Restore funding to our universities and their students
On Saturday 13 April 2013, the newly appointed Minister for Tertiary Education, Dr Craig Emerson, announced $2.3b in budget savings from the higher education sector to help fund the implementation of the Government’s reforms to school education.  The cuts covering the period 2013-14 to 2016-17 are comprised of:
    * $900m in efficiency dividends of 2% in 2014 and 1.25% in 2015 which apply to all grants under the Higher Education Support Act 2003, excluding Australian Postgraduate Awards.
    * $1.2b savings from converting Student Start-up Scholarship (SSS) to HECS type loans, and
    * $229m by removing the 10 per cent discount for up-front HECS payments.
Responding to the announcement, NTEU National President, Jeannie Rea said, “The NTEU applauds increased government investment in education and welcomes the school education reforms. However, this should not come at the cost of public investment in universities and support for higher education students.”
NTEU calls upon members and all those who oppose these further cuts to make their opposition known to the Federal Government.
Subject*
Stop the $2.3b cuts to higher education
Dear [appropriate name will be inserted],
I am writing to you to express my anger and dismay at your decision to cut $2.3 billion from higher education announced last Saturday 13 April 2013.  
Whilst I support increased levels of public investment in our schools, one sector of education should not be cut to finance initiatives in another.
Your Government has made important policy initiatives and significantly increased public investment in higher education since the release of the Transforming Australian Higher Education and Powering Ideas suite of policies in May 2009. However, higher education has been cut every time your Government has made budgetary savings to help the government achieve its fiscal policy targets. 
In addition to the most recent $2.3 billion cuts, last October there was a $1billion cut to university funding. 
Your Government has not delivered the much needed ten percent increase in real funding per student, as recommended by evidence presented to both the both the Bradley and Base Funding reviews. The failure of the government to increase real funding per student is resulting in increased student staff ratios, unsustainable academic and general staff workloads and an increasing reliance of casual lecturers and tutors to deliver undergraduate teaching at our universities. 
I am also dismayed at the decision to convert the Student Start-up Scholarships (SSS) to loans, thus increasing the debt burden upon financially disadvantaged students. The SSS initiative has proven its worth in not only encouraging students to enrol in university, but has provided valuable ongoing financial assistance and lessened their debt burdens. This latest decision is contrary to the ALP’s commitments to social inclusion.  On behalf of my colleagues and students I ask you to seriously reconsider these cuts.

The ECML has established a Memorandum of Cooperation with Moscow State Linguistic University.
Waldemar Martyniuk, the Executive Director of the ECML,  and Irina Khaleeva, Rector of Moscow State Linguistic University, signed  the agreement which will focus in particular on cooperation on the ECML projects  “Developing migrants’ language competences at work (Language for Work)” and “Signed languages for professional purposes (PRO-Sign)” which are areas of particular interest for MSLU. The partnership agreement represents the first of its kind for the ECML and a formal way of increasing expert contacts between the ECML and MSLU.
Signed languages for professional purposes (PRO-Sign)
The PRO-Sign project will establish European standards for signed language proficiency for professional purposes, focusing specifically on sign language teaching in Deaf Studies and Sign Language Interpreting programmes. The project will provide definitions of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) proficiency levels for signed languages and develop a sample assessment kit for signed language competency at the C1/C2 level indicating the qualification of professional interpreters.
Developing migrants’ language competences at work (Language for Work)
This project will create a European network for professional development of teachers of migrant workers learning the majority language. It will produce a web-based resource centre for languages in the workplace, which comprises a toolkit of practical resources for planning language training provision, with examples of good practice and quality criteria and samples of teaching materials. See also: Moscow State Linguistic University.

Os organizadores do Congresso das Américas sobre Educação Internacional (CAEI) têm o prazer de oferecer-lhe nossa nova serie de conferências web para 2013. Esses webinários tratarão os temas mais significativos sobre a internacionalização do ensino superior.
Ao participar de nossos webinários, terá a oportunidade de:
    * Descobrir novas e inovadoras maneiras de fazer utilizadas por especialistas do ensino superior;
    * Aprender sobre as novas tendências no campo, particularmente nas Américas;
    * Aprofundar seu próprio conhecimento das melhores práticas no campo da internacionalização e gestão, e conhecer oportunidades concretas de aplicá-las na sua instituição/organização;
    * Participar diretamente da discussão através de nossa plataforma virtual;
    * Criar laços de colaboração com outros participantes;
    * Contribuir diretamente à missão do CAEI de criar um espaço comum para a internacionalização do ensino superior nas Américas.
O que é um webinário?
Um webinário é uma conferência que é transmitida via web. O conferencista faz a sua apresentação mediante uma plataforma de conferência vídeo acessível a qualquer pessoa que tem um computador e uma conexão internet. Os participantes podem intervir na conferência com mensagens instantâneas graças a um chat integrado na sala de conferência online. Os participantes podem aceder à conferência usando o nome de utilizador e a senha que indicaram quando se inscreveram ao webinário.
Quais são os requisitos para participar dos webinários?
Nada mais que um computador com acesso a Internet e alto falantes/microfone. Mesmo se o conferencista terá uma câmera e um microfone para apresentar o webinário, os participantes poderão fazer perguntas e interagir com os outros participantes por escrito em um chat. A plataforma de conferência é compatível com os browsers web Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome e Safari. Recomendamos que teste o seu acesso ao webinário 24 horas antes da hora prevista de início para evitar qualquer atraso para aceder ao webinário.
Como eu acedo aos webinários?
O acesso aos webinários está aqui. Serão necessários o endereço eletrônico e a senha que foram indicados pelo participante quando ele se inscreveu.
Posso receber um certificado para a minha participação a um webinário do CAEI?
A Secretaria do CAEI emitirá um certificado aos participantes que fizerem o pedido por correio eletrônico: caei@oui-iohe.org.
Quais são os custos de inscrição a um ou vários webinários do CAEI?
Cada webinário custa US$ 100 por participante. Há descontospara a inscrição de vários participantes de uma mesma instituição ou de um participante desejando inscrever-se a vários webinários.
Serie 2013 Webinário #1: Novos atores no futuro universitário
Salvador Malo
Diretor Geral
CONOCER, Secretaria da Educação Pública, México
“Novos atores no futuro universitário”
Webinário#2: Relatório do CBIE: Um mundo de conhecimento
David McDine
Gerente
Pesquisa e Projetos especiais, CBIE-BCEI, Canadá
Relatório do CBIE: “Um mundo de conhecimento” Webinário #3: O papel das línguas na mobilidade do conhecimento...
Patrick Chardenet
Diretor
Responsável pela antena de América, Agência Universitária da Francofonia (AUF)
“O papel das línguas na mobilidade do conhecimento nas Américas” Webinário #4: Competências Intercurturais: A importancia emergente...
Darla Deardorff
Diretora Executiva
Associação dos Administradores de Educação Internacional (AIEA), USA
“Competências Intercurturais: a importancia emergente na Educação Superior” Webinário #5: Mobilidade do conhecimento na América Latina...
Julio César Theiler
Coordenador Geral
Red Latinoamericana del Caribe de Redes de Relaciones Internacionales de Instituciones de Educación Superior (ReLARIES), Argentina
“Mobilidade do conhecimento na América Latina: A urgente necessidade de coordenar e complementar esforços, assumindo responsabilidades” Webinário #6: Internacionalização do ensino superior no Brasil
José Celso Freire junhor
Presidente
Fórum de Assessorias das Universidades Brasileiras para Assuntos Internacionais (FAUBAI)
“Internacionaliza-ção do ensino superior no Brasil”

Bienvenidos
Con un inmenso placer deseamos darle la bienvenida a la nueva plataforma virtual del Congreso de las Américas sobre Educación Internacional (CAEI). A través de esta página electrónica deseamos que usted se beneficie de la experiencia del CAEI y aproveche las oportunidades de conocer, participar e intercambiar información acerca de las prioridades de la internacionalización de la Educación Superior en las Américas.
En esta plataforma usted encontrará toda la información necesaria de la tercera edición del CAEI que se celebrará en Monterrey, México, del 16 al 18 de octubre del 2013, bajo la temática de: “Movilidad del conocimiento: Responsabilidades y Recursos”.
Los Congresos del CAEI en Canadá 2010 y en Brasil 2012 fueron críticos para definir la funcionalidad de la internacionalización como componente esencial en la calidad de los estudios superiores. A través de esta importante experiencia los organizadores del CAEI México 2013 están muy complacidos en invitarlos a la hermosa ciudad de Monterrey para intercambiar información acerca del papel que tienen los actores clave en el desarrollo de la internacionalización y su contribución a la sociedad, tales como los gobiernos, gestores universitarios, académicos, estudiantes y el sector privado y filantrópico. Igualmente, se discutirá la importancia de los recursos tecnológicos, humanos y financieros necesarios para este fin, y el rol que juegan las alianzas estratégicas como respuesta a los desafíos presentados en el sector.
Las 20 asociaciones universitarias que desarrollan el CAEI México 2013 trabajan conjuntamente para ofrecerle a la comunidad universitaria una programación enriquecedora y diversificada, a través de 70 actividades de carácter académico. Este evento le brindará a todos los delegados la oportunidad de involucrarse con los avances en la internacionalización de la Educación Superior, compartir las mejores prácticas y enterarse sobre los desafíos actuales, los nuevos paradigmas y las tendencias futuras en este sector.
El CAEI busca crear un espacio común para el diálogo y el intercambio de información. Por esta razón, lo invitamos a consultar esta herramienta que le brindará la oportunidad de enterarse de las novedades en este campo y ponerse en contacto con sus colegas. Igualmente, por medio de ésta, usted podrá inscribirse en el CAEI México 2013 y en los webinarios que se impartirán durante el siguiente año.
Con el objetivo de incrementar la colaboración interamericana y expandir los límites del conocimiento, el equipo del CAEI México 2013 desea que usted sea parte de una de las experiencias más enriquecedoras por medio de esta página electrónica y de su participación en el Congreso de las Américas sobre Educación Superior.
Nos encontramos muy complacidos de poder contar con su participación en este importante evento y esperamos realizar un intercambio enriquecedor con usted, tanto en nuestra plataforma electrónica como en Monterrey, México, del 16 al 18 de Octubre.
Cordialmente,
Los organizadores del CAEI México 2013.

A meeting hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels on 10 April brought together vocational education teachers, policy makers, European parliamentarians and representatives from the world of business to discuss how young people can be better prepared for a changing European economy.
Addressing the meeting, Katarina Nevedalova, member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Slovakia, said that there was still work to be done on recognition of qualifications. This is critical for mobility of labour, she said.  Mary Honeyball MEP (United Kingdom) put strong case for a rethink on language teaching which she said was integral to a European labour market.
A high-level panel involving top European Commission officials from education and employment directorates, the ETF and business also shared their concerns and perspectives as to how Europe’s labour market can meet the challenges of the 21st century.
A recurrent issue throughout the debate was the disconnect between the skills that business need and what the schooling system is providing in terms of workplace preparation. This impacted on the perception and credibility of vocational education, said one participant at the meeting. Read more...

In three workshops-sessions on 9 and 10 April in Chisinau, Moldova, ETF experts provided advice on setting up sector skills councils.
Four skills councils has already been established in Moldova - for agri-food business, construction, ICT and transport – and the country's VET strategy foresees setting up another eight for energy, trade, transport, information and communication technologies (ICT), and other sectors by 2020.
The ministry of education foresees permanent funding for the councils, and ministry of labour is preparing a law on professions, which will give legal basis for the national qualifications framework, sector councils and classification of occupations (nomenklatura). This law will also provide for a technical secretariat. Read more...

On 8-9 May some 150 policy makers and experts from more than 30 countries will convene in Turin to conclude the second round of the Process.
The Torino Process maintains a double objective of policy analysis and capacity building. In order to achieve both objectives, four principles have been set to guide the work of the Torino Process.
These principles affect the type of policy analysis:
•    (i) designing a holistic approach and
•    (ii) fostering evidence use to ensure the robustness of the policy analysis.
They also shape the type of capacity building process:
•    (iii) promoting country ownership and
•    (iv) participation
Why a holistic approach?
The nature of the vocational education and training field is unique:  it is placed at the crossroads between education and employment spheres, and pursues simultaneously very different goals linked to economic development and competitiveness, employability, social inclusion and social cohesion, in a perspective of sustainable development. Therefore the Torino Process has adopted a “holistic” approach to reflect those features.
Why an evidence base?
The robustness and soundness of the analysis are to be ensured through using a wide range of information and data, gathered from different sources in the country as well as from international sources, mixing the outcomes of the participatory process and the findings of existing, not always broadly used, information. The information types and sources are highly diverse and provide both quantitative and qualitative evidence in the form of statistical data and indicators, examples of good practice, qualitative assessments, existing national and international studies, reports from different stakeholders and the results of focus group meetings.
Why ownership?
Linking with the above, the usefulness and impact of the Torino Process in the country will be all the higher as main target audiences will be involved. On the above example of governance assessment, the likelihood of having improvement measures taken following the assessment will probably be bigger if the authorities have bene closely involved from the first assumptions to the final findings of the exercise, have recognized the sources of evidence as valid, and thus feel part of the analysis made.
Why participation?
Drawing on the EU Open Method of Coordination, the Torino Process is implemented on the basis of broad participation by, and consultation with, a wide range of stakeholders (policymakers, social partners, practitioners and researchers from the public and private sectors, civic society, communities), who are involved at different stages of the process in collecting data, discussing the findings of the review exercise and formulating recommendations. Although it primarily targets stakeholders of VET policies, it also includes stakeholders from employment, education, industry and economic development areas.
These principles were agreed with ETF partners during the 2011 Torino Process conference. We will be reviewing the principles at the conference in May 2013 to see if they need to be revised based on the lessons learned during the current round.

Forum citoyen « L’Europe, maintenant et ici », le 15 mai 2013 à Cenon.
Après une année 2012 consacrée à la solidarité intergénérationnelle, l'Europe met à l'honneur en 2013 se citoyens à travers une quinzaine consacrée à la citoyenneté européenne. Ce moment sera l'occasion d'expliquer comment les citoyens européens peuvent exercer directement leur citoyenneté et quels programmes sont mis à notre disposition. Au cours de ce forum citoyen, nous échangerons ensemble sur les réalisations effectuées pour et par de citoyens européens. Nous discuterons ensemble sur les opportunités qui nous sont offertes grâce à l'Europe.
Loin de l'idée d'une tribune politique, le Forum se veut participatif, ouvert, interactif et au plus près des préoccupations des citoyens.
Télécharger le programme.