Information Sessions on EU Links

Two short information sessions on EU links, held on January 18 and 20 for primary and secondary schools teachers in Carmarthenshire were a great success.

The event organiser, Lorena Prist, European Networking Officer at the West Wales European Centre, organised the information sessions with the aim of informing teachers of the support and funding available to schools that might be interested in starting links with other schools in Europe.

It is hoped it will encourage more schools in Carmarthenshire to participate in European projects.

Lorena, who manages the Europe Direct service, a Europe-wide network of information centres which aims to raise awareness of the EU and its institutions, gave a brief overview of the support and resources available to teachers. There was also instructive information on how to introduce the EU into the classroom.

There were several presentations from teachers and students, who already have or have had EU links, on some of the projects schools could be involved with.

There were very informative presentations on the Comenius and Leonardo Programmes from Angelique Perrault, Ysgol Glan y Môr, and Gareth Harvey,

Coleg Sir Gâr, in the Secondary School session on January 18.

Comenius is aimed at schools from nursery to further education and offer grants for schools to organise exchanges, for staff and pupils to work on common projects with schools in other EU countries.

Leonardo is aimed at vocational schools/institutions. There are grants for institutions, partnerships and projects in the EU and also grants for people (in vocational education, unemployed or as part of work-based learning) to go on work experience placements in other EU countries.

Similarly, in the primary school session on January 20, there were equally outstanding presentations from Ysgol Bancyfelin and Ysgol y Dderwen.  The presence of pupils gave a realistic perspective to the project and demonstrated how both staff and pupils can benefit from having EU links.        

Around 20 teachers from across Carmarthenshire attended the sessions and nearly all have expressed interest in starting links with schools in Europe via e-Twinning or even getting involved with the Comenius and Leonardo Programmes.

On the whole, the information sessions received very good feedback and the number of schools interested in setting up some sort of EU link or attending further information sessions very positive.

For more information on EU funding for school exchanges and partnerships, please contact Lorena Prist, at lprist@carmarthenshire.gov.uk or on 01267 242369.