Conference "Quality Assurance of Youth Career Consultancy"
In 19th-20th September 2008 the Conference "Quality Assurance of Youth Career Consultancy" will be organised. The event is organized by SCAS and QA in YCC Leonardo project partners: Marie Curie Association - Bulgaria, FIT - Ireland, Plymouth City Council Youth Services - UK, Youth Career and Advising Center - Lithuania, Universities of Presov – Student Services Center – Slovakia and National student information and career center - Bulgaria.
More information please open the attached files.
call_for_papers.doc
applic_form.doc
NEW POST ADDRESS OF MARIE CURIE ASSOCIATION
Dear colleagues and partners,
The team of Marie Curie Association is glad to inform you that since the beginning of May 2008 we have a new office address – MCA can be found at: Plovdiv 4023, Trakia, 31 Osvobozhdenie Blvd, Karina House, fl. 1, apt. 4.
For contacts via telephone and fax, you can use the ones already familiar to you: +35932622128 amd +35932628890.
Marie Curie Association will conduct training of the personnel of Shell Bulgaria
The team of Marie Curie Association organised widespread PR campaign in order to attract companies and organisations as members of the newly-established Social Employers network. One of the companies who replied to the call was Shell Bulgaria.
On 13 February 2008 in Shell office in Sofia representatives of the team of MCA Petya Grudeva and Tanya Lazarova met Yulita Decheva and Kamela Slaveikova – Managers from Shell Bulgaria.
The aim of the visit was to present in detail the function principles of SEN, to exchange ideas and to clarify the details on Shell’s future membership. During the conversation Mrs. Decheva, HR Manager, offered MCA to elaborate and implement team training of the personnel of Shell on the theme: “How to work and communicate effectively with people with disabilities”.
The idea is to conduct a three-hour training, including case studies, role-plays and practical guidance. Thus the visit transformed from a simple introduction to a foundation of a successful future cooperation.
At the moment the team of Marie Curie Association is in a process of preparation of the training. Psychologists and authors of training materials for employers will be engaged in the training itself.
More about the advance of the case will be available soon.
International Conference “ABILITY AGAINST DISABILITY EUROPEAN PROJECTS RESULTS”
Within EU project ENEVA the International Conference “ABILITY AGAINST DISABILITY EUROPEAN PROJECTS RESULTS” was organised from T.U.C.E.P. Consortium Italy and Regione Umbria. The event was held in 31 January 2008 in Perugia, Italy. The schedule of the conference includes presentations of different EU projects tailored to VET for disabled and disadvantaged people. A great interest provoked the presentation of two successful projects – “Virtual Incubator for Prequalification into Resource Tutors for disabled people” and “Validation of Mentoring”. The participants of the conference asked questions about sustainability of the project results and about future opportunities for mainstreaming of them in other European countries or different target groups as well. All of them also received a specific folder with projects leaflets and other promotional materials describing the activities of Marie Curie Association. Special guest invited for the event was Maria Prodi – Assessore alla Politiche Attive del Lavoro, Pari Opportunita e Formazione Regione dell’ Umberia and Maria Sol Dominguez Parrado – European Commision, Direction “Education and Culture” Transversal Programmes and other experts in the field of VET as well as policy makers.
Contact seminar - sectoral programme "Leonardo da Vinci", Borovetz, Bulgaria
In the period 4-8 December 2007 in Borovets Resort, Bulgaria the Contact Seminar of the National Agency "Leonardo da Vinci" was held. On behalf of Marie Curie Association Mrs. Mariya Goranova-Valkova presented the Validation of Mentoring project as a good practice example.
See the photos from the event in menu "Gallery"
Marie Curie Association offering job position "CAREER COUNSELLOR "
NB: We will accept only candidates who have the required knowledge and experience and are fluent in English. Please send your CV in English, otherwise it will be disregarded.
REQUIREMENTS:
Graduate/postgraduate in HR/ career counseling /disability studies/psychology/special education or as social worker
Good communication skills
•English is a must
•Good negotiation skills
•Team player
•Previous experience is recommended
WHAT WE OFFER:
•Young dynamic and motivated team
•Good career development opportunities
•Traveling abroad
•Friendly environment
•Equal opportunities policy
Responsibilities:
•Run careers programmes dedicated to enable disabled people find their optimum job.
Build a network of corporate and other employer contacts as well as of disabled people looking for a job
Support the work placement of disabled people at the private and/or public sector
Conduct market research and surveys related to employment and education/training of disabled people
Support the implementation of national and European initiatives that our organisation undertakes
Please send CV, photo and documentations to: valkova@marie-curie-bg.org
Another success for project of ZGURA-M, member of Marie Curie Association
During the period 2003-2005 Zgura–M, member of Marie Curie Association, in cooperation with partners from The United Kingdom, Greece and Portugal carried out European project“Virtual Incubator for Prequalification into Resource Tutors for Disabled People”. It was funded by Leonardo da Vinci programme of the European Commission. Two years later the professional development of all project products was recognised positively by the external evaluators working in the field of education and training.
On 29 November 2007 in Sofia an Annual Valorisation Conference “Sectoral programme “Leonardo da Vinci” & ‘Gruntvig” – best practices” was held. Within the event the project has been awarded with “CERTIFICATE FOR QUALITY” issued by Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science and Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
On a specialised promotional stand the delegates of the conference had the opportunity to view the final project products.
Second National conference of “Equal Opportunities in State Administration”
On 27-28.11.2007 in Sofia the Second National conference of “Equal Opportunities in State Administration” Project was held. The aim of the conference was to present the results of this PHARE initiative as well as its training modules for preparation of young people willing to apply for a job in the sphere of public administration.
The programme of the conference scheduled also two thematic presentations made by representatives of “Marie Curie” Association, Plovdiv on themes: “Mentoring Programmes as a Successful instrument for career support of people with disabilities and disadvantaged” and “Virtual Incubator for Prequalification into Resource Tutor for People With Disabilities”.
During the first day of the conference Ms. Petya Grudeva, PR of “Marie Curie” Assocaition shared the experience of the organisation in the implementation of mentoring programmes, told about their methodology, instruments for monitoring and final evaluation as well as for the final results achieved through mentoring. In the following discussion the auditorium of the conference asked several questions about the Code of Practice in Mentoring and wished to receive a hard copy or CD with the CoP. The facilitators of the National conference from Institute of Public Administration and European Integration, Bulgaria (IPAEI) were very impressed of the results and the positive effect of mentoring for young people with disabilities.
This led to the decision to propose inclusion of mentoring programmes as an instrument for initial preparation of newly-recruited public officers. Thus the first step towards wider practical implementation of mentoring programmes in public institutions was made.
During the second day of the conference the focus of the discussions was set upon training of young people at a disadvantage. After the presentation of the training modules for preparation of junior experts in public administration, a special presentation of “Virtual Incubator for Prequalification into Resource Tutors for people with disabilities” was made.
After the demonstration of this LdV initiative, the majority of the delegates declared that the modules elaborated within VIP RTDP could be used with success in other spheres of training too.
At the end we shall say that the conference was visited by more than 100 participants – representatives of public administration institutions, Deputy Ministers, Directors of State Agencies, representatives of training centers, Non-governmental organisations working with and for people with disabilities and disadvantaged, etc. Their presence turned the forum into a place for exchange of good practice in training and recruitment of people from the mentioned social groups.
“Marie Curie” Association started a new European project
“Marie Curie” Association started a new European project, implemented under “Leonardo da Vinci” Programme or the European Commission, “Transfer of Innovation” measure.
The initiative named “Validating Mentoring 2” is a continuation of previous already successfully accomplished project “Validation of Mentoring”, held within Procedure C “Thematic actions” of “Leonardo da Vinci” Programme.
The major idea of the current project is to transfer mentoring programmes and the Code of Practice into new countries and regions. In service of this new partners from Turkey and Belgium were involved. In these countries mentoring programmes for people with disabilities and disadvantaged will be held. The Code of practice elaborated within the previous initiative will be also enriched with new and useful materials.
The main aim of “Validating Mentoring 2” is to support the needs of disabled people and others disadvantaged in the job market by developing systems for the recognition of their non-formal and informal learning.
On 22 and 23 November 2007 in Katarino, Bulgaria the Kick off transnational partners meeting was held. Participants were representatives of “Marie Curie” Association – beneficiary and coordinator of the project. Others who took part were also: “Phoenix KM” and Workability Europe” from Belgium, Guidance and Research Center “Bolu”, Turkey, The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and the University of Worcester, UK.
The project meeting opened with presentations of all partners. Following this, the project activities and expected outcomes were presented. Then, the work programme was reviewed with special emphasis on communication and valorisation. Finally an action plan for the months ahead was rolled out. This put the beginning of the active work on the project which started administratively on 1 October 2007 and will finish on 30 September 2009 completed the prolongation of 24 months.
Soon the official project web page will be ready. You will be informed as soon as it is active.
VALORISATION CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO ACCESSIBLE MAINSTREAM VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
 Marie Curie Association (www.marie-curie-bg.org) organised a valorisation conference dedicated to accessible mainstream vocational training and employment for people with disabilities.
The conference presented outcomes from different projects that address following policies:
- Use education and vocational training as instruments to improve employability;
- Raise awareness among employers and placement services about the realities that people with disabilities face in the labour market;
- Encourage adaptation of the work environment;
- Take advantage of new sources of employment;
- Promote the shift to mainstream employment;
- Improve the quality and competitiveness of sheltered employment;
- Engage social agents in raising employment levels of people with disabilities;
- Seek the advice at all stages of people with disabilities themselves.
The conference took place on 18 of September, 2007 at POLIS, Rue du Trône 98, in Brussels from 9.00 till 14.00. It was organised with the financial support of the Leonardo da Vinci programme of the EC. After the conference a free lunch was offered to all attendees.
The agenda was as following:
Date: 18.09.2007
Venue: Polis conference centre, Brussels (POLIS, Rue du Trône 98, in Brussels (easily reachable via the metro – stop "Troon / Trône"))
9.00-10.00 Registration/welcome coffee and project products exhibition
10.00-10.10 Opening - Executive Agency, Leonardo da Vinci programme (pdf)
10.10-10.30 VIPP project presentation - Gaynor Edwards, Remploy UK (link to project) (pdf)
10.30-11.00 Case studies from VIPP - Levin-Polde Mari-Ann + Pär Larshans (personnel manager at MAX Hamburger Restaurants), Lars Andersson (piloter) SE (link to project) (pdf 1), (pdf 2)
11.00-11.15 Coffee break
11.15-11.45 Validation of mentoring project and Codes of practices - Mariya Goranova, Marie Curie Association, BG and David French, French and Burt, UK (link to project) (pdf)
11.45-12.15 Workability Europe - Martin Ohridski, Workability Europe, BE (pdf)
12.15-12.45 Quality assurance in training and education - David French, French and Burt, UK (link to project) (pdf)
12.45-13.00 Press conference
12.45-14.00 Lunch cocktail
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