now in its third year and will conclude in summer 2008.
All parties agree this is a very successful project and support its continuation. Co Monaghan VEC is currently exploring options to enable the BA to run again post 2008.
BA in Early Childhood Studies, group hard at work - March 2007
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Leonardo da Vinci
MIFET was awarded funding from Leargas under the Leonardo Da Vinci Programme to send students from the Childcare and Nursing departments on a three-week work placement to Germany and Denmark respectively. This project marked a further strengthening of the VEC’s working relationship with its partner organisations: Adolph Kolping Berufskolleg (AKB), located in Brakel Germany and Social-Og Sundhedsskolen (SOSU), located in Viborg Denmark.
The placement project was very successful. The students gained valuable work experience, sampled new and different cultures, made new acquaintances and enjoyed their stay. Four VEC staff travelled as supervisors with the groups and found the experience interesting and beneficial.
Our Danish partners are currently seeking Leonardo funding to send a group of Nursing students to participate in work placement in Monaghan. MIFET looks forward to hosting this group in September 2007.
2007 Students with a resident and Tutor, Roisin Lavelle. Roisin Lavelle makes a presentation to Lone Kaagaard, Tutor. |
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/education/leonardo.html - The European Commission's Leonardo da Vinci website |
PREVIOUS PROJECTS
In recent years, Co Monaghan VEC has been involved in a number of EU funded projects, some of which are outlined below.
Peace II Funded Projects
The North South Education Forum
The North South Education Forum was set up in 1999 to build on opportunities for co-operation in education and to share practice between the Vocational Education Committees (VECs) in the Southern border region and Education and Library Boards (ELBs) in Northern Ireland. The Forum membership comprised Chief Executives and Officers from Monaghan, (Lead Southern Partner), Louth, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal VECs and the SELB (Lead Northern Partner), BELB, NEELB, SEELB, WELB.
A number of key educational issues for socially excluded individuals and groups were identified in the early work of the Forum as rich in potential for cross-border research and development. It was decided that the NSEF would apply for funding for a programme which would identify issues and create projects for the future. This programme became the Diversity of Learning Needs: Education for All, a two year programme funded by the SEUPB (Special EU Programmes Body) under PEACE II (measure 5.2, Improving Cross-border Public Sector Co-operation). Within this programme, six projects were developed and implemented:
(i) Social Inclusion (of marginalised young people) This project involved the compilation and publication of a book comprising art pieces created by Youthreach and EOTAS (Education other than at School) trainees.
(ii) ICT in Education This project involved the purchase of ICT equipment for use in classrooms and training VEC/ELB personnel to use these in innovative and creative ways.
(iii) Continuing Professional Development This project involved the preparation of a video/DVD of best teaching practices in the VECs / ELBs. Following production of the video/DVD, teaching staff were invited to workshops to view the recording and discuss how they might adopt such practices.
(ii) ICT in Education This project involved the purchase of ICT equipment for use in classrooms and training VEC/ELB personnel to use these in innovative and creative ways.
(iii) Continuing Professional Development This project involved the preparation of a video/DVD of best teaching practices in the VECs / ELBs. Following production of the video/DVD, teaching staff were invited to workshops to view the recording and discuss how they might adopt such practices.
(iv) Youth Work and Services This project involved co-operation and sharing of expertise and learning among youth organisations north and south.
(v) Community Links and Partnerships This project involved 40 young people (20 north & 20 south) participating in 3 arts residential weekends. During these residentials, they took part in a range of workshops and outdoor activities, which culminated in a final performance in May 2005.
(v) Community Links and Partnerships This project involved 40 young people (20 north & 20 south) participating in 3 arts residential weekends. During these residentials, they took part in a range of workshops and outdoor activities, which culminated in a final performance in May 2005.
(vi) Study visits The NSEF operated a study visit programme. Each VEC / ELB prepared a menu of projects / classes / training centres that might be of interest to its cross border partners. Approximately 80 staff from the VECs & ELBs participated in these study visits. They provided a genuine opportunity for a wide sharing of learning and experience and establishment of further cross border contacts.
DADMU - Drama, Art and Design for Mutual Understanding
Drama, Art and Design for Mutual understanding (DADMU) was a cross border arts project for young people (15-17 years) from both sides of the border. It enabled them to explore the themes of conflict, resolution and mutual understanding through the mediums of drama, art and design. DADMU ran for nine years. Previous projects (DADMU I and DADMU II) were funded under earlier PEACE programmes. Participants on these projects learned a variety of skills and produced a drama piece, a CD, a film and a book.
DADMU III was funded by the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation for a period of two years through Measure 5.5 (Education, Cross-border School and Youth Co-operation). Co. Monaghan Vocational Education Committee, Co. Louth Vocational Education Committee and the Youth Services of the Southern Education and Library Board were the partner organisations in this project.
Phase I of DADMU III took place in August 2003 and Phase II during the summer of 2004. Phase I of DADMU III took place in Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre, Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan for two weeks in August 2003. 25 participants partook in a two-week residential. This comprised workshops on conflict resolution, modern dance, percussion music, website design, stop-motion animation and art and design. DVDs were made from the stop-motion animation workshops while a 2004 DADMU III Calendar was produced from the art and sculpture pieces created by the participants.
Phase II of DADMU III took place in summer 2004. It involved 40 young people spending 2 weeks at an arts-based residential in Loughry College, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. They participated in drama and dance workshops and wrote and produced a play, Look Deep. This was performed at the end of the workshop and recorded to DVD.
INTERREG Funded Projects
One of our most successful EU projects was a cross-border programme for SME's in partnership with Co. Louth VEC and East Tyrone College of F.E., Dungannon, Co Tyrone. This project provided a variety of training modules, including:
- E-commerce training, including a study visit to Seattle, USA where participants visited companies at the leading edge of e-commerce practice and development such as Microsoft, Compaq, Onvia.com, Recreation Equipment Company, etc
- Export marketing training delivered through the University of Ulster
- I.T. training through the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
- Business language training through formal classes and distance learning
- Study visits to the Institute for Ireland in Europe, in Leuven, Belgium
FUTURE PROJECTS
EU, Cross border and International projects are important elements of Co Monaghan VEC’s work. They constitute a growing and ever evolving section of the VEC, changing as funding programmes and partnerships develop. The projects span all VEC services, including schools, adult education, further education, Youthreach, community education and the arts. The projects also involve diverse partnerships within Ireland (North and South), Europe, The US and Canada.
If you / your organisation are interested in developing a partnership project with Co Monaghan VEC, please contact us:
County Monaghan VEC,
Market Street,
Monaghan,
County Monaghan,
Ireland.
Telephone: 00 353 (0)47 30888, Fax: 00 353 (0)47 30889
Email: educ@monaghanvec.ie
Project funded by the Irish Government and part-financed by the National Development Plan