Event Title Name

Comenius Assistants Lowri Wyn Jones

Aims

Aims• The Comenius programme is a part

of the European Commission funded Lifelong Learning Programme managed in the UK by the British Council

• To enhance the quality of European education

• To encourage the exchange of ideas and experience within the education systems of European countries

• To broaden the outlook and widen the experience of young Europeans

• To encourage a greater awareness of a shared European heritage

Background – what does Comenius

support?

Background• The Comenius Assistants programme is one of the 5

strands of Comenius activity.

• Partnerships for schools and colleges

• Professional development

• Comenius assistants

• Comenius Regio partnerships for local authorities

• Preparatory visits and contact seminars

Who can be a Comenius Assistant?

Who is it for?

• Intending and trainee teachers from across Europe.

• UK applicants are native level speakers of English, UK national or a national of one of the other participating countries ordinarily resident in the UK.

• Academic requirements are one of the following:

• A PGCE teaching qualification, but the applicant has not yet worked as a teacher.

• The applicant is studying towards a PGCE teaching qualification.

• The applicant has a minimum of two years of study at higher education level providing access to a career as a teacher in any subject.

What do CAs do?

What do CAs do?• Act as a UK ambassador and assist with the teaching of

English

• Teach their specialist subject

• Bring a European dimension to the school

• Help develop links with other European countries

• Working hours 12-16 hours a week

• Placement duration 13-45 weeks

• Paid a monthly grant and return travel expenses

• Beginner’s language grant available (or EILC courses)

Where can they go?

Where can they go?

All over Europe!

• The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU)

• The three countries of the European

Economic Area (EEA) Belgium…Finland…Spain…Romania…Latvia…Germany…Iceland…

Italy…France…Austria…Slovenia…Cyprus…Turkey…Greece...Norway…

Important dates

Important dates• January 2010 (TBC)- Application deadline (annual deadline)

• February-March – Acknowledgement and assessment of all applications

• March-April – Applicants informed of outcome of assessment, and matching begins

• May - Matching meeting for all National Agencies

• June – Applicants informed about outcome of matching and sent details of matched school

• July – Pre-departure briefing for UK assistants

• August – Placements can start from 1 August and must end by 31 July at the latest

Comenius Assistants & Erasmus

Comenius & Erasmus

• Both part of the EU Lifelong Learning programme

• Comenius Assistants placements and Erasmus University placements

• Erasmus work placement grant, and Comenius Assistants

• Discussions taking place to open up the fee waiver to Comenius Assistants

Thank youDiolch yn

Fawrwww.britishcouncil.org/

comenius