Enhance your CPD with European funding

At the last Thematic Networking Event in Belfast, Thematic Networking Group (TNG) 2 discussed the findings of the Briefing Paper exploring how the LLP supports Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in the Further Education (FE) sector. TNG 2 members, including the chair of the group, Faye Hindle-Lewis, and myself did not expect to learn that every year the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes fund around three years of CPD time for FE staff across the UK! During our workshop we also talked about the fact that funding provided by the programmes managed at Ecorys makes it more affordable for FE colleges, work-based learning providers or any other organisations in the FE sector to offer relevant and high quality CPD to their staff.

Did you know that our programmes offer:

• Professional development activities linked to each participant’s specific training needs.
• The choice of organisational or individual approaches allowing organisations to get involved at a management level or to encourage staff to organise their own CPD.
• CPD at all levels from frontline teaching staff to senior staff.Funding to cover the practical costs of participation.

Transversal Study Visits programme

The Study Visits programme that I work on is becoming more and more popular among FE colleges. Over 250 visits are on offer and the range of topics span from early years to adult education. In simple terms, the programme is open to education and vocational training specialists and decision makers so individuals from all areas of education and training can take part. This includes those working in government, local authorities, schools, colleges, adult education organisations, trade unions, SMEs, sectoral organisations, the voluntary sector and non-governmental organisations.

Just to give you an idea of what type of visits are currently available in the 2012-2013 catalogue:

Group No. 7, Easing transition to the job market: effective measures for reducing unemployment, Zurich, Switzerland, 3-7 December 2012.

Group No. 33, Adult learning: a key for lifelong social and professional integration, Brussels, Belgium, 26-30 November 2012.

Group No. 85, Teaching science in primary and secondary education, Salzburg, Austria, 04-08 February 2013.

Group No. 55, Strategic leadership in schools, Arad,Romania, 6-9 November 2012.

Group No. 100, Empowering Roma youngsters in higher education, Budapest and Pécs,Hungary, 05-08 November 2012.

Group No. 111, NFQ and EQF – Policy development and lifelong learning, Dublin,Ireland, 2-10 October 2012.

Next steps:

If you would like to find out more please visit our website. You can also email us at studyvisits@uk.ecorys.com or call 0845 199 3939 for some informal advice on the programme.

The next deadline for applications is 30 March 2012 – don’t miss out!