News

HED workshop in Sofia, Bulgaria



On 25th of October HED became part of the program of the event Mix the cultures! Cross the Borders! organized by members of AEGEE-Sofia in collaboration with the Culture Action Days project team and Higher Education Days project team.

The HED team prepared an interactive workshop and a discussion which were led by Diana Yolova (HED project manager). The focus during those two hours was on Non-Formal Education, its importance for young people and its role in their life. The participants discussed in two directions - what should AEGEE experience mean for employers, and which personal qualities employers should take into consideration when considering AEGEE’s members applications. During the discussion several opinions came out – important experience from AEGEE is having wide and multicultural network, enhanced communication skills, presentational skills, public speaking skills, cultural awareness, tolerance and team work; personal qualities gained through AEGEE work can be self-driven, result-oriented, devoted, ability to take initiative, proactive, leadership, etc.



Mix the cultures! Cross the Borders! was a preparation for the General Assembly of the AEGEE network, as well as an event for cultural diversity and discussion of cultural stereotypes. It was opened mainly for members of AEGEE, but also for young people interested in the topic.


HED events in Leon and Tarragona, Spain





During the summer of 2011, HED project team organized two European Events about recognition of Non-formal education, under the long-existing project of AEGEE Summer University, currently under the patronage of Mrs Androulla Vasilou. Both Summer Universities were organized in Spain, in the cities of León (from 5th to 13th August) and Tarragona (from 14th to 21st August), each of them gathering around 25 participants from different European countries as diverse as Estonia, Armenia, Germany, Russia, Greece, Ukraine, Italy and others.



The theme of the events was aimed at discovering the possibilities of Non-formal education and sharing ideas about bigger recognition of it. Participants got to know what are the differences and similarities among different types of education (formal, non-formal and informal), they experienced the methods of Non-formal education and spent 9 days sharing moments in a multicultural environment. The multicultural environment was used in both Summer Universities to develop the intercultural understanding competences of the participants, taking a closer look to stereotypes. Moreover, in León, participants worked in the public speaking skills, while in Tarragona they focused more on group work and developing their team-work skills.

During the events participants presented also their countries and cultures – costumes, typical products, music and dances. A final session discussing about the stereotypes of Spain and the different regions was also held.

More information and the participants' opinion you can find at the 5th HED Newsletter!




Higher Education Days in Leon and Tarragona


Culture and Education meet on two Summer Universities in Leon and Tarragona in August 2011!

With fun in your head, tapas in your mouth and León in your heart organized by AEGEE-Leon and The Mediterranean Summer Xperience organized by AEGEE-Tarragona will be waiting for enthusiastic participants to develop their skills for public speaking, intercultural understanding and group work through non-formal education as well as to discuss and learn more about recognition of non-formal education and to promote recognition of the experience gained by non-formal education.
0n 5th - 13th August, you will live Spanish real life... taste their food and drinks, experience their customs, their way of thinking... the WAY OF LIFE OF LEON!

On 14th-21st August, you will see the ancient city of Tarragona, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, located on the shores of the Spanish Mediterranean. You should agree that it is the great place for learning more about recognition of non-formal education!

Meet The Mediterranean Summer Xperience -
Meet With fun in your head, tapas in your mouth and León in your heart



Higher Education Day in Yerevan




Armenian students could find answers to thier questions related to Higher Education from representatives of Tempus Office Coordinator in Armenia, Ministry of Education and Science and Union of Employers of RA, President of Adult Education and Lifelong Learning Association and ARMACAD association. On the 14th of May 2011 a Higher Education Day took place in Yerevan organized by the very young and brave organization AEGEE-Yerevan. The main topics which were discussed during the all-day long debates were:
  • European education system;
  • New perspectives in the Armenian HE system;
  • Armenian academic quality;
  • Additional learning and lifelong learning;
  • Students-future labor market actors.
  • The role of motivation in learning.
The most fruitful debate among the participant and different representatives were internships for Armenian students and cooperation of the university and potential employers. Students complained about quality and duration of provided internships. They said that they need an efficient internship, and not just a stamp on the certificate. Transition from the university to labor market remains one of the weak-points of our Higher Education system.
The other concern was implementation of Bologna system in Armenia. There were some questions whether the implementation of Bologna process is satisfactory.




Higher Education Day in Belgrade



The debate about the role of non-formal education and its 'connection' to Higher Education, is only a smal sip of Higher Education Day organized by AEGEE-Belgrade. On the 26th of March 2011 students were discussing the level of recognition of non-formal education by universities and companies, the problem of evaluation of university's diploma in terms of meeting the requirements of the labour market, the current situation of implementation of Bologna process in Serbia and the possibilities to take active role in the educational system and its reform through student organizations and student parliaments.




Higher Education Day in Kiyv


AEGEE-Kyiv undertook a Higher Education Day in Kyiv on February 10, 2011. The principal aim was finding out about problems in Higher Education in Ukraine, possible solutions and differences between Ukrainian and European Educational systems.
During the previous month student communities and unions were provided with the four main topics (Bologna process, internships, informal education and European mobility) and they had an opportunity to give their questions related to them.
In the conference competent experts answered the questions which students had formulated and discussed on them.


Higher Education Day in Delft


In the beginning of December 2010 in Delft an interesting debate took place called: “Study abroad – because we can (not?)”. Members of the International Office of the University of Technology of Delt as well as representatives of different student groups were discussing about topics related to the problems and obstacles when going to study abroad. Finally the main conclusions that were obtained were:
● The bureaucracy is just a part of life and a part of arranging your studies abroad: it will be added to your learning experience.

● Students usually miss grants because they don’t know about the very specific ones, so there could be some improvement by making information easier to reach.

● It is a pity that no other languages besides Dutch and English are taught at the TU, but maybe some creative solution can be found, like tandem project.

● In becoming an international university is necessary having the BSc program in English.




Higher Education Day in Bucharest




AEGEE Bucureşti organized on 26th, 27th and 28th of November 2010 a three-day-long Higher Education Day. One of their main aims was to generate a change in the Higher Education system in Romania. The project offered Romanian students the chance to be proactive towards the development of their education system.
The project was implemented over a period of two months - events were organized in the main university centers in the country, there were series of workshops and a final conference. During the three days of debate in Bucharest, 30 seminars were conducted by professionals with an outstanding background.
The students responses synthesized a series of four values, all interconnected and induced by Higher Education, their central focus being change: attitude, freedom, respect and honesty.





Higher Education Day in Groningen



International cooperation and voluntary work were only a part of the composition that contributed to the successful accomplishment of Higher Education Day in Groningen. On the 4th of November 2010, students, academics and media representatives gathered in Honours College where six debates and one plenary took place. Students expressed their need of more active forms of Higher Education and information about activities outside the academic programme as well as possibilities for studying abroad. Another shared opinion was that the University has an informative role in future employment.
Both students and academics debated on the budget cuts in Higher Education. As a result there was a common agreement that budgets in Higher Education must not be cut if we are striving for maintaining of knowledge economy.