Socrates Promoters - Kluesener-net.de

You got to move it
Training
12
On Monday March 13th it finally happened. The
50 Socrates Promoters from 27 European countries
came to Brussels to be trained and, most of
all, to become a team, a network of international
colleagues, even friends. This was a historic
moment but as it actually happened it seemed like
the first day of an international summer camp
with excited students from different countries
waiting in the hostel lobby to be accommodated.
The very first introductory session proved that
this was an extraordinary group of young people.
Everybody had high hopes for the training week
and was committed to work hard AND enjoy
themselves. The first day ended with a cocktail
party where the participants and organisers were
accompanied by civil servants from the European
Commission and representatives from other
organisations. It was a natural way to get to know
each other and enjoy the overwhelming tables of
food and drinks and the duet performing evergreens
of the young generation.
Throughout the whole training week the participants
were given information and guidance about
their work - promoting Socrates II -mobility programme
to their fellow students and to their higher
education institutions in their respective countries
and regions. This would be done with the
help of ESIB, ESN, AEGEE, European
Commission DG Education and Culture,
National Socrates Agencies and other European
bodies and networks dealing with mobility in
education. To a great surprise, more than once the
organisers were forced to calm down the promoters-to-be,
because they were so eager to learn
everything and more within these five days. But
naturally it is impossible to know by heart everything
about Erasmus, Comenius, Lingua,
Grundtvig, Minerva, Joint Actions, Observation
& Innovations, Accompanying measures,
Leonardo da Vinci II, Tempus, Youth for Europe,
European Voluntary Service, Actions and initiatives
with the third countries as well as the roles
and responsibilities of the European
Commission, European expert networks, information
centres, National Socrates Agencies, local
international offices and student organisations
and this all in only five days.
The training sessions started with introduction of
the history of the European education and the
development of European mobility in the higher
education by Mr. Domenico Lenarduzzi and Mrs.
Angelique Verli. As the days went by more and
more emphasis was put on the importance of the
co-ordination of mobility and the extremely
important role of the students / student organisations
in the development of the European mobility
and education. The student promoters were
explained their rights concerning the recognition
of studies and diplomas.
The training seminar consisted of lectures, group
discussions, workshops and personal skills training
sessions. The group discussions and the
workshops were very much appreciated. They
were the times when issues were clarified and
different points of views shared within the group.
The participation during the lectures was excellent
as well. Some of the speakers said that the
Socrates Promoters were the best audience they
have ever had.
By the end of the training seminar the „newlybaptised“
Socrates Promoters had a some kind of
a picture of the complex world of higher education
in Europe and the possibilities of the
European Union’s mobility/educational programmes
to the youth. Most of all, they were
trained to be student promoters, to wake up the
sleeping student population in their respective
countries and to create and/or strengthen the ties
with the mobility related institutions and networks
within their county and region.