PiscesTT: Training News June 2003

A free e-mail news service provided by AquaTT on European Education & Training in Aquaculture

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Latest Aqua-TNET report on developments in the European Education system and its potential impact on Aquaculture related courses available on PISCESTT, July 1^st 2003

Changes to the European Educational system are taking place at a rapid pace. In particular the “Bolognaprocess” and its outcomes will have a major impact on all educational institutions in Europe. Information ABOUT the Bologna seminar programmes is usually posted on the Berlin website (www.bologna-berlin2003.de/en/links/index.htm) but that information FROM the seminars is often very late in arriving, and detailed presentations, rather than over-simplified Powerpoint presentations, are posted even later. This means that unless one has been a participant, it is very difficult to find out what has happened. Sometimes significant conclusions have been reached which will have far-reaching consequences, yet the information is almost impossible to access. This does not accord with the so-called drive towards transparency that is one of the main points of the Bologna process.

Thus the Aqua-TNET groups have produced a summary report on recent events including a list of essential documents (Appendix 1) and weblinks (Appendix 2), to facilitate dissemination of relevant information on which AQUATNET members can base their own judgement. This will be available on www.piscestt.com from the 1^st July 2003.

AquaTT present talk on Education and Training at WAS conference in Brazil, May 2003

David Murphy, AquaTT Manager presented a talk on current European education and training initiatives at the recent World Aquaculture Society conference and tradeshow in Salvador, Brazil.
He highlighted AquaTT’s increasing collaboration with other international organisations both within Europe and in 3^rd partner countries. He also emphasised AquaTT ambitions to increase education and training initiatives with non-EU partners. Later in the year AquaTT hope to submit proposals related to EU-Asia, EU-USA and EU-CANADA collaborative projects and are currently seeking partners.

There was also an AquaTT stand at the WAS tradeshow where information on the company and current projects were disseminated and much positive feedback received.

For more information on AquaTT current initiatives visit the following websites, www.aquatt.ie and www.piscestt.com If you would like to discuss potential collaboration please contact David Murphy; david@aquatt.ie.

EduTour has been developed by equal and independent partners in four European countries.

Students in the fishing trades, employees in the aquaculture and fishing industry and other interested parties choose goal-oriented modules that provide custom-tailored practical training. EduTour is open to everyone, and English is the primary language used. The modules last from one to three weeks time. The subject content of the modules ranges from fishing at sea to preparation and presentation of seafood. Each Course is designed to meet the needs of individuals or a small group of participants.

Edutours is financed by the participant/company, however grant aid may be available through relevant public bodies.

Information about the program, accommodation, dates and length of courses, prices and contact persons for each of the modules is available at the following internet address: www.edutour.no

As part of the Edutour project development online preparatory modules were created to support the vocational courses. These preparatory modules are freely available and very useful for students who are about to undertake any sort of work placement.

• Development of a mission statement: What do you and your company aim at achieving during the practical training course?

• Cultural primer for the country and culture where the practical training will take place.

"ORION" is a LEONARDO DA VINCI Pilot Project which aims to create a 'Virtual' Marine Environment Department which can deliver Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses in a variety of languages

Along the far edges and coastlines of Europe where the applied marine sciences play a major economic role in fisheries and aquaculture, formal education / training at all levels is needed. However, these areas are so often areas with a low population, almost always the first to suffer educational cuts, particularly in respect of specialised courses. And thus educational disadvantage, always so easy to justify financially, becomes a major factor in increasing their rates of depopulation.

The ORION project will try to create a solution to this perennial problem, though in a small way. The project will deliver via the internet modules for basic language instruction in English, Greek, Portuguese and Swedish. Since this material is intended for use by users involved in the marine sciences, each lesson is situated in a marine environmental context. Some of the basic language modules are already freely available online, at www.imbc.gr.orion.In addition to the language courses, marine science modules developed by the project partners in Stockholm, the Algarve, Cork and Athens, are available in the partner languages.

The strengths of the fast-expanding ICT technologies now give us the capacity to produce flexible and ODL courses which can be developed within a Virtual Learning Environment, with one main site and one mirror site in each country, or remote site, involved, to enable an integrated learning service to be set up.

These geographic areas have another potential disadvantage: the inherent isolation caused by their use of less widely spoken languages (Greek, Portuguese and Swedish). Each of these languages, though culturally very important, is often superseded by the widespread use of English for course dissemination, particularly in courses of a scientific nature. Basic self-tuition modules in Greek, Swedish and Portuguese have been provided to aid student mobility. In ORION, the latest innovative technology is being used to create a Virtual Learning Environment in which language training will play a major role. One of the partners with long experience in multilingual course and language provision is AQUATT’s sister company, AMC Ltd, (www.aqualex.org) whose AQUALEX glossary and online database are proving particularly helpful to the project.

Language training has become an important issue in the drive towards the Europe of knowledge as defined in the decision taken by the European Council when it met in Lisbon in March 2000: “The European Union must become the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based community in the world by 2010”. The LEONARDO project ORION comes at a particularly appropriate time, when convergence and harmonisation of the European Higher Education area are right at the top of the educational agenda. However, countries whose languages are defined as falling into the “least widely used” category may not necessarily benefit from the process. Although their universities and tertiary courses are recognised as excellent, their remoteness and their language may exclude them from taking advantage of the Bologna process.

An EU project consortium has announced that it has moved one step closer to making a reality of an interoperable smart space for learning in Europe.

ELENA is an Information Society Technologies (IST) project, funded under the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) . The project has a total budget of nearly four million euro and includes partners from four Member States, as well as Slovenia and Iceland. Its aim is to develop an educational service network, consisting of learning assessment tools, learning management systems, educational (meta) repositories and live delivery systems such as video conferencing systems.

The ELENA project has recently reached the first milestone in its work agenda: it has developed a peer-to-peer network (P2P), linking the two instances of the already established UNIVERSAL brokerage service for the exchange and distribution of learning resources among educators and trainers. Progress has also been made in connecting other educational management systems so that users can be kept up to date on events and novelties in the world of education.

Users are being invited to test the network guidelines from the project's website. Users are also requested to provide feedback and contributions on the project's specifications and prototypes.

The project consortium is hopeful that developing a learning network in such a way will 'provide an advantage for all learners by offering them the choice amongst a variety of knowledge sources.

'ELENA prepares the ground for the rise of educational service markets and new service value chains, which will allow institutions to treat the performance of educational services as a make or buy decision,' explains the consortium.

Ideas for future Vocational Training Pilot Projects – Leonardo Da Vinci II?

The Leonardo Da Vinci (LDV) programme promotes transnational projects based on co-operation between the various players in vocational training - training bodies, vocational schools, universities, businesses, chambers of commerce, etc. - in an effort to increase mobility, to foster innovation and to improve the quality of training. The Leonardo da Vinci programme aims at helping people improve their skills throughout their lives.

AquaTT have been successfully applying for and implementing Pilot projects under the Leonardo Da Vinci programme for the past 8 years. AquaTT are currently looking for partners to possibly collaborate in submitting a pilot project proposal. The next deadline for pre-proposals is 3^rd October 2003, forPilot projects, Language CompetencesandTransnational Networksonly.

Aim:
To develop and transfer innovation and quality in vocational training, including actions aiming at the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in vocational training. The proposal should aim to ensure that the tools, concepts/methods and concrete materials that are developed during the project can be used in, or adapted for, changing environments.

Maximum financial support:
200.000 Euros per project per year, 75% of admissible expenditure
Exception: Maximum 300.000 Euros per project per year for thematic actions

Maximum duration:
3 years.

If you have an idea for a Pilot project please contact the AquaTT secretariat. aquatt@aquatt.ie

AquaTT looking for partners in EU “ Transnational projects for innovative actions to enhance the role played by women in the fisheries sector 2003”
The directorate General of Fisheries have published a call innovative actions, pilot projects and exchanges of experience enhancing the role played by women in the fisheries sector.
The commission has invited proposals on the following topics:
1) the networking of women’s associations at a transnational level;
2) meetings and exchanges of experience on topics of common interest at transnational level between associations and groups of women in the fisheries sector;
3) training, education and eLearning, mainly through the use of the internet, linguistic knowledge, surveillance of the quality of the environment, fisheries management and business administration.

The deadline for submissions is the 11^th July 2003.

AquaTT would be interested in talking to any potential partners with a view to developing a relevant proposal in any of the above areas. In particular AquaTT are looking for partner organisations with past experience in carrying out initiatives assisting women working in the fisheries/aquaculture area and can help identify and meet current needs in the area.
For more information please contact Caoimhe Boylan, AquaTT project officer, aquatt@aquatt.ie or telephone +353 1 874 7088

EIFAC SYMPOSIUM ON AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT - PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS, Wierzba, Mazurian Lakeland, Poland, 26 - 29 May 2004

PROSPECTUS AND FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS
The European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission will hold a Symposium on Aquaculture Development - Partnership between Science and Producer Associations, in connection with its Twenty-third Session in Poland from 26 May to 2 June 2004.The main objective of the Symposium is to define the complementary roles of science and production, as expressed through producer associations in the development of the aquaculture sector.

Background and Rationale
The Symposium will continue the thrust of previous EIFAC Symposia that explored the challenges that face the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the globalizing world. Sustainability has been a main guiding principle for all themes, providing major focus on key issues and interactions between aquatic production, aquatic environment and society. Further, EIFAC has been providing an international forum for information exchange and collaboration among European countries not only for scientists, but all stakeholders interested in sustainable development of inland fisheries and aquaculture, among them the representatives of producers.
There is an increasing trend towards creating partnerships and collaboration between aquaculture producers and scientists, government officials and other stakeholders. Producers are recognized as key players of sustainable aquaculture development, being direct users of resources during the production of food. However, more interaction and better communication and coordination between them and natural and social scientists and other stakeholders interested in aquaculture, is required. Producers should have a better stakeholder position through stronger representative associations particularly in view of the complexity and international dimensions of sustainability issues and also in view of the diversity of the European aquaculture sector. Aquaculture producers must play a stronger participatory role in sectoral development but the conditions for an effective stakeholder position in many cases have yet to be fulfilled.

to make a broad assessment of the present roles, opportunities and needs of aquaculture producer associations in the EIFAC region,
to identify the possible contributions by other stakeholders, including in particular, research institutions (natural and social sciences) and government agencies, in support of aquaculture producer associations, and
to propose measures to strengthen participation, activities and positions of aquaculture associations in the management and development of the aquaculture sector.

Themes
Specific issues and challenges for attaining the long-term sustainability of aquaculture include:

Promotion and definition of research and technology development programmes (including diversification into new farming systems, species and technologies) for sustainable aquaculture development.
Human resource development, capacity building, and education, in particular, training, technology transfer and the provision of and access to information.
Promotion of the appropriate and efficient use of resources, including water, sites, feed, seed stock and other inputs.
Comprehensive policies and supportive legal and institutional frameworks based on communication and consultation with the major stakeholders, the producers.
Enhanced partnership, participation and consultation of all stakeholders in the planning, development and management of aquaculture, including the promotion of codes of practice, codes of conduct and good management practices.
Development of investment incentives, market studies, product marketing programmes and consumer awareness campaigns.

The Symposium will provide an appropriate forum to address the above issues, and to discuss the role of producer associations and their partnership with various actors interested in the promotion of more coordinated and sustainable inland aquaculture development in Europe. In particular, researchers, including natural and social scientists, government experts, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders, would contribute their views, experiences and recommendations, on the above issues. The Symposium will benefit from the experience and participation of the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), and the European Aquaculture Society (EAS), which are active partners of EIFAC. Since the Symposium will be held in an Eastern European country, a wide attendance of producers, scientists and their representatives from this region is expected for this professional forum.

Participation and contributions
The Symposium is addressed to aquaculture producers associations, scientists, government agencies, research and education institutions, environmental and social non-governmental initiatives, including groups representing consumer protection, private sector (e.g. suppliers, processors, retailers, etc.) and other interests with regard to aquaculture.

Written contributions and presentations are invited within any of the above broad headings. It is suggested that the majority will relate to experiences within countries, both reviewing past and present and predicting future opportunities for strengthening aquaculture producer associations and their interactions with other stakeholders. Inter-active discussion during the Symposium will lead to a major statement embracing the entire context and future of aquaculture producer organizations of Europe. Anyone wishing to present a paper or poster display should submit a title and abstract by 31 August 2003 The abstract of the proposed contribution should not exceed 150 words and should be submitted, preferably by e-mail, to the Technical Secretary of EIFAC Sub-Commisson II - Aquaculture, Fishery Resources Division, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy, E-mail uwe.barg@fao.org, fax (+39) 065705 3020.

Papers will be accepted in English or French, the official languages of EIFAC, but no interpretation will be provided. The Steering Committee will review all abstracts in relation to the objectives and themes of the Symposium and the authors will be informed of the outcome by 1 December 2003. Successful authors must submit a draft manuscript not later than 1 March 2004.

The Convener of the Symposium is Mr L. Váradi (Hungary), E-mail: varadil@haki.hu, Fax: +36 66312142
The Chairperson is Mr K. Goryczko (Poland), E-mail: rutkiirs@gd.onet.pl, Fax: +48 058 6818427

Poland's Poznan science and technology park will hold a brokerage event on food technologies, FOOD-TECH 2003, on 18 September.

The event is aimed at innovative entrepreneurs wishing to develop their activities in the food industry, and will provide an opportunity for participants to present new technologies.

An information day on the Priority 5 of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) , 'Food quality and safety', will take place on 7 July in Rome, Italy.

The main objective of the event is to discuss research into quality and safety in the agro food sector and the rules for participating in the corresponding thematic priority.

It will also highlight the Lazio Region's role in promoting participation in FP6, as well as the funding opportunities available, in particular for small and medium sized enterprises.

The event is being organised by the agency for the promotion of European research (APRE) in association with the Lazio Region.

Free website for employers and jobs searchers in the European Aquaculture sector

PISCES TT Jobs, an exciting and valuable free online service provided by AquaTT UETP Ltd. to employers and potential employees in aquaculture and related science sectors, was launched on 20th May, on the web at www.piscesttjobs.com. Using a secure and innovative site format, employers and job searchers can post job vacancies and CVs, respectively, thus facilitating human resource development in the industry.

"PISCES TT Jobs is a resource to connect employers with qualified candidates specifically interested in pursuing work in aquaculture or related sciences," said David Murphy.

Upon registration, companies can post and instantaneously edit job vacancies, including permanent, temporary, MSc/PhD and student placement positions. Companies will only receive CVs of those applicants who are qualified for the position requirements. To ensure privacy and lessen the hassle of unsolicited calls and queries, company/organisation contact details will not be published online.

Prospective employees can use the online registration facility to obtain a username and password, post and edit their employee profile, upload a CV and apply online for positions.

AquaTT, the European Network for Education and Training, is providing the site as an additional service to compliment their flagship project, PISCES TT, found on the web at www.piscestt.com and host to a comprehensive education database, occupational profiles, virtual tours, a discussion forum, and marine sciences activities for children.

Scirus http://www.scirus.com is the most comprehensive science-specific search engine available on the Internet. Driven by the latest search engine technology, it enables scientists, students and anyone searching for scientific information to chart and pinpoint data, locate university sites and find reports and articles quickly and easily. It was launched by Elsevier Science, the leading international publisher of scientific information.

CORDIS, the European Commission's Research and Development Information Service, is offering a free exchange platform to support your latest news, announcements and information on innovative research.

CORDIS Wire offers an interactive service for the dissemination and promotion of innovation-related activities. Open to all, the service especially welcomes information on upcoming events organised by the research and business community, as well as various supportive bodies.

The service is available to all CORDIS users wishing to advertise events on innovation in Europe. The feature offers a great opportunity for registered contributors to receive coverage in the media on a regional, national and international level, as journalists tracking innovative news regularly use the service. In addition, a search tool enables quick identification of events according to their location, topics or date.

CORDIS Wire acts as a complement to CORDIS News and offers yet more visibility to externally generated information. Dedicated information from Wire is published on other key services, such as the Incubators and the Nanotechnology services. Users wishing to keep abreast can also use the Wire e-mail alert service to follow both the latest releases and events covering the trends in European innovation.

The European Education Area is developing at a rapid pace. In the coming years education systems throughout Europewill have to adapt to the new structure, curriculum and accreditation of courses.

AquaTT through its extensive network has realised that essential information on upcoming changes is not being effectively disseminated to all parties. Thus, AquaTT is producing this free news service “TRAINING NEWS” specifically for the Aquaculture industry. The newsletter is intended to keep you informed of developments in Education & Training and related areas. Support material will be available on the new European Education Forum website www.piscestt.com . All old Training News will be archived on the piscestt site.

The main target audience for this newsletter is teachers, trainers and students in the aquaculture area but will also be of interest to policy makers, companies and associations.

AquaTT welcome s any feedback regarding content, presentation and user-friendliness of the newsletter. Please forward this mail to any colleagues that may be interested. Please submit any relevant information for dissemination in the newsletter.

If you have received this e-mail in error or would like to unsubscribe please reply to mail with “UNSUBSCRIBE TRAINING NEWS” in the Subject heading.