(ANS – Rome) – The first planning meeting of directors and technicians of European Salesian Technical Schools and Training Centres took place at the Generalate from 12 to 14 April. The meeting was organized by the Office for Schools and Professional Training in the Youth Ministry Department. Twenty-five professionals in the area took part, coming from Bosnia, Great Britain, Italy, Malta, Kosovo, Poland, Spain and Hungary.

The participants in the meeting included Salesians and lay people already involved in planning. The meeting had a twofold purpose: first to offer some training for programmes in planning at a European level, and secondy to exchange views on possible ways forward and sharing through a network and a contact person in each of the provinces, so as to improve exchange of information and promote cooperation between the different Salesian centres.

The meeting also provided abundant information knowledge on European planning and the figure of the Euro-planner, on the principal programmes and channels of funding in the area of Professional Training and Education. To assist in this a map was drawn up of the various classifications and opportunities that exist at the European level, with guidelines and methods to help in structuring projects that are in keeping with the mission of the Salesian centres, and in line with the criteria of the European Commisson.
 
Other topics included the manner of structuring a Programme Chart, the information needed when publishing invitations and making proposals, funding schemes available, procedures and criteria of evaluation, the roles of the partner and the consortium in planning, and an analysis of good practice.

The meeting ended with some commitments made with a view to greater visibility and effectiveness in the future, in the area of Salesian planning at European level:

• Cooperation and coordinating work through a digital platform for the sharing of contacts, resources and experiences of European exchange programmes, as well as cooperation in the area of training and education in the different provinces.
• Study of the call for a more correct management of European community programmes in the periods 2014-2020

The overall purpose of the meeting was to give support and greater effectiveness to the work the Salesians are doing on behalf of young people. The funding programmes of the European community are an important instrument for the creation of new opportunities for development and the provision of work. Participation in European community programmes requires a thorough knowledge of European Union policies, of the various stages in the life of a project, of the procedures and criteria for evaluation, and of the methods of management and accountability.

Published 15/04/2013