This document provides information about international collaboration opportunities in Europe through various programs, including: - The Erasmus program which facilitated over 200,000 student and teacher exchanges between 2009-2010. - eTwinning, an online platform that connects over 200,000 teachers across Europe for collaborative projects. - The Comenius program which invested €7 billion in European education and training between 2007-2013. It then discusses the eTwinning program in more detail, outlining how it allows teachers and students to connect online, collaborate on projects, and develop international partnerships. Professional development opportunities for teachers through workshops and conferences are also summarized. Finally, it discusses other European programs that support vocational education and

1. TED 2013 Session 9
Opportunities for International Collaboration
Cristina Nicolaita Romania, Ümit Çiçek Turkey,
Radostina Toneva Bulgaria, Georgia Gyftoula Greece

2. Why would anyone care to share and
collaborate?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al5ZthL_DBA

3. • Erasmus Programme 2009-2010
213,266 student exchanges
37,776 teaching staff mobilities
• e-Twinning
200,179 teachers
27,754 projects
104,572 schools
● Comenius
€7 billion in education and training between 2007 and 2013
26,005 partner schools between 2007-2010
What happens in the
USA?

4. Radostina Toneva, Sofia
Bulgaria

5. e-Twinninge-Twinning
The community for schools in EuropeThe community for schools in Europe
The free and safe platform for
teachers to connect
develop collaborative projects
and share ideas in Europe

6. You can see more about e-Twinning
http://http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/index.htmwww.etwinning.net/en/pub/index.htm

7. e-Twinning web sitee-Twinning web site
Discover what e-Twinning is
 How to get involved
Connect
Collaborate /Project gallery
Progress
Keep-to-date
Get support

8. e-Twinning projectse-Twinning projects
e-Twinning projects give students and
teachers the chance to communicate and
share ideas and practices with their
European partners
After the creation of the project scenario
the project teams develop their activities
plan
 The most beneficial part for the students
and teachers is the new friendships and
the wonderful creative moments they
share

9. The teachers have the possibility toThe teachers have the possibility to
share their creative approaches in terms
of teaching and innovative methodologies
present typical or innovative work in the
classrooms /or outside the classrooms
get familiar with educational systems in
partner’s countries
learn about the cultural development,
historical and natural heritages in the
participating countries
improve own language skills

10. The studentsThe students
have the possibility tohave the possibility to
Communicate in a safe environment such as the
e-Twinning platform
Present interesting moments of the process of
work in the classroom or outside the
classroom /join to collaborative projects
Share own achievements, dreams and believes
Work in European team and express their views
on global issues
be tolerant, recognize diversity and differences
between people
develop their national awareness and European
identity

11. Other advantagesOther advantages
Happy pupils: e-Twinning projects invariably
show that pupils love to connect with peers in
other countries, no matter how easy or
complex their project is
Motivation increases: results are
guaranteed.
 No bureaucracy: In e-Twinning there is no
bureaucracy. You only have to submit some
information about you and your school and
that is all you need to start.
No paperwork, no reports

12. e-Twinning impacts on learnerse-Twinning impacts on learners
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aj5jlCdcnI8

13. Questions for discussionQuestions for discussion
Do you have similar programmes in
the USA?
What do you think about the online
communication between students and
teachers?

14. eTwinning
Professional
Development

15. 1 European Workshops
3 Annual Conferences
4 Contact Seminars
5 National Workshops
6 National Conferences
7 Learning Events
8 Groups

16. ◊ when? every school year
◊ where? across Europe
◊ what? workshops +
cultural program
◊ how long? two and a half
days
◊ how many teachers? 70-
120/workshop
◊ what language?
English/German/French
1. European Workshops
April 25- 28 2013: Sofia, Bulgaria
Teachers from Kindergarten to primary
school level
This workshop will explore the good
pedagogical practices for the development
of key competencies, and will be in
English, German and French.
May 16-18 2013: Bratislava, Slovakia
Teachers from secondary school level.
This workshop is about competencies and
their relationship to a successful project.

17. Learning Events are short intensive
online events on a number of themes.
They are led by an expert and include
active work and discussion among
teachers across Europe.
The idea of a Learning Event is that it
is a short intense course that offers you
an introduction to a topic, stimulates
your ideas, helps develop your skills
and does not require a long-term
commitment in terms of your time. It
is also designed to be an enjoyable
learning experience.
Each learning event lasts 4-5 days of
active work and discussion, followed by
4-5 days of reflection and personal
work. The materials are online and you
may access them during your own
time.
LEARNING EVENTS
17 - 30 April: Creative Drama in
eTwinning
Expert: Irene Pateraki
Language: English
Applications open 10 April
The event will be facilitated by Irene
and members of the Creative
Classroom Group.
19 April - 2 May Moving to Maths
2.0
Expert: Irene Vasilescu
Language: English
Applications open 12 April
The event is focused on a few ways to
enhance the degree of pupils’
involvement in projects involving
Maths, which have specific features and
are often perceived to be ‘arid’.

18. eTwinning Groups are private
platforms for eTwinners to discuss
and work together on a specific topic
or theme. Moderated by an
experienced eTwinner, each Group
sets out activities and tasks for
teachers to do and discuss. Topics
vary from languages teaching and
collaborative writing to experimental
sciences. The aim is for eTwinners to
share practice examples, discuss
teaching and learning methodologies
and find support for professional
development.
ETWINNING GROUPS
Creative Classroomhttp://
groups.etwinning.net
/web/creative-classroom/welcome
Moderator: Irene Pateraki
The “Creative Classroom” group is
created to support teachers towards this
direction: implementing creativity in
everyday teaching and eTwinning projects
in an effective and professional way.
Visibility of eTwinning projects
http://groups.etwinning.net/web/visibility-of-etw
Moderator: Daniela Arghir
This group focuses on the
importance and ways of making
eTwinning project work visible on a
larger scale, in a safe, responsible and
effective manner.

19. Participating in an eTwinning project means that
you are an individual who wishes to provide his or
her pupils with the best chances of succeeding by
offering them the possibility to exchange, to share,
to cooperate and to broaden their horizons.
By running this type of project you are making a
specific contribution to improving the quality of
teaching. Maybe you are not aware of it, but the
practices you carry out in your projects, whether
they are simple or complex, are teaching treasures
and techniques that deserve to be shared, and
should be made known and recognised by the
whole of the European educational community.
There are 2 types of public recognition available in
eTwinning.
The European eTwinning Prizes
http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/progress/awards/european_prizes.htm
The Quality Labels
http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/progress/awards/quality_labels.htm
AWARDS

20. TRAINING
The Comenius-Grundtvig Training Database offers a range of
training opportunities that complement and enrich your eTwinning
activities and professional development.
In addition to workshops and learning events organised within the
eTwinning Action, the Comenius-Grundtvig Training Database is
an excellent resource to find out about other training opportunities
across Europe.

21. As a conclusion,
e-Twinning has become a
complex social network for
teachers who are keen to the
SIMPLE approach.

22. Questions for discussions:
• What kind of networks for teachers to share,
innovate, exchange and collaborate are there in your
country?
• How would you describe a lifelong learning teacher?
Are you one of them?
• What kind of recognition do the teachers in your
country get for pedagogical innovation through
projects?
• Please share with others interesting portals or
networks for teachers here:
http://titanpad.com/n47afKuIK9

23. LEONARDO DA VINCI
PROGRAMME
Leonardo da Vinci enables organisations in the vocational education sector
to work with partners from across Europe, exchange best practices, and
increase their staff’s expertise. It should make vocational education more
attractive to young people and, by helping people to gain new skills,
knowledge and qualifications, the programme also boosts the overall
competitiveness of the European labour market.
The Leonardo da Vinci programme is helping European citizens to acquire new
skills, knowledge and qualifications, and have them recognised across borders
in order to improve their employability on changing labour markets. It also
supports innovations and improvements in vocational education and training
systems and practices.
All subjects covered by vocational education and training are eligible if they
support the transnational transfer of knowledge, innovation and expertise.

24. LDV MOBILITY PROJECTS
Who can apply:
• Institutions or organisations providing learning opportunities in the fields
covered by the Leonardo da Vinci sectoral programme
• Associations and representatives of those involved in vocational education
and training, including trainees’, parents’ and teachers’ associations
• Enterprises, social partners and other representatives of working life, including
chambers of commerce and other trade organisations
• Bodies providing guidance, counselling and information services relating to
any aspect of lifelong learning
• Bodies responsible for systems and policies concerning any aspect of lifelong
learning vocational education and training at local, regional and national level
• Research centres and bodies concerned with lifelong learning issues
• Higher education institutions
• Non-profit organisations,voluntary bodies, NGOs

25. LDV MOBILITY PROJECTS
The general objectives of the IVT (Initial Vocational Training Mobility) and
PLM (Mobility for People in the Labour Market) mobility actions within the
Leonardo da Vinci sectoral programme are:
• To support participants in training and further training activities in the
acquisition and the use of knowledge, skills and qualifications to facilitate
personal development, employability and participation in the European
Labour Market.
• To enhance the attractiveness of vocational education and training and
mobility for individuals and to facilitate the mobility of working trainees.

26. ‘Initial vocational training mobility (IVT)’ is for
trainees, apprentices and pupils/ students in
vocational education and training
The action aims at the support of transnational mobility of persons undergoing
initial vocational education and training and is divided into two sub-groups:
A. Mobility of apprentices
B. Mobility of persons in school-based initial vocational training
Duration: Minimum 2 weeks (for individual placement )
Maximum 39 weeks (for individual placement )
Project Duration max 2 years

27. ‘Mobility for people in the labour market’ puts
the emphasis on learning mobility for people
with a vocational degree or university
graduates, employed or not
The action aims at the support of transnational mobility of workers,
self-employed or people available for employment (including graduates)
undergoing a training period abroad in a vocational training context
Duration: Minimum 2 weeks (for individual placement )
Maximum 26 weeks (for individual placement )
Project Duration max 2 years

28. ‘Vet-pro mobility’
supports the exchange of experiences between
professionals in vocational education and training,
such as teachers and trainers, staff dealing with vocational education
and training issues, and guidance specialists
The action aims at the support of transnational mobility of persons responsible
for vocational training and/or human resources
The general objectives of this mobility action within Leonardo da Vinci sectoral
programme are:
• To support participants in training and further training activities in the
acquisition and the use of knowledge, skills and qualifications to facilitate
personal development, employability and participation in the European
Labour Market.
•To support improvements in quality and innovation in vocational education and
training systems, institutions and practices.
Duration: Minimum 1 week (for individual placement )
Maximum 6 weeks (for individual placement )
Project Duration max 2 years

29. LEONARDO DA VINCI Mobility Certificate
The Leonardo da Vinci Certificate in Mobility is a recognition of the
capacity of an institution to implement a Leonardo da Vinci mobility
project of excellent quality. The quality aspects cover the content of
the mobilty activity (policy, strategy, work programme) as well as the
operational and financial capacity of the institution
The Leonardo da Vinci certificate in mobility is awarded by the National
Agencies on the basis of an application linked or annexed to a mobility
project application introduced at the same call deadline. It will be
delivered for a period of maximum 4 years
In the application for the certificate, the institution will be asked to
describe its previous experiences and achievements in Leonardo da
Vinci mobility
A certificate can cover several target groups (IVT, PLM and/or VET-
PRO) if project applications exist for those groups

30. Leonardo da Vinci - Preparatory visits
The objective of the action is to help institutions eligible for the Leonardo da
Vinci Programme wishing to establish a new Mobility project, Partnership
project, Transfer of Innovation Project, Development of Innovation project,
Thematic Network project or Accompanying Measure project to contact and
meet suitable partner institutions and/or develop a work plan in order to
prepare the project/partnership application
Any institution wishing to establish a new project in the Leonardo da Vinci
actions concerned may apply for a grant to enable staff members to
undertake a preparatory visit. The visit may take either of the following
forms:
- a visit to a potential partner institution in another country participating in the
Lifelong Learning Programme
- participation in a partner-finding ‘contact seminar’ organised by a National
Agency
Duration: Minimum 1 days
Maximum 5 days

31. Leonardo da Vinci Partnerships
A Leonardo da Vinci Partnership is a framework for small-scale cooperation
activities between organisations working in the field of vocational education
and training ("VET") which will be cooperating on themes of mutual interest
to the participating organisations. Projects can focus more on the active
participation of trainees, while others will concentrate on the cooperation
between teachers, trainers or VET-professionals. The cooperation shall not
only include VET schools or institutions but also shall also involve the
world of work. World of work partners may include, for example:
enterprises; VET providers associated with enterprises (e.g. providing
work-based training, apprenticeships); sector representations, branches;
professional associations; representatives of working life (e.g. chambers of
commerce and trade organisations); and other organisations providing
evidence of links to working life and employment (e.g. some local
authorities). They can cooperate at national, regional or local level, but also
at sector level, such as within VET-fields or economic sectors

32. The partnership should include partners from at least 3 participating
countries. Given that only full (not "silent", unfunded) partners have a legal
obligation to implement the Partnership project, at least one full partner
should represent the world of work.
One of the partners must act as coordinator.
LdV partnerships are differentiated from the partnership actions in the
Comenius and Grundtvig programme on the basis of the content of the
activities, which have to be clearly VET and world of work related.
Duration: 2 years

33. LEONARDO DA VINCI -MULTILATERAL
PROJECTS
Development of Innovation
Leonardo da Vinci Multilateral Projects ‘Development of Innovation’ are
transnational cooperation projects that aim to improve the quality of training
systems through the development of innovative contents, methods and
procedures within Vocational Education and Training (VET). Innovation is a
matter of doing new things or finding new ways of doing familiar things. For
Development of Innovation Projects it means that something innovative is
developed (contents, methods, procedures etc.) as the end result of the
project.
This Action is open to partner organisation from countries not participating in
the Lifelong Learning Programme on the following conditions:
• Neither the applicant nor the organisation responsible for project
management coordination can be a third country partner
• Third country participation is an additional option in an otherwise normal,
eligible application and consortium.
Duration: Minimum 1 year
Maximum 3 years

34. LEONARDO DA VINCI Transfer of Innovation
The aim of Leonardo da Vinci Multilateral Projects "Transfer of Innovation" is
to improve the quality and attractiveness of Vocational Education and
Training (VET) in the participating countries by transferring existing
innovations to new legal, systemic, sector, linguistic, socio-cultural and
geographic environments through working with transnational partners.
Innovation transfer projects generate synergies by exploiting existing VET
innovations (no "re-inventing the wheel").
These existing innovations can be based on previous Leonardo da Vinci
projects, or on any other national, European or international innovative
projects, and can be transferred into vocational training systems and
organisations at national, regional, local or sector level. Therefore proposals
should clearly take into account the ownership rights on the previously
developed innovations (intellectual property rights - IPR).

35. GRUNDTVIG PROGRAMME
The Grundtvig programme focuses on the teaching and study needs of learners
taking adult education and ‘alternative’ education courses, as well as the
organisations delivering these services. It aims to help develop the adult
education sector, as well as enable more people to undertake learning
experiences, notably in other European countries.
Adult education raises the level of knowledge, skills and competences
among the adult population and provides a crucial second chance for the
large number of adults who leave school early. It also helps to address the
challenge that the ageing population poses for European society as a whole.

36. Operational objectives:
• To improve the quality and accessibility of mobility throughout Europe of
people involved in adult education and to increase its volume, so as to
support the mobility of at least 7.000 of such individuals per year by 2013
• To improve the quality and to increase the volume of co-operation between
organisations involved in adult education throughout Europe
• To assist people from vulnerable social groups and in marginal social
contexts, in particular older people and those who have left education
without basic qualifications, in order to give them alternative opportunities to
access adult education
• To facilitate the development of innovative practices in adult education and
their transfer, including from one participating country to another
• To support the development of innovative ICT-based content, services,
pedagogies and practice for lifelong learning
• To improve pedagogical approaches and the management of adult education
organisations
Specific objectives
• To respond to the educational challenge of an ageing population in Europe
• To help provide adults with pathways to improving their knowledge and
competences

37. GRUNDTVIG Learning Partnerships
The Grundtvig Learning Partnership is a framework for practical co-
operation activities between organisations working in the field of adult
learning in the broadest sense – formal, non-formal or informal.
In a Grundtvig Learning Partnership trainers and learners from at least three
participating countries work together on one or more topics of common
interest to the co-operating organisations.
Learning Partnerships focusing on management of adult education and/or
teaching methods provide teachers, trainers and other adult education staff
with the opportunity to exchange experience and information, to develop
together methods and approaches which meet their needs, and to test and
put into practice new organisational and pedagogical approaches.
Who can apply:
All kinds of institutions and organisations working in adult learning, whether
formal, non-formal or informal.
Duration: 2 years

38. GRUNDTVIG Workshops
The Workshop Action provides training to Adult Education staff working on
literacy issues exclusively. The objectives of this Action are to give present
and future teachers and staff the opportunity to gain a better understanding
of the European dimension in teaching adults with literacy problems, to
enhance their knowledge of other European countries' education systems
and their provision of adult literacy and to improve the specific skills they
require to teach literacy skills to adults
The Workshops must have a strong European focus in terms of profile of
trainers and participants
They bring together professionals working within the field of adult literacy,
from several countries, in order to improve their practical teaching,
coaching, counselling, management skills, etc
The Workshop Organiser can be an organisation, institution, university,
school, NGO, association, public authority involved in teaching adult literacy
or active in the field of adult education

39. Workshops bring together literacy teachers and professionals in adult
literacy education from several countries for a multinational learning
experience relevant for their professional development, in which they are
also encouraged to share their competences and insights actively with
others
Who can apply:
Workshop Organiser: any organisation which is a legal entity and can
demonstrate a capability to organise such a Workshop effectively
Who can benefit:
Workshop Organiser: any organisation interested in improving adult
literacy provision and outcomes from countries participating in the
programme
Duration: Minimum 5 days (without travel)
Maximum 10 days (without travel)

40. GRUNDTVIG Senior Volunteering Projects
Grundtvig Senior Volunteering Projects support bilateral partnerships and
exchanges of senior volunteers between local organisations located in two
countries participating in the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP)
The Action pursues the following interlinked, equally important, objectives:
1. To enable senior citizens to volunteer in another European country for any
kind of non-profit activity, as a form of informal (and mutual) learning activity
(learning / sharing knowledge).
2. To create lasting cooperation between the host and sending organisations
around a specific topic or target group, and thanks to the exchange of
volunteers.
Projects should involve two organisations, i.e. one from each of the two LLP
countries participating in the project. One of these countries must be an EU
Member State. Each organisation will be expected to send 2-6 volunteers
and to host 2-6 volunteers during the grant period

41. Who can apply:
• Hosting and sending organisations: any organisation, as long as it is a legal
entity and the volunteering activities are non-profit making
• Volunteers: adult citizens aged 50 or above, whether or not they are already
involved in adult education, can apply to the organisations participating in a
Grundtvig Senior Volunteering Project to become a volunteer
Who can benefit:
• All adult citizens aged 50 and above
• Hosting and sending organisations can be any legal entity, provided they
offer non-profit making tasks to the volunteers and place this exchange of
volunteers within the framework of a European cooperation process
Duration: 2 years

42. GRUNDTVIG In-Service Training for Adult
Education Staff
The objective of this Action is to help improve the quality of lifelong learning
by enabling persons working in the field of adult learning, in the broadest
sense, or who are engaged in the in-service training of such persons, to
undertake a training course in a country other than that in which they
normally live or work. In this way, participants are encouraged to improve
their practical teaching / coaching / counselling / management skills and to
gain a broader understanding of adult learning in Europe. The course
concerned must have a strong European focus in terms of the profile of
trainers and participants.
Who can benefit:
Teachers and other staff working in adult education
Duration: Minimum 5 working days
Maximum 6 weeks

43. GRUNDTVIG Visits and Exchanges for Adult
Education Staff
The objective of this Action is to help improve the quality of adult learning in
the broadest sense - formal, non-formal or informal - by enabling present or
future staff working in this field, or persons who are engaged in the in-
service training of such staff, to undertake a work-related visit to a country
participating in the Lifelong Learning programme (LLP) other than that in
which they normally live or work
Who can benefit:
Present or future teachers/other staff in adult education
Duration: 1 day (for certain activities)
90 calendar days

44. GRUNDTVIG Assistantships
This Action enables present or future staff involved in adult education -
whether formal, non-formal or informal - to spend a period from 13 full
weeks (see below) as a Grundtvig Assistant at an adult education
organisation in another European country participating in the Lifelong
Learning Programme (LLP), other than that in which they normally live or
work.
The objective is to give participants the opportunity to gain a better
understanding of the European dimension to adult learning, to enhance their
knowledge of foreign languages, other European countries and their adult
education systems and to improve their professional and intercultural
competences.
Who can benefit:
Present or future teachers/other staff in adult education
Duration: 13 full weeks (91 calendar days)
45 weeks (315 calendar days)

45. GRUNDTVIG Preparatory Visits
The objective of the action is to help any organisation wishing to establish a
Grundtvig Learning Partnership, Senior Volunteering Project, Multilateral
Cooperation Project, Network or Accompanying measures project to get to
know suitable partner institutions and develop a work plan in order to
prepare the project /partnership application form
Any organisation wishing to establish a cooperative activity of this kind may
apply for a grant to enable staff members to undertake a preparatory visit.
The visit may take either of the following forms:
- a visit to a partner institution in another country participating in the Lifelong
Learning Programme
- participation in a partner-finding ‘contact seminar’ organised by a National
Agency
Duration: Minimum 1 days
Maximum 5 days

46. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=8NNdVSYUYf4

47. The Comenius Programme

48. UNESCO Associated Schools Project
Network

49. Asia – Europe Classroom Programme

50. Eco – schools Programme

51. The Fulbright Programs

52. The iEARN Programme

53. And of course there is always
room for individual initiatives like
….
http://goanimate.com/videos
/0ZFiYrKZqWC4?utm_source=linkshare