Induction training for national partners in Brussels

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1 Induction training for national partners in Brussels Country of the month Macedonia News from the EC meeting Training design team meeting in Budapest Newsletter February 2015 Icons from freepik.com

2 Reinhard Schwalbach during the Multipliers Seminar 2014 News from the EC meeting by Reinhard Schwalbach, Eurodesk President At the end of the network meeting in Riccione, Italy in November 2014 the members of the General Assembly of Eurodesk aisbl elected a new Eurodesk Executive Committee (EEC) for a legislative period of two years. The main role of the EEC is to monitor and maintain Eurodesk at European level and lead the organisation to a successful direction. The first meeting of the EEC was January 2015, in Brussels. With the new legislative period, came important tasks for the committee to discuss and to decide on key areas of work for the upcoming years. The areas are Visibility, Policy making and Monitoring, Network related issues and Human Resources and Finances. Visibility Visibility of Eurodesk is very much tied to cooperation with our main supporter, the EU Commission and particularly the Youth Unit in DG EAC. There are also partnerships with other youth information networks like ERYICA, EYCA and the European Youth Forum, as the voice of young people in Europe. Our cooperation consists of regular meetings and from time to time, concrete activities like the European Youth Week, the European Youth Portal or the Eurodesk Multipliers Award. In the coming years, Eurodesk wants to give a new impetus to the cooperation with partners among the European information networks Euroguidance, EURES, Euridyce, Europe Direct as was done in the past with the commonly organised European Conferences Learning by Leaving. The aim is to create synergies at international, regional and local level. There is a shared line of topics in the field of disseminating information and knowledge about opportunities in common. Policy Making and Monitoring In the area of policy making and monitoring, the EEC decided to put an emphasis on the development and the implementation of the quality standards. The idea is to use this tool more intensively to overcome weaknesses in the network. Aside our regular involvement in European youth policy, the EEC will keep an eye on the neighbouring policy and decide on supporting countries outside the program countries giving support in the frame of our possibilities. Network Related Issues For years, Eurodesk multipliers have been a priority. They are the roots of our network. Therefore, it is a most prominent task to do the best to support them in their work, to give them opportunities to participate in European events and campaigns and to give recognition to their engagement. The EEC wants to emphasise direct contacts between the local partners from the different countries. We will of course offer support for activities during the European Youth Week as before (Time to Move campaign). This year the Multiplier Awards will be reactivated with an improved concept. The European Multipliers Seminar will have a one day overlap with the Autumn Network Meeting so there is space given for an exchange of views and discussion with the responsible persons of the national Eurodesk centres, EBL and the EEC. In 1990, a group of courageous people, including Bob Payne, ex- Director, started Eurodesk as a project and a service bringing European information and programmes closer to young people and those working with them. Since then Eurodesk grew in terms of quality and countries. We enlarged our services and tried always to be on the top of technological development to deliver mobility and funding opportunities to young European citizens. After 25 years of existence it is time again to thank all supporters inside and outside the network for their energy to help Eurodesk became a brand name. Newsletter February

3 Newsletter February Country of the month Macedonia We joined the team who created a monthly on-line newsletter for the activities of the NA in Macedonia and through the newsletter will inform the readers for the implemented activities or for the future plans. This newsletter is published once every 3 months and the last issue of the year is a printed version. Country of the month is a new idea, starting from this month. During the year, we will introduce a Eurodesk country in every issue of the newsletter. The national coordinator will be asked to fill us in on the recent happenings and the plans for the future of the office. The first country is Macedonia and the national coordinator, Jovica Mitevski will make the introduction. Building up the Macedonian Eurodesk network In October 2014 the Eurodesk centre was established as a part of the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility in Macedonia. The Eurodesk centre joined the Eurodesk network as the 34th country. As a national partner, we published the first call for multipliers and by the end of the calendar year we established a national network of 2 multipliers. Upcoming deadlines There are several deadlines connected to different projects approching in the network. Just to remind you, here is a list with all of them. During the remaining period of 2014 we provided training with the multipliers where they were informed in regards of their obligations for the upcoming period and some formal procedures such as signing the Agreements. For this short but productive period we have close cooperation with other organisations as lots of them expressed their interest to join the Eurodesk network. Thus a further plan was developed that the Eurodesk centre in Macedonia will extend the network of multipliers in During the short acting period, the Eurodesk centre in Macedonia was involved in a cooperation with the other National centres such as cooperation in publishing brochures for information that includes Macedonia, sharing information regarding - Call for Multipliers, Agreements, Queries etc. As we are a new national partner in the Eurodesk Network, we put a lot of efforts to promote Eurodesk at Public events such as Info Days organised by the National Agency (involving the Eurodesk Centre in Macedonia) and covered by the Medias as well as Public appearances on morning TV shows, represented by the high level positions of the NA. Eurodesk Macedonia provided informational tabs on the NA`s portal, where all information will be available and reachable for the interested young people. Finishing personal profiles on the new eurodesk.eu site Finalising registration for the Brussels Network Meeting Sending the work plans 2015 National partners to fill in the 2014 Quality Assessment Filling out the Annual Overview survey Multipliers to fill in the 2014 Quality Assessment (more info soon) As soon as possible As soon as possible 1 February 11 February 13 February End of February

4 Induction training for national partners in Brussels From 19 to 20 January, Eurodesk Brussels Link welcomed at their premises 8 colleagues from around Europe: Maya (Bulgaria), Tereza and Vendula (Czech Republic), Evelin (Estonia), Jovica (Macedonia), Ingrid (Norway), Irina (Romania) and Kylie (United Kingdom). Over two days, the training participants worked intensively with EBL on a Eurodesk knowledge transfer. The first day started with a getting to know each other session followed by the Eurodesk presentation, priorities for 2015 and communication issues. We also looked into the use of the Eurodesk Intranet, how to answer enquiries and how to manage European information. On the second day, we addressed matters related to the European Youth Portal (EYP): tasks, what content and how to prepare it, how to find it and communication. For the last session of the training, the participants were encouraged to think about different aspects of Eurodesk in their country and to draw up their Eurodesk personal plan of action for After having read the evaluation, EBL is very pleased to see that the participants were very satisfied and appreciated the training manual. Insight of a participant Kylie Morris from UK I ve been working for Eurodesk for 6 months now, and the training in January gave me the perfect opportunity to reflect on what I ve learnt so far, meet new colleagues and take a fresh look at the big priorities for the network and myself in The training covers the role of a National Coordinator in detail, from helping me to understand more about the day-to-day duties of my job and learn about features available in the IT tools I use, through to a really productive planning session at the end of the second day. Being able to meet with the supportive and knowledgeable EBL team, ask questions about the network and the plans for 2015 was really useful and helped to explain how the network functions at a European level. The training offered a rare opportunity to focus on what needs to be done on a day-to-day basis and what I need to prepare for the exciting projects in I would strongly recommend it! Newsletter February

5 Newsletter February Insiders thoughts Training design team meeting in Budapest The training design working group meeting took place from 18 to 20 January in Budapest. From 2015 the team has expanded with new members. Ziva from Slovenia and David from Spain explains their experiences. Ziva Mahkota, Slovenia I joined the Training design team and got involved in the preparation of the modules from The reason why I decided to join is that we are planning to expand the network of Eurodesk multipliers in Slovenia this year. We have already started to provide them with different trainings and meetings. The structure of the Training seems a good point to start, so this year we will follow the fist training, introducing the module about Eurodesk, and on the second, introducing international mobility opportunities. Being part of the team gives a more in depth knowledge about the dramaturgy and the flow of the sessions, which will be helpful in delivering the trainings to the multipliers. My impression is that when put into the right places, the final result will be a comprehensive manual, full of good tips and ideas on how to bring the topics dealt with closer to multipliers and young people through the methods of non formal learning. It was very nice to visit the lovely city of Budapest, and I am looking forward to meeting the team and visiting the city again in June. David Álvarez, Spain My participation in the first meeting of the year 2015 with the team has been very satisfactory. We were able to take advantage of the two days of the meeting to carry out our work. After a brief introduction of the programme, where the last team elaborated on the design, structure, tools, etc., we proceeded to carry out a first brainstorming of general ideas on different issues. This included the working methodology and multipliers self-assessment grid, to improve the development of the same. Later we worked in small groups on the area of work proposed in the meeting, the mobility of young people. On the second day we finalised the scheme designed by the groups. I worked in the group of design and content in the area of mobility. Then gave his presentation to the big group with the idea of setting a structure for the area of mobility. This structure should include and further develop funding opportunities and other content such as skills, motivation, knowledge and attitude. Following the assignment of duties to complete this area of the programme, we concluded the meeting. It was a great experience for me and my job. As a multiplier I am very involved and committed in this project.

6 Newsletter February Monthly Good-to-Know The Monthly Good-to-Know aims to provide you with essential facts and information about the youth field or young people in an easily understandable way through infographics, stats or short articles. In the first Good-to-Know we tackle one of the most-talked-about topic lately, youth unemployment.