Newsletter no. 9 - August 2004

1. Funding Opportunities

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

3. Useful Links

Curriculum Resource Center - Fall 2004 Sessions


Organized in cooperation with the Departments and Programs of the Central European University.
In the Fall 2004 semester CRC is offering the following sessions:

1.Open House Sessions in broad discipline areas
The Open House sessions are organized in broad discipline areas covered by one or more CEU departments. These sessions are intended to introduce participants to CEU's approach to a relevant discipline and new techniques for designing courses in that field. To this end the sessions will provide participants access to the facilities and resources of the CEU and the appropriate department, as well as general training workshops on course design and teaching methodology. Participants are invited to use the CEU library, visit relevant classes and meet faculty. The primary target groups of the Open House sessions are junior academics who are at the beginning of their teaching career, or mid-career and senior academics who would benefit from the above offerings.

Open House CRC sessions offered in Fall 2004 will be hosted by the following CEU departments on the dates indicated:
-Medieval Studies 11-16 October 2004 (deadline for applications: 3 September 2004)
-Political Sciences 18-23 October 2004 (deadline for applications: 3 September 2004)
-History: Art and Music 15-20 November 2004 applicants should be professors who teach or develop courses in art or music history, or courses in history that use art and music as part of their study materials (deadline for applications: 1 October 2004)
-Environmental Sciences 22-27 November 2004 (deadline for applications: 1 October 2004)
-Sociology 29 November - 4 December 2004 (deadline for applications: 1 October 2004).

Applicants to Open House sessions should consult the relevant CEU department's homepage to see the description of regular MA courses offered during the week of the CRC session. Preference will be given to applicants whose courses match with the hosting department's profile and interest.

2. Course Innovation Sessions
These sessions intend to explore the cutting edge developments in a particular discipline. The sessions are meant primarily for senior faculty with significant teaching and research experience or for outstanding, research-oriented junior faculty. By discussing recent developments and exploring contemporary debates with CEU's host departments and faculty, participants are expected to revise or update their courses or offer new courses in their particular area of interest. Additional training on course development is also offered by the CRC. These sessions are organised with a strong involvement of CEU departments and often will be combined with a workshop or a conference on the topic of the session.

In Fall 2004 we offer the following Course Innovation Sessions:
-Gender and International Relations 25-30 October 2004 (deadline for applications: 3 September 2004)
Gender Studies scholars are increasingly interested in developing a trans-national perspective in recent years. Innovative scholarship has emerged around themes such as the tensions between citizenship and international migration, gender as an important marker in international politics in war and peace, the global repercussions of engendering Human Rights policies, the feminization and unequal division of labor between women within the global labor force, mainstreaming gender policy in the transnational space of the European Union and beyond, etc. Yet, how does scholarship in these and related fields impact the theoretical perspectives and empirical research in International Relations?
The joint CRC session of the Department of International Relations and European Studies and the Department of Gender Studies is intended to explore recent shared developments in these two fields and to critically examine points of juncture in order to devise joint creative perspectives.

-Economics and Evolution 8-13 November 2004 (deadline for applications: 25 September 2004)
The focus of this CRC session will be on evolutionary concepts in contemporary economics. We will look at the particular mechanisms that generate novelty, imitation and selection and we will consider the complementarities that can limit the speed and the qualitative direction of technological and institutional change. Discussions will be held around recent innovative scholarship on the complexity of the evolutionary approach, its relation to evolutionary biology and its methodological difficulties.

All CRC Applicants must:
-Be university teachers and/ or professionals (who teach part-time) in the Social Sciences and Humanities from the region who are preparing to revise or develop their courses
-Have sufficient English language ability, both written and spoken, to participate in discussions and use resource materials
-Submit an application with all accompanying required documents as stated on the CRC application form.

All costs related to transportation and accommodation during the sessions will be covered by the CRC.

More information
Website: http://www.ceu.hu/crc/
Email: crc@ceu.hu


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"PRO ARTE Institute" and "INTERSTUDIO" State Association - International Arts Management Training Programme


The course includes the following subjects:
1.Sociology of culture
2.Economics in the field of culture (cultural approach)
3.PR-technologies in culture
4.Marketing in culture
5.Theory and practice of fundraising
6.Organizational management: general, theatre, museum, library
7.Management of international projects
8.Personnel management
9.Cultural policy
10.Legislation and taxation in the field of culture
11.Arts and culture in the 20th century: main trends in development of theatre, music, visual arts and cinema
12.Information Technologies

The programme is carried out on a non-profit base, education is free. Participants from outside the Saint Petersburg region pay trip, food and lodging themselves. Participants' enrolment in the programme is carried out on a competitive basis. In order to take part in the selection, candidates should submit a written request stating his/her desire to participate in the programme and fill in an application form that describes his/her professional activities.

More information
Website: http://www.proarte.ru/us/programm/art-manager
Email: litvinenkova@proarte.ru (Svetlana Litvinenkova)
interstudio@interstudio.ru (Irina Alexandrovna Khizhinskaya)


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Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe - Course for Sustainability, October 2004
Application deadline: August 23, 2004


The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe, on behalf of the Ministry for the Environment and Territory of Italy, is inviting senior governmental officials of national ministries and regional agencies of the following countries Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia to submit their application to take part in the Course for Sustainability: Strategies, Methodologies, Policies and Actions for Central and Eastern Europe, which will start in October 2004.

The Course for Sustainability is an educational programme for senior governmental officials responsible for the "three pillars" of sustainable development: economic growth, social progress and environmental protection. It is designed to give members of various ministries - not only environmental - a chance to examine the major approaches to sustainable development. Noted professors and experts will conduct the five modules, which will cover topics such as strategies, policies, energy and water as they relate to sustainable development. The course structure has been chosen by the project partners to best suit the needs of key policy makers in the region.

The course consists of five modules, participants are only expected to take part in three of them: the first and fifth modules, and one other of their choice.

Module Location Date
1. Introduction to sustainable development as a political and governance concept
Szentendre, Hungary
October 11-15, 2004
2. Developing policies, laws and institutions: the administration of sustainable development
Venice, Italy
November 8-19, 2004
3. Renewable energy
Venice, Italy
2005
4. Water
Venice, Italy
2005
5. Environmental management and practices of sustainable development
Venice, Italy
2005

An international team of experts will deliver the course modules. Lectures will be given by academics and professionals from VIU, the REC, Agroinnova, Central European University, the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Territory, and other international organisations and universities.

Qualifications of participants
A broad mix of government officials from various agencies, including the ministries of environment, water, agriculture, energy, economy and trade, health, finance and interior, and from regional development agencies, are sought to participate. To ensure that attendees are the most relevant, the selection of participants will be based on the existing governmental structures and competencies for implementing sustainable development policy. The potential participants are expected to:
-Have responsibilities in policy-making and cooperation with other institutions
-Hold permanent civil servant positions in the institution
-Be available to attend the obligatory 1st and 5th modules, plus one of the middle sessions
-Have a good command of English language.

More information
Website: http://www.sustainablecee.net
Email: SustainableCEE@rec.org


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Minority Rights Group - Regional Advocacy and Rights Training Seminar, September 28 - October 6, 2004, Warsaw, Poland
Application deadline: August 27, 2004


The topics covered will include:
-International instruments for the protections of minority rights: UN system, Council of Europe, OSCE and European Union
-Issues in minority rights protection and promotion
-Skills for minority rights activists: advocacy, preparation of shadow reports, delivery of interventions at international fora, negotiation techniques.

The ARTS programme will consist of training by experts, participatory work in smaller groups, and roundtable discussions. Training sessions will focus on practical strategies, and participants will be encouraged to discuss problems they are currently confronting. Exercises will be geared to enhancing participants' technical advocacy skills, including preparation of shadow reports for submission to treaty monitoring bodies, preparation of interventions for delivery at international fora, developing advocacy campaigns, and coalition building. Comprehensive background materials will be provided. At the end of the programme, the participants will acquire practical experience of participation at international fora by attending the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting organized by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The participants will have the opportunity to network and deliver interventions at th! is event.

The objectives of this training are to:
-Increase participants' knowledge of minority rights instruments
-Increase participants' ability to advocate at domestic and international fora and provide them with the practical experience
-Explore the relevance of international standards to South-East Europe
-Provide the opportunity to develop follow-up advocacy initiatives, with ongoing support from MRG and co-organising partners.

Participants: The seminar is intended for people already engaged in human or minority rights advocacy in their country who are able to train others on minority rights and international institutions. Participants will be selected through an application process. We will endeavour to have at least fifty per cent of participants from minority organisations, and to ensure gender balance and a balance between countries and communities represented.
Eligible countries/entities: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Kosova, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro.

Funding: MRG will cover all costs for selected participants. Participants are asked to make their own travel arrangements the cost of which shall be reimbursed upon presentation of valid receipts during the event. Full reimbursement is contingent upon the participant's full attendance in the programme.

More information
Email: mrg3.bud@tla.hu


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Leaders Romania - "Share your experience ... and go to great!", September 26 - 30, 2004, Sibiu, Romania
Application deadline: August 30, 2004


Aim & objectives
Professionalism is strongly related to the information obtained by a person and to the ability to use it, therefore the main aim of the "Share your experience ... and go to great!" Program is to gather experiences and ideas that can be transformed into instruments of professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness.

Objectives:
-To determine the capacity of acting as change factors, through the ability of thinking strategically
-To transform knowledge and experiences that each participant has into a learning instrument
-To establish the basis of a continuous learning process using the virtual platform
- To establish a personal network for their mutual benefit and that of the agencies for whom they work or will work.

Contents of the Program
Strategic thinking, negotiation and leadership will be the topics covered by the Program. The sessions are dedicated to theoretical aspects of the subjects, but they will actively involve the participants, who will apply the information to their previous experience. Every session will be followed by practical activities when the participants will actively use the information received. Those activities will start from a situation described by a participant and it will be analyzed within the group.

Methodology
It should be emphasized, though, that mutual learning from each other will represent an important element in the learning process. Participants' prior experiences within the content of the program will be important and recognized. Active participation, group-work and teamwork, learning-by-doing, as well as theoretical inputs form the most important aspects of this program.

Profile of participants
The participants selected for "Share your experience ... and go to great!" will be young public servants who are in a top or middle management position in local governments. There will be 30 participants, and special attention will be given to the gender aspects. So, 15 women and 15 men will be selected to attend the program.

In general candidates should be:
-Between 25 and 40 years of age (a few exceptions may be made if seen as justified by the team)
-Actively involved in elaborating policies or in the field of co-operation with other actors/institutions
-Willing to act as multipliers, meaning to be prepared to pass on to colleagues the knowledge and skills gained during the program
-Willing to co-operate with the group after the program ends and to continue the learning process through the virtual platform
-Be able to work in English
-Committed to attend the entire duration of the Program and be supported by the sending institution
-At least 2 years of work experience in government structures
-Motivated to participate and to integrate him/herself into learning and exchange network.

19 of the participants will come from Romania and 11 from abroad, meaning that one participant will represent: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldavia, Poland, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece and Turkey.

Selected candidates will be informed first, on 3rd of September 2004, followed by other non-selected candidates. A waiting list will be drawn up from candidates who are seen as strong applicants, and who, in case of cancellations, may be offered the possibility of participation. Selected candidates will receive the Program's documentation directly.

At the time the selection confirmation is sent to the future participants, they will be asked to prepare a one page biography, where the most relevant information about them will be given. These biographies will be sent to the trainers and to the other participants, in order to become familiar with the group before starting to work together.

Financial and practical conditions of participation
The participants will cover their travel expenses to and from the site of the Program.
Meals and hotel
4 nights at the hotel and meals are provided and paid for by the organizers.
There is no enrolment fee!

More information
Website: www.leaders.ro
www.leaders.ro/share
Email: georgiana.giba@leaders.ro (Georgiana Giba, Program Manager)


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European Youth Centre - Training Trainers in Human Rights Education with Young People, November 2-11, 2004, Budapest, Hungary
Application deadline: September 6, 2004


The Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe has acquired an undisputed reputation for and expertise in developing educational approaches and materials suitable to both formal and non-formal contexts as well as to different cultural environments. Its work with multipliers, the impact of projects such as the "all different - all equal" youth campaign, and its long-term training programme have all contributed to the development of projects that make their impact first and foremost at grass-roots level while being pre-eminently European.

The course is designed to give participants the opportunity to experience and reflect upon activities and concepts central to human rights education based on experiential learning approaches. The course is also designed as a mutual learning situation, where participants can compare their approaches to training and to human rights education across Europe in a dialogical intercultural approach and environment. Contributions from experts in the field of human rights will establish a theoretical framework and a common reference point for learning and communication, and there will be an opportunity to try out and evaluate some of the activities in Compass. Towards the end of the course, multicultural groups of participants will design modules for training courses at national or regional level. A diversity of working methods will be used for learning about human rights and the approaches proposed in Compass. The previous experience of participants, as trainers or educators, will b! e the starting point of the programme and of the learning process.

Website: http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/Youth/1._News/Calls_for_applications/087_HRE.asp#


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Long-Term Training Course for Trainers active in Euro-Mediterranean Youth Work, November 21 - December 2, 2004
Application deadline: September 10, 2004


The Council of Europe and the European Commission are currently engaged in a two-year partnership on the Euro-Mediterranean youth co-operation in the field of training. The covenant aims to provide further quality training and learning opportunities for youth workers and youth leaders active in Euro-Mediterranean youth projects. Within the Council of Europe, the Covenant is jointly carried out by the North-South Centre and the Directorate of Youth and Sport.

The aim of this long-term training course, organised in co-operation with the Euro-Med Salto Resource Centre, is to develop and strengthen the know-how and skills of 30 trainers involved in projects in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
The working languages of the training course will be English and French.

More information
Website: http://www.eycb.coe.int/eycbwwwroot/index.asp?language==eng&url==/eycbwwwroot/eng/TFT%20Euromed%20eng.asp
Email: Mariuca.Matanie@coe.int (Mariuca Matanie, Project Assistant)


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EIDHR - Call for proposals for microprojects in Serbia and Montenegro
Application deadline: September 15, 2004


The European Commission has launched a call for proposals for micro-projects taking place in Serbia and Montenegro under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).

There are five themes for this call for proposals:
Priority A: Human Rights education and training
-Empowerment of citizens to take action in defence of their human rights
-Enhancing the capacity of public officials to protect human rights
-Development of networks of experts in human rights and democracy
-Increasing the contribution of NGOs to governmental policy-making
-Increasing the capacity of civil society organisations to enhance the human rights watchdog function.

Priority B: Freedom of expression and independent media
-Empowerment of media to operate in accordance with European standards, e.g. in carrying out a watchdog role
-Improvement in the quality of coverage of human rights issues in the media.

Priority C: Good governance
-Improvement of awareness of good practice in the areas of accountability of public decision making
-Improvement of development and coordination in the field of human rights and democracy
-Empowerment of civil society organisations to act as watchdogs in the fight against corruption at different levels of government.

Priority D: Fight against torture and impunity
-Improvement in the implementation of international standards in the area of fight against torture, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment
-Awareness raising activities, collection and dissemination of information on the incidence of torture
-Increasing public awareness concerning the activities of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

Priority E : Fight against racism and protection of minorities
-Promotion and improvement of the rights of persons belonging to minorities
-Improvement of inter-cultural and inter-ethnic understanding and tolerance
-Empowerment of the minorities groups to promote their rights
-Increasing inter-ethnic dialogue as a tool for preventing conflicts

The total amount available under this call is 1,000,000 Euro. The minimum amount for a grant is 10.000 Euro and the maximum amount is 80.000 Euro. The European Commission's grant may not be more than 90% of the total project cost. Projects may not exceed 18 months in duration. Grants will support micro-projects carried out by NGOs registered in Serbia and Montenegro.

More information
Website: http://www.delscg.cec.eu.int
Email: russell.pickard@osi-eu.org (Russell Pickard, Deputy to the Director, Open Society Institute-Brussels)


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Centre for Advanced Studies and Collegium Budapest - "We the People", Visions of National Particularity and Politicsl Modernities in the Europe of Small Nations, Fellowship Programme, October 2004 - December 2005, Sofia, Bulgaria
Application deadline: September 15, 2004


Ten researchers in the area of the humanities and the social sciences from South Eastern Europe will be enrolled for a period of 15 months (15th October 2004 - 31 December 2005), six months of which the fellows will be working either at CAS in Sofia or at ColBud in Budapest. Several workshops are planned during the course of the programme.

The participants are expected to carry out an original research contributing to the broader research framework of "We, the People" project, to take part in the workshops and closely collaborate with the other members of the research team while in residence. The selected fellows will receive a grant of 4800 Euro, including travel. Accommodation will be provided. The financial support will be given for the time when they will be working in CAS and/or ColBud (on a monthly basis of 800 Euro), yet the conditions of the fellowship will stretch over an actual research period of 15 months.

The Centre for Advanced Study Sofia and the Collegium Budapest are providing the academic, organizational and administrative support for the research as well as for residence costs during the six-month in-residence period and workshops. Individual schedules for working at CAS or ColBud will be determined by the fellows themselves in cooperation with the research coordinator and the research associate.

Eligibility:
-Scholars from South Eastern Europe (priority given to applicants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia), holders of a doctoral degree or in the final stage of fulfilling the requirements for such a degree, in the social sciences or the humanities
-Excellent knowledge of English (oral and written).

The fellows will work in an international research team, where all discussions, workshops and lectures will be in English, as should be the final research paper to be submitted for publication. Therefore the applicants should be fluent in oral and written English, a certificate or other indication of which is highly recommended. Proficiency in other Southeast European languages is an advantage.

More information
Website: www.cas.bg
Email: kanev@cas.bg; cas@cas.bg (Asen Kanev, Project Coordinator, Centre for Advanced Study Sofia)


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Center for Policy Studies - International Policy Fellowships 2005 - 2006
Application deadline: September 15, 2004


The Central European University Center for Policy Studies (CPS) is calling for proposals for its year 2005-2006 International Policy Fellowships (IPF) program, which is affiliated with the CPS and the Open Society Institute-Budapest. Broadly speaking, an open society is characterized by a reliance on the rule of law, the existence of a democratically elected government, a diverse and vigorous civil society, and respect for minorities and minority opinions. Launched in 1999, the CPS works with a broadening circle of policy analysts and institutions to promote the development of policy center networks throughout Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Mongolia, as well as countries in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. The Center undertakes policy research and advocacy that furthers the open society mission and disseminates quality analyses in accessible formats.

The CPS International Policy Fellowships are intended to support the analytical policy research of open society leaders and connect these Fellows with professional policy networks and opportunities. The program aims to improve the quality of analysis in countries where the Soros foundations work by ensuring that these leaders are able to conduct research in their home region while maintaining local affiliations and a high degree of mobility and intellectual freedom. Fellows participate in policy seminars over the course of the fellowship year with leading experts in their respective fields. Good policy analysis is characterized by elements including a reliance on well-researched data; comprehensive, non-ideological assessment of relevant factors and options; explicitly stated criteria for assessing options; consideration of the interests and groups affected; and the clear presentation of feasible recommendations for action as well as how these recommendations should be commu! nicated and implemented. In 2005-2006, the IPF program will select teams of experienced policy fellows focusing on topics of strategic importance to the Open Society Institute (OSI). Fellows will be expected to contribute to policy debates and help shape new ideas within the OSI network as an integral part of their individual policy projects.

Outstanding Fellows from Eastern Europe may be nominated to participate in additional training and research opportunities including a three-month International Junior Public Policy Scholar Fellowship in Washington, D.C. in affiliation with the Woodrow Wilson Center's East European Studies program. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the United States' official memorial to President Wilson, was established by congressional legislation in 1968. Meant to reflect and continue Woodrow Wilson's commitment to a deeper understanding of issues crucial to global peace and stability, the Center serves as an international, interdisciplinary, non-partisan scholarly institute which fosters scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and encourages dialogue between the academic and policy communities. East European Studies, housed at the Woodrow Wilson Center, provides a non-partisan forum for bringing historical and contemporary understanding of the former communis! t states of Eastern Europe and the Baltics to the nation's capital and throughout the country. For more details on the Wilson Center and its East European Studies program, please see further details at the end of this announcement and visit the Center's website at http://wwics.si.edu/ or http://www.wilsoncenter.org.

Fellowships in the subject areas below may be awarded to applicants of any age to support significant policy research focused on one country as well as research of a regional character. Fellows will be assisted by high-level group advisors who will guide them in their work. The fellowship has no publicized budgetary limitations, but budget proposals must realistically reflect the financial requirements of individual, one-year research projects. Budgets will vary depending on the Fellow's country of residence and budgetary needs. This is a full-time or at least half-time research fellowship. In addition to completing original research projects, Fellows will be expected to attend three seminars in Budapest over the course of the fellowship year, advise the Soros foundations network in developing strategies and policies, and write a brief policy paper in their area of expertise to supplement their longer research paper.

The program does NOT fund student scholarships. A relevant proposal associated with the final stages of a PhD dissertation may be considered in exceptional cases.

Fellows will be provided with a one-year stipend, research-related expenses including travel, needed communications equipment, publication costs, etc. to work full-time on research of their design in one of the above areas. The amount of the award will vary depending on standards in the Fellow's country of residence and the budgetary needs of the proposal.

Fellows can choose to be based in their home countries or in another appropriate country in the target region. Fellows will be expected to travel to Budapest and other parts of the region as needed to participate in fellowship-related activities.

To qualify for a fellowship, applicants must be affiliated with a relevant policy-making or research institution in their country of permanent residence (university, non-governmental organization, government agency, policy institute, etc). Applicants must be permanent residents of one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran and other countries of the Middle East, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, other countries of North Africa, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia.

More information
Website: http://www.soros.org/
Email: fellows@osi.hu


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Pilot Projects on Human Rights Education
Application deadline: September 15, 2004


Financial assistance in support of local pilot projects is important to the Youth Programme on Human Rights Education because it will allow for new initiatives to be set up and will motivate supporting local NGOs and groups to undertake action related to human rights education with young people. By funding pilot projects on human rights education through the European Youth Foundation, the Directorate of Youth and Sport seeks to actively contribute to the inclusion of human rights education in youth work practice and to encourage innovative practices and partnerships, both in formal and in non-formal education contexts.

The pilot projects will allow for a more visible and direct impact of the programme at local level. They are a necessary complement to the rest of the youth programme on human rights education and to the other activities of the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe.

Similarly, the inclusion of pilot projects in the European programme may serve to give them greater visibility and recognition, as well as facilitating the development of networks and of opportunities to share expertise and experiences. This will be done by means of the Directorate of Youth and Sport publications and web sites. This may be completed by an evaluation meeting and a publication with examples of good practice in 2005.

This financial support to pilot projects should be seen as exceptional and limited to the duration of the programme. The European funding can not replace the necessary local and/or national co-funding (in money or in kind). In this context, the assessment of applications will consider also the feasibility of the projects. Priority for funding will be given to projects which would otherwise be difficult to start up. Funding will not be given to projects that have already taken place. The funding of pilot projects is also made possible thanks to voluntary contributions of Member States of the European Youth Foundation.

Criteria
In order to qualify for support, projects must:
-Be directly related to young people and to human rights education or to a specific theme addressed by the programme
-Be prepared, run and managed by a local association, institution or youth group acting directly with children, young people or a specific target group of the programme
-Have a clear educational or awareness-raising function
-Concern primarily participants under 30 years of age
-Have a participatory approach, from the conception to the evaluation
-Integrate intercultural learning in its educational approach
-Have an innovative character (in terms of methodology, target groups addressed, etc.)
-Be open to other partners of the youth programme on human rights education and foresee using the resources generated through the programme (e.g. the Manual on Human Rights Education)
-Have a clear potential local impact while being open to European networks
-Have a European dimension, either by involving more than one country, and/or by taking into consideration the European context
-Follow the basic educational principles of the Council of Europe's youth sector.

Levels of support
Selected projects can be funded up to a maximum of 7.600 Euro.

More information
Website: http://www.coe.int/hre
http://eycb.coe.int
Email : eycb.secretariat@coe.int


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Balkan Youth Partnership Programme
Application deadline: September 30, 2004


What is the Balkan Youth Partnership Programme?
The Balkan Youth Partnership Programme is a small grant scheme for study visits in the region designed for representatives from child- and youth-serving NGOs to share information and technical expertise.

Areas for exchange of learning
The key programmatic areas for information exchange and learning covered by the Partnership Programme are: employment, technology, non-formal education, health, civic education and democracy building. The areas of community service, culture and the environment are also eligible. In addition, technical areas such as fundraising, sustainability, grantmaking, monitoring and evaluation, and project planning are eligible areas for exchange.

Eligibility
The Partnership Programme is open to applicants from child- and youth-serving NGOs in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia. The visits are eligible in those countries.
Applicants should be possess a certain level of experience in programme development and be in a position to influence programming in their own organisation based on what they learn during the exchange. The applicant organisation should send no more than two participants.

Available funding
The Partnership Programme will provide successful applicants with funding for the following up to a maximum of USD1500:
-Accommodation
-Meals
-Travel between the countries
-Travel within the countries
-Purchase of relevant publications.
In addition, the Programme will fund the administrative costs of the host organisation up to a maximum of USD300, according to the length of the visit and the level of organisation required.

Visit Guidelines
Prior to applying, applicants should contact the organisation with which they wish to work and ensure that there is mutual interest in the exchange. In addition, they should agree on the purpose of the exchange, identify objectives, determine an appropriate length of time and jointly develop a visit schedule. Exchanges need not be reciprocal.
Visits should last for up to 7 days, excluding travel time.

Assessment of Applications
Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria:
-Clearly articulated outcomes showing how the exchange will strengthen the programmatic and/or technical capacity of the applicant organisation.
-Possibility that the exchange outcomes will positively influence the children and youth sector as a whole in the applicant's country.
-A well thought out, appropriate visit schedule.
-A clearly presented, reasonable budget.
-Appropriateness of the background and position of the individual applicants.
Please note that incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

More information
Website: http://www.balkanyouth.org/partnership.html
Email: asha@balkanyouth.org (Aleksandra Vidanovic, Program Assistant)


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Community action programme promoting nongovernmental organisations primarily active in the field of environmental protection - 2004
Application deadline: October 1, 2004


Programme objectives:
Financial assistance under this Call for Proposals may be provided for NGOs, which are involved in contributing to the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation in different regions of Europe. The Programme will also contribute to the strengthening of small regional or local associations working to apply the 'acquis communautaire' in relation to the environment and sustainable development in their local area.
Support from this Programme will target the priority areas from the Sixth Environment Action Programme:
- limiting climate change
- nature and bio-diversity - protecting a unique resource
- health and environment
- ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and waste.
In addition to the abovementioned areas, implementation and enforcement of Community environmental legislation and environmental education will also remain of interest.

Who can apply:
The Programme will be open to the participation of European NGOs established (legally registered) in either:
- the Member States,
- Bulgaria, Romania,
- Turkey,
- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, and Croatia.

Financing conditions:
Financial assistance under this call for proposals is subject to the availability of funds.
The rate of overall Community assistance shall not exceed 70 % of the applicant's average audited annual eligible expenses during the preceding two years, in the case of NGOs based in the Community or in those countries, which have joined the European Union in 2004, or 80 % in the case of NGOs based in the Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the Balkan countries, nor 80 % of the applicant's eligible expenses for the current year.
The amount of a grant will only become final once the audited financial statement of the beneficiary has been accepted by the Commission.

More information
Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/funding/intro_en.htm


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ArtsLink Residencies
Application deadline: November 5, 2004


Program description
The ArtsLink Residencies program offers artists and arts managers a five-week residency at an established, non-profit arts organization in the U.S. For the 2005 Residencies Program, ArtsLink will accept applications from artists and arts managers working in dance, music, theater and literature. Artists and arts managers working in visual and media arts may apply in November 2005 for the 2006 Residencies program.
Applicants do not need to have any contacts with organizations in the U.S. ArtsLink will place successful applicants at a host organization. The Residency includes two sessions in New York City for all ArtsLink Fellows to meet with each other and with ArtsLink staff: one prior to the residency to orient the Fellows to the residency program and one at the conclusion to share residency experiences. The opening and closing sessions offer an important opportunity for ArtsLink Fellows to interact and strengthen contacts with colleagues in Central and Eastern Europe.
ArtsLink Residencies provide artists and arts managers with a unique experience relevant to their professional and creative goals. Residencies incorporate the visiting professional into the host organization's activities and provide interaction with local artists or organizations.
ArtsLink Residencies provide opportunities to:
-Pursue artistic and/or professional collaborations that will enrich and enhance your work
-Establish mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and expertise with U.S. artists and organizations and with colleagues from Central Europe, Russia and Eurasia during ArtsLink Fellow meetings
-Deepen your understanding of a particular artistic expression that is related to your own work
-Create new work that draws inspiration from interaction with artists and arts professionals in the U.S.
-Expand professional arts management skills through work with U.S. organizations.

Eligibility
For the November 5, 2004 deadline, ArtsLink Residencies will accept applications from contemporary and traditional creative artists working in dance, music, theater and literature and from arts managers at independent, non-profit, and government organizations working in these artistic disciplines. Applicants must be citizens of, and reside in, an eligible country (see below). There are no age limitations. Applicants must have sufficient knowledge of English to function independently while in the U.S.
Students, amateurs, and scholars are not eligible. Arts managers must be affiliated with an arts organization in the non-commercial sector. Artists seeking placement in commercial firms are also ineligible. ArtsLink Fellows from prior years are ineligible.

Review criteria
All ArtsLink applications will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary review panel comprised of U.S. arts professionals based on the following criteria:
-Artistic or professional excellence of the applicant's work
-Extent to which working in a U.S. arts organization is consistent with the applicant's artistic vision, creative goals, and professional development
-Benefit to the applicant, at this time in his/her career, from interaction with U.S. artists and audiences
-Quality and feasibility of mutually-beneficial exchange with the hosting organization
-Applicant's plans for sharing the benefits of the exchange with artists and institutions in his/her home country
-Applicant's ability to meet cross-cultural challenges successfully
The selection process is extremely competitive and applicants should anticipate a highly rigorous review of their work. Applicants are advised to submit quality work samples, e.g. slides and videotapes. Applicants should make sure their work is properly labeled, videotapes are properly cued, and that all work samples are properly described on a separate sheet. Applications that do not include required materials will not be considered. All pages should have at least a 3cm bottom margin.

Ffinancial arrangements
ArtsLink Residency Awards are made to the U.S. host organization to cover the living and working expenses for the five-week residency. Airfare, visa expenses, health insurance, and subsistence for ArtsLink meetings that take place after arrival in the U.S. and before departure from the U.S. are provided directly to ArtsLink Fellows.

Eligible countries
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

More information
Email: al@cecartslink.org


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Identities and Visual Codes. Violence of Images / Images of Violence, contemporary art exhibition, October 14 - 16, 2004, Bucuresti, Romania
Application deadline: August 15, 2004


Organizers: META Cultural Foundation and Goethe Institute Bucharest. With the support of European Cultural Foundation, the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, Romanian Ministry of Culture and Religious Affaires and the Swiss Cultural Program in Romania.

The violence of images as an excessiv medium of the contemporary world; images of violence as selling strategy; violence is the other; images are depicting/producing violence.

The artists are invited to answer to the exhibition's main subject with new media artworks (video, photo, computer art, poster, installations etc.), without excluding more traditional ways of expression. The most successful projects will be included in the official program of the exhibition.

Please register on line and send a short project description, artist's biography and three images of the proposed work. Hard copies send by mail are also acceptable.

More information
Website: http://www.metacult.ro/visual
Email: meta@dnt.ro, bienala@metacult.ro


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South East Institute for Strategic International Studies - Looking for partners


We are a branch of SEI, South East Institute for Strategic International Studies, of Sarajevo. We are in contact with Triangle Network of NGO's in the Balcania Area, and we are planning to participate to next CARDS Network to Network Programme.

We are looking for a Network of NGO's with their headquarters in the European Union or in one of the candidate countries, which purpose should be focussed on democratic stabilisation, including the rule of law and good governance.
The foreseen actions must take place in one or more of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia (including Kosovo).

The grant awarded under this programme must fall between the minimum amount of EUR 100,000 and the maximum of EUR 200,000, until 80% of the total eligible costs of the action.

We are writing to enquire your availability to participate in the Programme which deadline will be September 15, 2004.

More information
Email: pragmata@inthenet.sm (Pragmata Institute)


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Challenges of Joint (Post) Graduate University Studies and Research in Europe Conference, October 7 - 9, 2004, Ljubljana, Slovenia (postponned for September 22 - 24, 2005)
Application deadline: September 1, 2004


The conference will be organized by the University of Ljubljana in cooperation with the CEI University Network, UNICA - Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe, European Science Foundation, the National Science Foundation (USA) and the Slovenian Science Foundation. The President of the Scientific and Organizing Committee is Professor Matjaz Omladic, Vice-Rector of the University of Ljubljana.

By organizing the international conference "Challenges of Joint (Post) Graduate University Studies and Research in Europe", the University of Ljubljana wants to bring together people from "old" and "new" Europe (as well as from overseas) with an aim to find the means to foster the establishment of joint university studies and research within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) having in mind existing and potential fields of joint research in Europe (ERA). At the conference we will also discuss the contribution that foundations and agencies, such as the European Science Foundation, Slovenian Science Foundation and the National Science Foundation (USA), can make towards integrated education and training of new generations of researchers. This international conference is taking place at the right time, since this is a period of intensive adaptation to the changes that are rising from our joint decision to create a Wider Europe as a knowledge based-society.

The goals of the conference are the following:
-To bring together universities from "old" and "new" Europe
-To discuss the possibilities of fostering joint degree studies in synchrony with research
-To identify some of the priority fields of these studies and research
-To identify ways of introducing these studies and possible obstacles
-To promote generation and transfer of knowledge through mobility of university professors and students
-To encourage public and private foundations, which support science on national and transnational level, to support the mobility of university researchers.

Participants:
-Representatives of universities from countries that are members of the Central European Initiative, especially rectors, deans, university professor and those responsible for curriculum development in the academic fields discussed during this conference
-Representatives of UNICA network, especially rectors, deans, university professor and those responsible for curriculum development in the academic fields discussed during this conference
-Representatives of the ministries responsible for science and higher education
-Representatives of agencies and foundations supporting research activity or higher education in this part of Europe.

The following academic fields will be given a higher priority during the Conference: Information Technology, Economics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, European Studies.
The conference will comprise of key lectures, roundtables and workshops related to priority
There is no registration fee to attend this conference.

More information
Website: www.uni-lj.si
Email: mira.strukelj@uni-lj.si (Ms. Mira Strukelj)


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The European Institute of the Mediterranean - The Human Movements and Immigration (HMI) World Congress, September 2 - 5, 2004, Barcelona, Spain


The congress, organized within the framework of the Universal Forum of Cultures, will bring together more than 150 speakers and expects a thousand people from fifty countries. It aims to become a space of debate and meeting with participants from all spheres: civil society, the academic field, governments, students and institutions from around the world.

The HMI will be a platform for the promotion of ideas and wants the reflections and experiences shared during this meeting of international scope to have an inspirational role in the management of migration policies. The HMI is structured in sessions which are open to public participation and have diverse formats:
-4 plenary sessions
-24 dialogues: dedicated to encouraging debate, communication and dialogue between different actors from around the world
-20 experiences: to illustrate the initiatives and practices undertaken in the field of migration from civil society
-4 regional sessions: to understand the effect of migration on the regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Europe-Mediterranean
-"I've been an immigrant, too": testimonial sessions where personalities from around the world will explain their experience as immigrants
-Visions: continuous session of documentaries produced around the world on the different perceptions of the migratory issue through cinema.

More information
Website: www.mhicongress.org


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The Challenge of Multiculturalism in the Eastern and Central Europe, Workshop, October 28 - 30, 2004, Iasi, Romania
Application deadline: September 1, 2004


One of the challenges the countries from the Central and Eastern Europe have to face constantly after the fall of communism in the 1990s is the internal and external diversity of the populations. The regrettable example of the ex-Yugoslavian space has shown that any attempt at questioning one's (ethnic, religious)