Training News September 2003

A free e-mail news service provided by AquaTT on European Education & Training in Aquaculture

Please submit any relevant information for dissemination in the newsletter to news@aquatt.ie

INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING NEWS

EDUCATION

- Expanding the distribution and impact of “TRAINING NEWS”

- Outcome of AQUA-TNET National Representatives meeting 2003 available on WWW.PISCESTT.COM

- LIFE SCIENCES DISCUSSION FORUM - Towards sustainable agriculture for developing countries: options from life sciences and biotechnologies

- Awards launched to help foster a new generation of scientists

- Ethical forum to discuss the use of the English language in higher education

COLLABORATION

- Funding to go abroad on Student Work Experience Placement & Trainer Study Visits

- Call for proposals for European platform of women scientists

- SME TechWeb – supporting your needs

OTHER

- Statistics on science and technology - 2003 edition (data 1991-2001)
- Post your Student placement and MSc/ PhD vacancies on WWW.PISCESTTJOBS.COM  

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EDUCATION

Expanding the distribution and impact of “TRAINING NEWS”

The free newsletter you are now receiving monthly is due to an initiative setup by AquaTT in April 2003.

AquaTT through its extensive network has realised that information on training is not being effectively disseminated to all parties. The newsletter is intended to keep you informed of developments in Education & Training and related areas leading to increased collaboration. Support material will be available on the new European Education Forum website www.piscestt.com.

Please can you help the network increase its impact by forwarding this newsletter to any colleagues you think would be interested in receiving “Training News”.

To subscribe to “Training News” simply send an e-mail to news@aquatt.ie with the following message in the header “SUBSCRIBE TRAINING NEWS”

AquaTT welcomes any feedback regarding content, presentation and user-friendliness of the newsletter. Please submit any relevant information for dissemination in the newsletter to news@aquatt.ie.  

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Outcome of AQUA-TNET National Representatives meeting 2003 available on WWW.PISCESTT.COM

AQUA-TNET the Thematic network for European Education and Training in Aquaculture had its annual meeting in Brussels on the 6^th September 2003.

The meeting had 19 participants who attended with the financial support of the EC Socrates programme. The main aim of the meeting was to review the current activities of the network and to identify new objectives and plan activities for the next 3-year phase 2004-7. The meeting included a review of the past activities of the network, the latest developments on the Diploma Supplement (DS), the latest EC policy developments related to structuring the European Education Area and an insight into the new directives given by the Commission relating to Thematic Networks. In addition, interesting discussions took place relating to topics specific to aquaculture courses; including curriculum development, mobility exchanges, European Masters courses, accreditation and dissemination.

One particularly interesting development in the next phase will be the inclusion of all stakeholders in Thematic networks, including industry and students organisations. To see the type of activities that are being discussed for the next phase visit the PISCESTT discussion forum at www.piscestt.com.   If you would like to become more involved in the AQUA-TNET network please contact the coordinator, David Murphy (AquaTT Manager) david@aquatt.ie
(Please note that currently participation is limited to EC member states and associated countries)

To find out more about the network and its activities please visit www.piscestt.com and www.aquatnet.org

The Meeting Minutes and all PowerPoint Presentations will soon be freely available @ www.piscestt.com

A list of all current National Representatives will be available shortly at both websites.

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LIFE SCIENCES DISCUSSION FORUM - Towards sustainable agriculture for developing countries: options from life sciences and biotechnologies

The European Commission has set up a Life Sciences Discussion Platform, coordinated by the European Group on Life Sciences (EGLS), to encourage debate among all stakeholders about key issues in the life sciences. At their suggestion, a forum entitled "Towards sustainable agriculture for developing countries: options from life sciences and biotechnologies" was held in Brussels on 30-31 January 2003. The aim was to consider ways in which advances in life sciences and biotechnologies can promote sustainable agriculture in developing countries.

This brochure aims to highlight some of the key issues that emerged during the two days of debate and to present some of the diverse opinions expressed by both the experts and stakeholders seeking answers to particular questions. It covers all aspects of the discussion platform, from the presentations made at the conference, through the questions posed by participants, to more informal comments made during the two days, as well as comments submitted to the Internet forum.

Bibliographic Reference: European Commission, DG Research, 2003. 32pp. Free of charge; Available from European Commission, DG Research, Directorate E, Tel: +32 2 296 3695, E-mail: Marianne.Patel@cec.eu.int

Also available on conference website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/sadc

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Awards launched to help foster a new generation of scientists

In recognition of the need to foster a new generation of scientists, the European Union Research Organisations Heads of Research Councils (EuroHORCS), in association with European Science Foundation (ESF), have created a new award process for outstanding European young investigators.

Figures from the European Commission show that the EU needs to produce an extra 100,000 researchers per year over the next seven years in addition to those needed to replace those researchers who are now retiring.

The aim of European young investigator (EURYI) awards will be to enable and encourage outstanding young researchers from all over the world to work in a European environment for the benefit of developing European science and building up the next generation of leading European researchers.

The awards will provide funding over a period of five years to young scientists with original or groundbreaking ideas of a high scientific calibre that might be expected to help improve the competitiveness of European research at world level. It is hoped that the award will also help foster innovative research, novel scientific problems and novel methodologies.

Data Source Provider: European Science Foundation

For further information, please consult the following web address:http://www.esf.org/medias/section_5/83/CfPFinalVersion20031109.pdf

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Ethical forum to discuss the use of the English language in higher education

The University foundation of Belgium is organising an ethical forum entitled 'Go English? What language for higher education in 21st century Europe', under the patronage of EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Education and Culture Commissioner, Viviane Reding. It will take place on 16th October in Brussels.

The English language has become the unofficial language of scientific publication throughout the world, although students at all levels continue to be taught in their own language.

Mindful of the growing pressure to produce curricula in English, the forum will assess the present situation and the underlying trends as regards the language regime in European higher education, and reflect on the values at stake and how they should guide policy in this area, whether at the level of departments, universities, governments or European institutions.

Data Source Provider: Fondation universitaire

For further information, please contact: Fondation universitaire, rue d'Egmont 11, Brussels 1000

Tel: +32 2 545 04 20; Fax: +32 2 513 64 11; E-mail: fu.us@skynet.be

http://www.fondationuniversitaire.be/en/forum2.php

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COLLABORATION

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Funding to go abroad on Student Work Experience Placements & Trainer Study Visits

The European Communities Leonardo da Vinci Vocational Training Programme provides funding for students and trainees to undertake a work experience placement in a participating European country. Leonardo da Vinci also provides funding for vocational trainers, guidance counsellors and those involved in curriculum development or human resources to undertake a study visit in a participating European country.

A grant of up to €5000 per person is available for the maximum duration. Applications are only accepted from educational bodies or organisations involved in vocational training.

The next deadline for project applications is 13 February 2004

For more information visit; http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/leonardo/leonardo2_en.html

Applications need to be submitted to a national agency in each applicant’s respective country. AquaTT would be happy to give advice on how to submit a proposal to send either students or trainers on such placements. AquaTT has previously helped over 400 individuals in the past under Leonardo Da Vinci, but is currently unable to coordinate such a program centrally for European aquaculture due to the EC change in policy regarding LDV incoming and outgoing beneficiaries.

Please contact Caoimhe Boylan – aquatt@aquatt.ie or telephone; +353 1 644 9008

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Call for proposals for European platform of women scientists

The European Commission has published a call for proposals related to the establishment of a European platform of women scientists (area 4.3.5.1(d)), under the Sixth Framework Programme's 'science and society' activity.

The European platform of women scientists will bring together networks of women scientists and other organisations committed to promoting gender equality in science, in order to improve the participation of women in scientific research and make their voice heard in the policy process at regional, national and European level. The areas covered by this call are the coordination and activities of the platform during the launch phase from 2004 to 2006. Community support will, in principle, be limited to this launch phase. Proposals must therefore present a convincing strategy for the long-term sustainability of the platform after this period.

In specifying the instruments to be used in these areas, the call requests the use of specific support actions (SSA). The total indicative budget for this call is two million euro.   Before contacting the Commission, proposers are strongly advised to consult the original call text in the Official Journal of the European Union at the reference below.

The deadline for submitting proposal documents is 09.12.2003.

To see the call text, please visit: http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/call_details.cfm?CALL_ID=93

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SME TechWeb – supporting your needs

Are you fully informed about research opportunities for small companies in Europe?

SME Techweb has the answers to your key information needs, such as;

-          research funding opportunities for small companies

-          news and events for SMEs

-          potential partners

-          intellectual property rights

-          training opportunities

-          examples of SMEs succeeding with new technologies

SME TechWeb is relevant to both experienced and first-time EU research participants. The portal will help you get to grips with the R&D funding available under the 6^th Framework Programme.

Visit http://sme.cordis.lu

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OTHER

Statistics on science and technology - 2003 edition (data 1991-2001)

This publication, intended for both generalists and specialists, is organised as follows. The first part presents an analysis of the recent trends in R&D and patenting. In Part II, the accompanying methodological information is provided in some detail for more specialist users. Part III presents tables containing both original data and derived indicators, providing users with the opportunity to conduct their own analyses on the Research and Development situation in Europe and beyond.

This 2003 edition provides some additional information on relevant indicators compared to the 2001 edition. Data and trends are provided not only for patent applications to the European Patent Office - EPO, but also for patents granted by the United States Patent and trademark Office - USPTO. Additional data on the number of researchers amongst total R&D personnel are analysed for the European Union and beyond.

Facet Codes: Science policy, Mathematics in general, statistics Availability in Languages: DE, EN, FR

Bibliographic Reference : Luxembourg, Office for Official Publications of the EC, 180pp. Euro: 29.50, ISBN: 92-894-4445-2 (DE) ; 92-894-4446-0 (EN) ; 92-894-4447-9 (FR) ; EUR-OP references: KS-CT-02-001-DE-C; KS-CT-02-001-EN-C; KS-CT-02-001-FR-C; Available from EUR-OP sales agents. URL: http://publications.eu.int/general/en/publications_en.htm  

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Post your Student placement and MSc/ PhD vacancies on WWW.PISCESTTJOBS.COM

PISCES TT Jobs, an exciting and valuable free online service provided by AquaTT UETP Ltd. to employers and potential employees in aquaculture and related science sectors, was launched on 20th May, on the web at www.piscesttjobs.com. Using a secure and innovative site format, employers and job searchers can post job vacancies and CVs, respectively, thus facilitating human resource development in the industry.

"PISCES TT Jobs is a resource to connect employers with qualified candidates specifically interested in pursuing work in aquaculture or related sciences," said David Murphy, AquaTT Manager.

Upon registration, companies can post and instantaneously edit job vacancies, including permanent, temporary, MSc/PhD and student placement positions. Companies will only receive CVs of those applicants who are qualified for the position requirements. To ensure privacy and lessen the hassle of unsolicited calls and queries, company/organisation contact details will not be published online.

Prospective employees can use the online registration facility to obtain a username and password, post and edit their employee profile, upload a CV and apply online for positions.  

If you are interesting in posting a job vacancy or registering for the service, please contact aquatt@aquatt.ie  

AquaTT, the European Network for Education and Training, is providing the site as an additional service to compliment their flagship project, PISCES TT, found on the web at www.piscestt.com and host to a comprehensive education database, occupational profiles, virtual tours, a discussion forum, and marine sciences activities for children.

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Introduction

The European Education Area is developing at a rapid pace. In the coming years education systems throughout Europe will have to adapt to the new structure, curriculum and accreditation of courses.

AquaTT through its extensive network has realised that essential information on upcoming changes is not being effectively disseminated to all parties. Thus, AquaTT is producing this free news service “TRAINING NEWS” specifically for the Aquaculture industry. The newsletter is intended to keep you informed of developments in Education & Training and related areas. Support material will be available on the new European Education Forum website www.piscestt.com . All old Training News will be archived on the piscestt site.

The main target audience for this newsletter is teachers, trainers and students in the aquaculture area but will also be of interest to policy makers, companies and associations.

AquaTT welcomes any feedback regarding content, presentation and user-friendliness of the newsletter. Please forward this mail to any colleagues that may be interested. Please submit any relevant information for dissemination in the newsletter. 

DISCLAIMER: AquaTT provides this newsletter as a free service to interested parties.  Most of the information is provided by AquaTT.  Where it is not, the source of the news is provided in the text of the news brief or else AquaTT attributes the news to the coordinating body as the "Data Source Provider".  In no way does this newsletter, by promoting events not coordinated by AquaTT, intend to wrongly or inappropriately claim projects, news, etc. as its own nor is it responsible for incorrect information provided from other sources.  “Training News” is a promotional tool and forum for both AquaTT and other organisations.

If you have received this e-mail in error or would like to unsubscribe please reply to mail with “UNSUBSCRIBE TRAINING NEWS” in the subject heading.

AquaTT

P.O.Box 8989

Dublin 2

Ireland

e-mail: aquatt@aquatt.ie 

Web: www.aquatt.ie, www.piscestt.com

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