Participation in EU programmes doubles this year

Participation in European programmes has more than doubled this year, according to the European Union Programmes Unit. This year 1,050 people participated in the various programmes from 135 organisations, up from last year's 500.

The EUPU was set up in 2000 by the Ministry of Education to promote, manage and monitor participation in European Union programmes like Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates, Youth, Fifth Framework Programme. Local participation in another programme, Culture 2000, should start next year.

The unit also aims to liaise with the European Commission on all aspects of Malta's participation in the programmes; co-ordinate the integrated management of the five EU programmes; collaborate and network with other national agencies; and ensure participation by key stakeholders in the co-ordination of each programme.

EUPU national co-ordinator Joseph Sammut says the unit's task is to maximise participation in the programmes and to handle and facilitate as many requests as possible. As participation in the Leonardo, Socrates and Youth programmes is maximised, Malta is a net receiver of funds as the EU funds two-thirds of the cost of Maltese participation. Malta currently pays for an entry ticket. Mr Sammut explains that were Malta to join the EU, the entry ticket would be ploughed back into the unit's coffers.

The EUPU currently employs 10 members of staff. The Ministry of Education acts as the 'central office' for the programmes. There is also a Socrates office within the University of Malta, and a small EU programmes office at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). The unit also runs a part-time EU Programmes Information Office at Sir Michelangelo Refalo Complex in Victoria, Gozo.

Leonardo da Vinci

The Leonardo da Vinci programme, which implements the EU's vocational training policy, this year saw an increase of 12 per cent in participation in its Mobility Action programme - 131 people, including 44 students and 40 teachers or trainers took part.

There were two pilot projects: one by IPSE entitled "Successful Small-Scale Manufacturing from Small Island Territories - the NISSOS Project", and another by Awesome Interactive entitled "On-line Instruction of Basic Sign Language to the Emergency and Caring Services".

Seven Maltese policy-makers participated in week-long seminars in EU countries on vocational education themes. Malta has also started to participate in the National Resource Centre for Vocational Guidance (NRCVG).

Socrates

This programme contributes to the development of quality education and encourages life-long learning.

This year, 12 per cent of eligible University students, 256, participated in Socrates' Erasmus programme in 36 universities in 11 EU countries; 45 University teachers also participated. A total of 62 schools participated in the various Comenius schemes which involved school partnerships, and school, language and development projects.

Eight Maltese organisations participated in Comenius II.1 which covers training of school educations staff; 22 Maltese teachers participated in Comenius II.2 (in-service training grants).

Seven organisations received grants for projects under the Grundtvig II project and nine educators received grants for training courses abroad under Grundtvig III. Four Maltese educators participated in EU seminars under the Arion project. Nine Maltese projects (a co-ordinator and eight partners) participated in Minerva in 2001-2002. Two projects were funded under Eurydice this year.

Youth

The Youth programme offers international opportunities for young people for non-formal educational experiences overseas and has seen a 34.7 per cent increase this year over the previous year.

Between September 2001 and last June 333 young Maltese from 21 local organisations visited European countries or hosted groups in their organisation to develop activities related to their area of interest under the Action 1 Youth for Europe Exchange programme.

Under Action 2 (European Voluntary Service) five local organisations were given approval by the European Commission to host European volunteers for short-term and long-term placements.

The Action 3 (Youth Initiatives) programme saw 148 young people participate in projects which they managed themselves and from which their local communities benefited.

Under the Action 5 (Support Measures) programme 96 young people and youth leaders participated in international seminars and training courses in Malta and in other European countries.

Fifth Framework Programme

The FP5 provides a coherent framework for promoting the European Research Area (ERA). There were 43 Fifth Framework Programme projects involving Maltese partneres up to June 2002 in different research areas. Three projects were submitted by parastatal companies, 15 by the University of Malta, six from the private sector, and 19 from the public sector.

Cabinet approved Malta's participation in the Sixth Framework Programme last December.

"It is important that we interact with other people in Europe, being as we are on the fringes of the continent," Mr Sammut said. "The programmes seek to increase people's opportunities in mobility between countries. Which is why it is important that participation in the programmes is maximised," Mr Sammut said.

For more information, contact the EUPU on tel. 2122-0183 or fax 2123-1589.