Development Office Newsletter: Issue N°3 2011
Activities
Summer Academy for future leaders
High-level experts from the College of Europe network and from the partner institutions are training the 30 young participants, coming mainly from the Western Balkans, during the two-week Summer Academy. After a couple of days in Bratislava and a few days in Vienna, having training sessions on the EU and its relations to Southeast Europe, as well as meetings in the Slovakian and Austrian ministries of foreign affairs, the group goes on a retreat to Mauerbach, 20km away from Vienna. During that second week, the curriculum focuses on their project management, communication and leadership skills. In that peaceful environment, they are starting to develop group projects in small transnational teams – which composes the second phase of the “Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme”.
We will keep you posted on the projects that will be developed in five countries of the Western Balkans, and on the third component of the programme: a five-day Spring Seminar that will take place in Brussels and Bruges in April 2012.
The Development Office wishes success to this sixth promotion!
For more information on this project: www.seeyoungleaders.org
5th Edition of the Summer Seminar for Russian students
26 students from the European Studies Institute (ESI) of MGIMO-University in Moscow have been selected for the 2011 ESI Summer Seminar taking place at the College of Europe Bruges campus from 29 August till 9 September.During practical sessions, the participants have the chance to improve their EU knowledge, negotiation and project management skills. In the second week, among other things, they will visit the European Institutions in Brussels and Luxembourg as well as the NATO Headquarters in Brussels and meet with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the EU.
The Development Office of the College of Europe organises this 5th edition of the Summer Seminar based on a cooperation project with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (MGIMO-University). The ESI Master Programme has three specialisations: EU Law, EU Economics and EU Politics and Policies.
More information
Intensive month of July in Bruges
The ‘Intensive Seminar on the EU’ is the Development Office’s flagship training programme which has been organised for the past 17 years. It is targeted at professionals who wish to gain an insight into the EU institutions and decision-making processes. The seminar is divided into the 1-week ‘Compact’, the 2-week ‘Advanced’ and the 3-week ‘Classic’ Programme.
This year, some 60 participants from 25 countries joined one of the Intensive Seminar Programmes, lasting between one and three weeks. During those 3 weeks, the participants improve, extend and update their knowledge and understanding of the EU and its policies as well as its strategies for 2020 (EU economics, internal market, EU external relations and foreign policies etc.).
The 18th edition of the Intensive Seminar was also the opportunity to debate EU hot topics. Three panel debates were organised with the participation of officials from the EU institutions and other professionals:
- What kind of Energy for Europe?
- Is the EU in crisis?
- Belgium politics: A Government for Belgium?
These events, in addition to the regular programme, offered an outstanding opportunity for the participants of the Intensive Seminar courses to literally experience Europe.
This 18th edition was undoubtedly a success. The participants have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and clearly benefitted, academically, socially and professionally, from their time at the College of Europe:
"The Intensive Seminar on the EU offered by the College of Europe was a great experience. Not only content-wise – the Intensive Seminar provides you a broad scope on the different angles of the European Union, both institutionally and thematically –, also the social aspects of the seminar – people from all over the world participate – were truly interesting and informal contacts unmistakably also broadened the view on the European Union as such. Add to this the many extra-course activities and the very helpful people of the Development Office of the College, and you get an unforgettable experience, good both for you professional career and your daily life."
Bert Segier
Advisor, Province of West-Flanders
Want to join the 19th edition? You may already register on our website: www.coleurope.eu/IS2012, where more information is available. The 19th edition will take place on 2-20 July 2012 and further details on the focus of the 2012 programmes will be announced in our next Newsletters.
It's all in the game
In October the "Parlementarium" will open its doors. The visitor's centre of the European Parliament will be one of the largest in its kind. It houses a closed area dedicated to a role-play game that was developed by a consortium of the Stavanger-based multimedia company Media Farm and the College of Europe, among others.A small team of the Development Office wrote the script for the game and was actively involved in casting and filming European amateur actors in 2009, covering all the official languages of the EU, for more than a hundred small sketches of virtual characters that have been integrated in this highly interactive multi-media learning experience.
Designed for school pupils aged 15-17 years, the role-play game offers a 2-hour experience of being a Member of the European Parliament, deliberating and deciding over proposals in sensitive policy areas. The game is designed to offer a good understanding of the Parliament’s role, the legislative process in the EU and how the individual can participate in decision making. The players will interact with virtual lobbyists and citizens concerned with the policy outcomes. Deadlines, the media, breaking events, as well as various interests represented in all official languages of the EU make the game a very real experience and one of the highlights of the Parlementarium.
For more information please visit: http://europa.eu/take-part/visit/european-parliament-visitors-centre/index_en.htm