International Projects Support Service
The CDVEC International Projects Support Service is managed by John Hogan and supports Principals/Heads of Centres to identify international partners where research projects can be designed and completed to capture good practice that can benefit the Scheme as a whole. In general Comenius funding is provided for projects in Mainstream education. Leonardo da Vinci funding supports the PLC and Further Education projects while Grundtivg projects are aimed at the Adult Education sector. The following is just a small sample of current international activity.
Learn how to be an astute consumer with DOLCETA
DOLCETA, the on-line consumer education project (www.dolceta.eu/ireland), was launched by Minister Séan Haughey TD, on Wednesday 16th December, at the European Public Information Centre in Dublin.
Minister Séan Haughey congratulated the Irish consumer experts who have contributed to this site. He described it as a fine example of good practice showing the European Commission working hand in hand with member states to achieve common objectives in consumer education.
Jacinta Stewart CEO CDVEC said ‘When I visited the Dolecta website I went the teacher’s corner and saw this: ‘It is the responsibility of every educator, whether in school or at home, to equip the next generation to be an astute consumer. That’s crystal clear, to the point and unarguable with. All the modules are written in this style. Then I looked at Consumer Rights, Product Safety, Financial Services and Sustainable Consumption and immediately decided this should be compulsory reading in my household’.
The DOLCETA project is funded by the European Commission. All 27 member states are involved. The CDVEC Curriculum Development Unit has developed resources for the Irish section of the website. The project aims raise the level of awareness and understanding of European consumer rights in member states and develop interactive web-based tools for consumer education to be used primarily with teachers, trainers and adult educators in educational settings, government bodies with consumer responsibilities and consumer organisations.
www.dolceta.eu/ireland
eLearning
With a view to becoming more informed regarding the whole concept of eLearning and the provision of On-line services the CDVEC are engaging with four major International research projects.
Project No.1 involves CDVEC as a member of the European Federation of Distance and Digital Learning (EFODL) where members from Belgium, England, France, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands and Ireland are all combining to complete research and projects in the area of Digital and Distance learning. Rory O’Sullivan Principal for Killester CFE is leading this project.
Project No.2 is all about developing a framework that will support teachers’ CPD in the use of ICT’s. Maureen Conway Principal of Ballyfermot CFE is leading this research that includes developing a tool to measure competencies while a supporting Website and materials will be available for Principals and Teachers to progress with CPD initiatives. Countries involved include Italy, Northern Ireland and (FIT Ltd and CDVEC) Ireland.
Project No.3 is based in Colaiste Dhulaigh CFE with Principal Shay Kelly anchoring this research and the project is known as – Developing a Quality Standards Framework for ICT in Learning. Countries participating in this project include Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland and (FIT Ltd and CDVEC) Ireland.
Project No.4 is researching the suitability of Innovative Learning Platforms for Vocational Education and Training Organisations. Principal Charlie McManus Principal of Ringsend Technical Institute is leading the coordination of this research Four CDVEC Centres - Killester CFE, Colaiste Dhulaigh CFE Ballyfermot CFE and Ringsend Technical Institute are combining their efforts to produce relevant project products. Countries participating in this project include England, Italy, the Netherlands and in Ireland FIT Ltd and CDVEC.