Author Archives: Kavuklis

The Lifelong Learning Platform is looking for a new director

Lifelong Learning PlatformThe Lifelong Learning Platform

The Lifelong Learning Platform gathers 39 European organisations working in education, training and youth. It was created with the purpose of involving the different educative actors as closely as possible in the dynamics of discussing and implementing the policies and actions of the EU. The platform raises awareness and promotes lifelong learning at European and national levels. It is currently looking for a dynamic and dedicated Director.

Job Description

The Director will manage the LLL-P Secretariat in Brussels in close relationship with the steering committee of the AISBL which is the political and strategic body of the organisation elected by the General Assembly. (S)he will work with a small, multicultural and polyvalent team in the heart of Brussels. The successful candidate will be a dynamic and flexible person with a strong willingness to work in the field of lifelong learning in the not-for-profit sector.

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Education to Foster Intercultural understanding and solidarity in Europe: now including 21 good practices!

lllplatform_policy-paper_education-to-foster-intercultural-dialogue-+-good-practices_april20161-1As part of the commemoration of the January 2015 attacks in Paris against freedom of speech and thus, against the core of European fundamental values, the LLLPlatform released a Position Paper on “ Education to foster intercultural understanding and solidarity in Europe ”.

To face the challenges ahead, the paper explores how education may be the mean to establish a holistic and sustainable society, using long-term and wholesome solutions. The Platform suggests that by promoting active educational settings, these will carry within them the inclusiveness we need to create the wide collaborative communities enable to protect our democratic societies.

The paper now contains 21 good practices from LLLPlatform membership; highlighting ways to build a more cohesive and tolerant society.

Questionnaire on the place of women within the religions

Council of EuropeThe Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe is considering the place of women within the various religions in Europe. The reason for this reflection reflects the challenges for civil society and human rights.

The European law states respect churches and religious communities as various European provisions, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Lisbon Treaty for Member States of the European Union. But also national laws protecting freedom of conscience and worship for nationals of member countries of the Council of Europe by ensuring equality between women and men. We wonder the fate of this equality among religions.

First, we propose a questionnaire to which we thank you for responding and distribute within your network, with your various contacts if possible for May 25, please find the link  : https://nl.surveymonkey.com/r/779JFV3-EN.

Then, the result will be presented June 21 at the Council of Europe in an event “Religions are they a place of empowerment for women? Progress, setbacks?”

The survey is also available in French and German
French: https://fr.surveymonkey.com/r/SF56JWL-FR
German: https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/77GHCN9-DU

Survey on European Union Financial Regulations

Civil Society EuropeThrough its working group on Civil Society Organisation recognition, Civil Society Europe has prepared a survey to collect NGOs views on the review of the financial regulations and rules of application of the European Union.
The questions are based on the European Commission open public consultation.

The purpose of the survey is to prepare some recommendations for responses to the European Commission consultation based on your responses, that each organisation can use for their individual input.

You can respond by May 8th. Results will be circulated  by May 13th, in order to feed in  your responses to the Commission questionnaire (deadline May 27th).

The survey does not cover all questions proposed by the Commission, but a selection of those that are more related to the work of NGOs. We have also added some further issues such as the eligibility of in-kind contributions as co-funding the ceiling of indirect costs (overheads).

There is also the possibility to add further comments.

Here is the link to the survey.

Please do not hesitate to share it within your organisation and with other colleagues.

Call for Applications: Rhodes Model Regional Co-operation (RhodesMRC) 2016

RhodesMRC 2016Rhodes Model Regional Co-operation or RhodesMRC is an academic simulation that follows the practice of Model United Nations, but dedicated to regional organizations. The 7th edition of RhodesMRC will take place in Rhodes, Greece, for 5 days, October 12-16, 2016, a unique academic and cultural experience.

Students, young scientists of law, political science or international relations and diplomats or just international relations “fans”, gather together in Rhodes each October to simulate the works of the organs and committees of a regional international organization, gaining valuable experience on negotiations and resolution making. During these simulations, each participant is assigned a country which he/she represents during the sessions. He/she is acting as an official of the assigned country, so he/she is challenged to ignore any personal thoughts and act as a true diplomat.

Being academically innovative and challenging, RhodesMRC is dedicated to Regional Co-operation. During its seven years of run, it has provided the international academic community with unique simulations of the Union for the Mediterranean, the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Organization, the Organization for the Security and Co-operation in Europe, the EuroAtlantic Partnership Council of NATO, the Organization of American States, the African Union, a Middle East Peace Conference and the Council of Europe.

For its academic innovation and unique nature, RhodesMRC has received various recognitions:

  • the prestigious patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, for 2015 and 2016,
  • distinction as one of the top projects for European Youth in 2013 by the Nantes Creative Generations program in France,
  • being the cornerstone of the House of Europe in Rhodes award by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, in 2012.

During its six editions, more than 680 people from 18 countries have participated to RhodesMRC, contributing to its success, while sharing the experience of diplomatic procedure and unique moments of fun!

Following the unprecedented success and expansion of RhodesMRC 2015, RhodesMRC 2016 has been designed and is being prepared as a huge conference, to be held next October, 12-16, in Rhodes. Our current plans can accommodate up to 280 participants to the University Edition and up to 120 participants to the High School Edition, with back-up plans are already in place to facilitate the participation of even more.

The simulated committees for the University Edition will be:

  • Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (ministerial level)
  • Council of Europe (ministerial level)
  • Black Sea Economic Co-operation (ministerial level)
  • Organization of American States (ministerial level)
  • African Union (Assembly), and
  • a Middle East Peace Conference (crisis committee)

The simulated committees for the High School Edition will be:

  • Council of Europe – Democracy & Human Rights
  • Council of Europe – Education

RhodesMRC 2016 is being organized by the House of Europe in Rhodes. The Region of South Aegean, the City of Rhodes, the Dept. of Mediterranean Studies of the University of the Aegean, and the European Network for Education and Training, e.V. – EUNET serve as organizing partners. The International Center for Black Sea Studies, the Center of International and European Studies of Kadir-Has University and the Institute of European Integration and Policy serve as academic partners, while RhodesMRC is strongly affiliated with the Europa.S and the ThessISMUN conferences, the three being the oldest and largest university-level simulation conferences in Greece.

A highly experienced Organizing Committee is in charge of all aspects of running a conference that is held in unique buildings and monuments of Rhodes rich history and cultural heritage. A Scientific Committee of 22 professors, academians and experts from 8 universities from 4 countries are supervising the simulation preparation that will be run by a skilled Board of young scientists, students and professionals.

Applications are now open. Early bird application period for reduced fees is available till 31/05/2016.

More information on how to apply, fees e.t.c. are available at www.rhodesmrc.org.

For a comprehensive Guide to RhodesMRC 2016, click here

For the RhodesMRC 2015 Evaluation Report, click here