Funding Needs: Three year project - 2000-2002

Total budget: $190, 000 (over three years)

Soros commitment $85,000 (over three years - including $30,000 from Center Education
2000+ for 2000)

Other commitments: $35,000 euro (European Training Foundation Torino; negotiation in progress)

Funding Required: $80,000

Geographical Area: SEE Countries: Romania, Albania, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, FYR of Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Hungary.

Area of Work: Vocational Education and Training; Management of Diversity

Relevant Working Table/Task Force: WT1- Education and Youth. Working Group on
"Education for Democratic Citizenship. Management of Diversity”

Description :
The project focuses on governmental organizations and NGOs in South Eastern Europe
interested in setting up educational and training priorities as well as shaping of educational
policies and strategies for minority populations, especially Roma ones.

Project Objective:
The project supports a series of 3 SEE regional conferences and informative materials issued
from these. Those materials are aimed at spreading out information in Roma communities and
other interested social groups regarding the specific educational and training needs of the Roma
communities. It also builds up participatory policies to prevent and avoid discrimination of any
kind in education and training.

Target Groups:
The target group is: Roma professionals; educational professionals (education consultants,
researchers, teachers, professors, head masters, evaluators); individuals inside the governmental
structures and NGOs concerned with implementing educational change and reform processes;
formal and informal decision makers representing the authorities and the communities; Roma
community representatives.

Outcomes:

• publishing 3 books including specific action plans for the government and NGOs to cooperate
  efficiently in the education and training of Roma communities; creating a web site and database
  of individuals and organizations
• launching a regional publication for educational NGOs and educational departments from
  governmental areas
• increased cooperation between NGOs and governmental organizations

Activities:

• 3 conferences in different parts of the region (the 1^st one: Education and Training as means
  of Social Inclusion of Young Roma); presentations of successful examples of NGOs and
  governmental cooperation in educational programs for Roma; editing of 3 books on successful
  experiences in the field
• creating an international core of specialists in education coming from both governmental and
  non-governmental organizations to edit a publication related to the Forum and the educational
  involvement of NGOs in Roma communities

• increased NGO and governmental cooperation to design policies and projects on educational
  processes with Roma community impact
• NGOs and governmental bodies replicating the Forum meetings at national level, discussing the
  specifics of every SEE country on Roma topics in education; increased cooperation between
  NGOs and government for preventing educational discrimination and drop outs;
• number of submitted projects for international fundraising; number of meetings outside the Forum
  ones

Background:
Southeast Europe is facing major social changes. The challenge comes from managing democracy,
freedom values and social inclusion problems of minorities living on respective territories. One important
minority in SEE is the Roma population and building its capacity to participate in education.
Roma are to be encouraged to assume their origins without fears of discrimination. Studies in the field
show that there is still a reluctance from the majority to accept diversity and to ensure equal chances
by education and training.

Progress to Date:
Planning underway for the first Forum on Education and Training of young Roma

South Eastern Europe General Education Cooperation Network

Funding would cover a two-year period.
Cost estimates are preliminary.
Total budget: US$300,000
Soros commitment: US$100,000
Other commitments: (In-kind and co-funding commitments being sought)
Funding Required: US$200,000

Geographical Area Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo,Macedonia, Moldova,
Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia

Area of Work
Education

Relevant Working Table / Task Force
WT1 – Education and Youth

Description
The project would strengthen cooperation and information networks at both the local and
regional level. In each participating country, the project would identify the key contact
institutions and persons in general education cooperation for:

• Ministry of Education
• Policy and Strategic Planning
• Professional Development and Capacity Building in General Education
• Civil Society and General Education
• Donor Coordination in General Education
• Mass Media Communication/Public Information in General Education

The project would provide modest support to improve communications among this local
network as needed and between the local networks of the various countries. This support
might take the form of ensuring Internet access, the creation of Web sites in local language,
providing support funding for local gatherings, etc.

The initiative would also establish a lean 2-3 person office within an existing educational
institution in one of the Stability Pact countries to serve as a technical support to the network
and to help broker cooperative activities on issues of common interest amongst the members
of the network. The office would also help foster relations between the network and donor
agencies or other regional or cross-border initiatives. It would also proactively seek out and
disseminate other information useful to the network members.

This initiative is linked closely to two related proposals in General Education. The first is the
OECD project for Thematic Review of Education Policy in the Stability Pact countries which
will greatly increase the knowledge base on education in South East Europe
(contact: Ian Whitman, OECD Ian.whitman@oecd.com). The second is the Open Society
Institute’s initiative for Systemic Reform, Democracy and Good Governance in Education,
which would provide direct reform support and capacity-building programs to local bodies
in education (see description enclosed in this package).

Background
At present there exists no well-functioning “virtual” or other network that regularly brings together
all the key contact points in the general education systems of the Stability Pact countries and can
operate in local languages of the region. Without this provision, information on the processes of
development and the opportunities and expertise available to the countries under the Pact is difficult.
It is also currently difficult for donor agencies to communicate quickly and effectively at a regional
level and to provide or find information. Under the Enhanced Graz Process, which has contributed
greatly to increased dialogue on and among the education communities of the region, a process is
underway to assess the feasibility of setting up a South East Europe Cooperation Centre in education.
The European Commission has assumed responsibility for study, which will only be launched later
this year. It is unrealistic to expect any centre to be established before two years, although the need
and momentum for cooperation exist now. This project would create a light, lean interim structure
that could be functioning within a few months and would serve information exchange, coordination,
and cooperation needs across the region.

Progress to date
The Open Society Institute’s (OSI) South East Europe East-East Cooperation Fund has already
sponsored several events in 1999 and 2000 to help increase cooperation among the countries concerned
and identify interest and needs for stronger networking. The national foundations of the OSI network
are meeting in late March with their local partners in Zagreb and can begin to identify the members
of country-level network. Discussions are beginning with several institutes in the region who might be
candidates for hosting the regional support office for a two-year period.

Organizations Involved
Open Society Institute and its Institute for Educational Policy, national Soros foundations in the Stability
Pact countries, partner ministries, policy institutes and other local institutions, institutional members of the
Stability Pact Working Group on Education

Lead agency
Open Society Institute Contact: Terrice Bassler, terrice@ibm.net tel 36-30-222-2083

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Summer University – Educational Policy and Strategy Development

Funding Needs: 3 year Project

Total budget: 350,000 euros
Soros commitment $116,600 (over 3 years - including $43,450 from Center Education 2000+)

Other commitments: 0
Funding Required: 233,400 euros

Geographical Area: SEE Countries: Romania, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
FYROM, Croatia, Montenegro, Hungary

Area of Work:
General Education Policy and System Improvement

Relevant Working Table/Task Force:
WT1 – Education and Youth

Description:
This project creates a framework for training middle and high level experts and from SEE countries
in national and local educational policies and strategies and sharing ideas and experiences concerning
these issues.

Project objectives:
To enhance national and regional educational policy analysis and development by focusing on human
resources; To build national educational policy institutions within the mainstream educational system;
To create a framework for Western and SEE experts to share ideas and experiences across borders.

Outcomes:

• 5 summer university sessions on different topics of interests for SEE countries
• well-trained experts able to develop/implement strategies in educational reform
• strengthen the coherence of educational reform processes in SEE region
• written policy and strategy papers to be discussed with government representatives in the
  irrespective countries
• practical solutions to common problems.

• Establishing topics: According to the existing analysis on SEE countries, the main issues
  to be approached during the summer university sessions might be:
• educational policy analysis - current trends in educational policy development
• development of sectorial policies and strategies (pre-service and in-service teacher training,
  educational management and financing, curriculum development, textbooks development)
• developing mechanisms for implementation of educational policies at local level
• institutional capacity building in education
• human resource development.

The Summer University will be adapted to the local needs suggested by applicants or partner
institutions. Trainers will be selected by teams of experts from Western and SEE countries.
The sources of expertise are the Institute for Educational Policy in Budapest (OSI), OECD
countries, European Council, World Bank, PHARE, experts from SEE countries. Participants
will be selected based on application forms, expertise and letters of intentions analyzed by an
independent group of international consultants. Holding the five-course session (one in year 2000,
two in 2001, and two in 2002).

Formative and continuous evaluation of the program: Experts and participants will evaluate each
session of Summer University. External evaluators will be selected and appointed by the Center
Education 2000+ in close co-operation with the founders to make a final evaluation.

• increased capacity of experts in SEE countries to undertake educational reform initiatives
  and growing interest of educators in SEE countries to attend summer university courses
• fostered feeling of common issues in SEE countries educational systems
• improved quality of national and local policies and strategies in education

• strategic thinking at central and grassroots level
• sectoral and local implementation strategies
• communication among institutions within the respective systems
• communication and exchange of education expertise among CEE countries

Progress to Date:
New initiative - The project starts in April 2000, following certain preparatory actions.

Organizations Involved:
Center Education 2000+ Romania
Institute for Educational Policies Budapest
SLO/EDUCAPLAN. The Netherlands
University Alexandru Ioan Cuza Iasi, Romania

Lead Agency:
Center Education 2000+ (Calea Victoriei 155 Bl.D1, sc.6, et.2; Bucharest 71102; Romania;
Phone: +40 1 312 91 03; Fax: +40 1 312 70 53)
Contact Persons: Dr Alexandru Crisan, Executive President; email: acrisan@buc.osf.ro; Monica
Dvorski, Program Director; e-mail: mdvorski@buc.osf.ro

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Total budget (over three years): 207.000 EURO
Soros commitment* (over three years): 69,000 EURO
(*including 31,500 from Center Education 2000+)
Other commitments:
Funding Required: 138.000EURO

Geographical Area All Stability Pact Countries

Area of Work General Education Policy and System Improvement

Relevant Working Table / Task Force WT1 – Education and Youth

1.Wider objective
The wider objective of the Project is, to organize and to deliver training packages, consisting in study visits
and training sessions) for key persons and decision makers in MoEs, development and implementation
institutions, middle level institutions of educational systems, NGOs representatives in SEE countries on
educational reform projects designing and implementation.

2.Project objective

• To enchance national and regional human resources in educational reform projects design and implementation
• To improve development and implementation practices in SEE countries

3.Target Groups
Experts in education, decision makers, NGOs representatives in SEE Countries

4.Outcomes & Activities

• 5 training packages, consisting in training materials, training sessions and study visits delivered to groups
  of up to 15 experts, decision makers and NGOs representatives from SEE countries
• well trained experts enabled to develop and implement educational projects at local level
• written materials on issues of common interests for educationalists in SEE countries

• Establishing topics

• Educational development projects design
• Educational development projects management and implementation
• How to ensure systemic impact of educational reform projects
• How to ensure the coherence of bottom-up reform initiatives
• Educational projects monitoring and evaluation

• Selecting and appointing experts

• Selection of participants

• Holding 5 sessions (one in year 2000, two in 2001, and two in 2002)
• Formative and continuous evaluation of the program

• increased capacity of experts in SEE countries to undertake educational programs at local level
• growing interest of educationalists in SEE countries to attend training in the program
• fostered feeling of common issues in SEE countries educational reform initiatives implementation
• improved quality of local policies and strategies in education

In almost all of SEE Countries were initiated and implemented (or in the process of implementation)
comprehensive and challenging educational reform projects. Some of the main aims of these reforms are:

• The decentralization of the system in terms of management, financing and decision concerning the
  teaching-learning process at local level
• The development of a system of national education standards and indicators that are highly correlated
  with the international ones
• The development of clear national strategies as well as local strategies concerning medium and long
  term human resource and professional development of the educators

In spite of these trends, the SEE countries educational systems are expected to face, among others, the
following main issues:

• The lack of strategic thinking both at central and local, grass roots level
• The lack of local strategies and implementation plans in improving education in rural areas
• A lack of clear mission description for local key institutions and a lack of a serious networking among them
• A lack of communication among institutions within the respective systems
• A lack of communication and exchange of expertise among CEE countries in the field of education

New initiative based on one week training offered to a team of educationalists from Kosovo (November 1999) in the
framework of East-East Programs.

Center Education 2000+
Ministry of National Education – Romania
Local school Inspectorates (Bucharest, Clue, Iasi, Timisoara)
Bucharest University, Romania
“Babes-Bolyai” University in Cluj, Romania
“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University in Iasi, Romania
Institute of Educational Policy – BDP

Lead agency
Center Education 2000+
Calea Victoriei 155 Bl.D1, sc.6, et.2
Bucharest 71102
Romania
Phone: +40 1 312 91 03
Fax: +40 1 312 70 53
Contact Person: Monica Dvorski, Program Director; e-mail: mdvorski@buc.osf.ro

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Funding Needs: 3-year project

Total budget: $140, 000 (over three years)
Soros commitment: $46,666 (over three years, Center Education 2000+ commitment included)
Other commitments: 0
Funding Required: $93,334

Geographical Area: SEE Countries: Romania, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
FYR of Macedonia, Croatia, Hungary.

Area of Work: General Education Policy

Relevant Working Table/Task Force: WT1 – Education andYouth.

Description:
The setting up of a Virtual Educational Center will support educational reform processes in countries from southeast Europe. It will provide certified information, methods, techniques to help professionals in the field to design their educational policies and strategies, to frame the national curriculum in a manner that ensure the connection with other countries, other systems without losing the national focus.

Project objectives:
The specific objective of the project is to set up a network of web sites designed to address the needs of educators in SEE countries and also to inform potential donor organizations, NGOs and other professionals on the reform processes status in the area.

Target Group:
The target group of the project is mainly professionals, educational experts, potential donor organizations, authorities of the educational system, NGOs, other institutions or individuals interested in education and reform matters.

• network of professionals organizations in the field: Department of Education Sciences in Universities, Pedagogical Colleges,
• libraries – specialized books;
• data base with high qualified professionals in teacher training, curriculum topics, methods and techniques; available courses and classes on specific topics in different regional institutions, universities, training packages available in the area, announcements of new project, funding opportunities, ideas and offers to work in the educational reform of the area placed in a virtual publication of the Center; programs of summer schools, other training opportunities.

• establishing a “map” of existing professional expertise resources in the area;
• “strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats” (SWOT) analysis;
• establishing the “map” of existing technical resources and necessary equipment in the area of action;
• contacts with potential members in data bases; potential suppliers of training packages; with individuals/
  organizations to be included in data bases; with IT specialists and organizations that could provide
  technical support;
• setting up a virtual “office” to solve requests, design the website, etc.

• number of users of the web sites to get new work assignments in SEE countries;
• number of web visitors;
• number of articles, lectures, offers of professional training posted on the web site;
• number of organizations supporting the idea by replicate the regional experience nationally;
• number of other donors supporting the existence of the site (technical and financial resources);
• emergence of a professional association whose members have met through the Virtual Center.

In our opinion, educational reforms are very important in the general context of SEE countries because they prepare
the ground for every other kind of reforms and promote open society values, democracy, equal chances and
freedom. Therefore we see a special need of these countries for professionals in the educational reforms and also
for sharing valuable experiences achieved in a ten years period of trying to get the best way.

On the other hand, an important issue is the technological background. There are still countries like Albania where
the number of computer users is still low and there are little funds to get things better. Thus, access to information is
restricted to mass media so that specific information, focused on topics related to social domains, are still hard to get.
That is why we intend to launch a Virtual Center focused on education matters to spread information in and outside
professional systems, to promote successful experiences and effective ways to outcome obstacles. It will also connect
in an open network individuals/organizations interested in being up to date with their professional knowledge.

Progress to Date:
New initiative

Organizations Involved:
Center Education 2000+. Romania
Teacher Training Department, University of Bucharest, Romania

Lead Agency:
Center Education 2000+
Calea Victoriei 155 Bl.D1, sc.6, et.2
Bucharest 71102, Romania
Phone: +40 1 312 91 03; Fax: +40 1 312 70 53
Contact Person: Dr Alexandru Crisan, President; e-mail: acrisan@buc.osf.ro

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