Project summary

Partnership @ WORK is a new program that aims to establish a long-term partnership between German and Serbian Economic High Schools. The project assists Serbian High Schools in finding a corresponding partner school in Germany and co-funds an initial 7-day-trip for a group of 24 students to that school. The program is being funded jointly by the American and the German Governments and managed by the Institute for Sustainable Communities and European Movement in Serbia in cooperation with the German Organization for Technical Assistance GTZ. There have been 10 school partnerships established so far, while an open competition will match another 20 Economic Schools in Serbia, so that they can begin cooperation with their German counterparts.

Why should schools and students apply?

Economic high schools in Serbia have an opportunity to provide students and teachers alike a unique and informative learning experience while creating strong, productive relationships with counterpart schools in Germany through the Partnership @ WORK program. Students will exchange ideas, learn from new experiences and establish relationships that can last well beyond the initial exchange. This contributes to stronger relations across Europe and, ultimately, the acceleration of Serbia’s European integration.

The primary objective of Partnership @ WORK is to build and develop a sustainable program for the integration of Economic high schools from Serbia into Europe’s modern education system. This will be accomplished by establishing permanent school partnerships and carrying out exchange programs with schools in Germany.

1400 third year students from 60 Economic High schools in Serbia and Germany will be included in this program, while 20 schools are already actively engaged. This program is offering students an exceptional opportunity to meet, exchange experiences and develop new relations.

Establishing school partnerships and organizing the 7-day-visit to Germany

• Selected schools will receive practical and technical assistance in organizing one 7-day-visit to Germany that will create the basis for longer-term school partnerships
• Co-financing will be provided for up to 24 third year students and 2 teachers to travel to Germany and visit partner schools for 7 days. This includes transportation and insurance costs.
• Students and teachers will stay with host families or in hostels while in Germany. Schools must ensure that accommodation costs, if applicable, and other costs such as food and drinks for students and teachers during their stay in Germany are covered, (e.g. by sponsors, parents or other sources). Students who cannot afford to cover the above-mentioned contribution will receive additional financial assistance if they meet certain eligibility requirements including documentation of their social status.
• The selection process consists of 2 stages: In the first stage 20 schools will be selected. Twenty-four students will then be selected from each of these schools in the second stage to participate in the program.

Who can apply?

• Economic high schools from Serbia with specific economic programs and with 2 teachers per school from vocational subjects.
• Please note that all applications must be signed by the headmaster of each school or his/her designee.

How to apply?
Applications will be available for download from the project web site. Each application will consist of two parts: for schooland for teachers who will be involved with the program.

Schools interested in learning more about the program or in search of answers will be able to access a list of Frequently Asked Questions on the project’s web site.

All applications must be submitted by post until February 2, 2010. at:

For contest "Partnership @ work"
European Movement in Serbia
Kralja Milana 31, 11000 Beograd

All applications must be signed by directors or authorized person of school.
For further information you can e-mail us on partnerstva@emins.org or by phone number 011 3640174

Scholarship Social Fund
Partnership @ WORK will provide limited financial assistance for students who cannot meet all funding requirements. This contingency fund will be reserved for those students exhibiting the greatest need and will be subject to submission and approval of proper documentation. Students most likely to be considered for support include those without parental care and other students who are social welfare recipients. Students will be required to submit as requested official written confirmation from the Center for Social Work that confirms that the information submitted on their application for scholarship funds is valid.

BENEFITS OF PARTNERSHIPS

What will high schools gain?
Schools that are chosen to participate in the program will be provided with:

• A counterpart school in Germany that best matches the profile of the school in Serbia.
• Headmasters of selected schools will get the opportunity to meet with their counterparts from potential partner schools in Germany and to present their school.
• Assistance in preparing and signing an agreement detailing cooperation between schools.
• Technical assistance and administrative support in preparing and organizing the trip to Germany. This includes support in preparing the schedule of events and class programs.
• A pre-departure orientation and one day training session on intercultural communication and awareness.
• Financial assistance to cover the costs of transportation to/from Germany and travel insurance.
• Assistance with applying for Schengen visas.

What are the obligations of participating schools?
Schools that are selected to participate in Partnership @ WORK should be acquainted with and aware of the following requirements:

• Schools must be interested in establishing strong partnerships with schools from EU member states.
• Schools must sign an official agreement detailing the cooperation that is being established with partner schools in Germany.
• Schools must work closely with partner schools to prepare student visits. This includes working together to: 
  • Select participating students,
  • Preparing logistics, agendas and other components of the visits.
• Schools must ensure that accommodation costs, if applicable, and other costs such as food and drinks for students and teachers during their stay in Germany are covered, e.g. by sponsors, parents or other sources.
• Schools should be prepared to provide a clear and realistic proposal for continuing the exchange program beyond 2010.
• Schools must be willing to host students from Germany. Please note that German students will stay with the families of Serbian students participating in the exchange program.
• Schools must ensure that a diverse group of students participate in the exchange (gender balance, social balance, ethnic and religion balance, etc).
• Schools must be willing and interested to talk about their experiences with the program and to promote the exchange program in their communities and beyond.

SELECTION OF SCHOOLS, TEACHER AND STUDENTS

Selection criteria

The following information will be required for applications:

Financial eligibility:

• School plans to provide its own sources of funding for the study trips beyond 2010, without relying on foreign donors.
• Each School’s ability to ensure its own co-funding for the students’ accommodation in Germany (potential co-funding may come from, for example, school budgets, municipal authorities written commitment to cover some expenses, sponsorships, students own financial contributions, etc.).

Quality of schools:

• School’s history of, or interest in, international cooperation.
• School’s plan to further develop this type of school partnership in the future.
• Headmaster’s record of participating in relevant school trainings (for example, on contemporary management methodologies).
• Teacher participation in professional capacity building activities (a list of teachers with training titles and a number of hours will be required).
• Average grade of 3rd and 4th year economic classes during the past three years.
• Overall school profiles (this includes basic information containing data on the number of students, teaching staff, name of the school, contacts, headmaster’s name and other technical information).

Criteria for the selection of teachers:

• Fluent knowledge of English
• Computer literacy
• Good communication skills
• Knowledge of new teaching methodologies (for example, interactive education, lecture with discussion, brainstorming, case studies, etc)
• Past experience in organizing student trips
• Involvement or interest in international projects implemented in their schools (for example, Junior Achievement)

Basic criteria for the selection of high school students:

• Students attending the 3rd year of Economic high schools (17-18 years old)
• Good knowledge of English
• Grades (highest scoring students from selected classes)
• Good communication skills

Consideration will be given to ensuring varied geographic representation from all of Serbia.

Extracurricular activities and other achievements of a particular class will also be considered an advantage in the selection process.

Evaluation / Selection

Selection criteria are designed to fulfill two basic objectives of the program:

• Building sustainable bilateral school partnerships between high schools from Serbia and Germany through the cooperation of headmasters, teachers and students.
• Sending groups of 24 students per school on 7-day visits to Germany where they will meet with their peers and attend specifically designed programs.

Selection procedure

• A jury consisting of representatives of EMinS, GTZ, The Ministry of Education, USAID and ISC will select qualified applications.

Selection of the schools and teachers

Stage I:
All applications will be evaluated by members of the jury according to the abovementioned criteria and will be ranked according to total scores. As a result of the first stage of selection, the number of applicants will be narrowed down to 25 schools.

Stage II:
A school headmaster and two teachers from each of the 25 schools will be invited to Belgrade for interviews conducted by the jury. The jury will narrow down the number of eligible schools to 20. The final decision by the jury will be based on a review of applications and on the overall performance during the interviews, with a particular emphasis on demonstrated knowledge of English language.

Stage III - Selection of students
Schools will be responsible for the pre-selection of students. The 24 students nominated to participate in the trip can be either from different classes or the same class.

Schools must provide equal opportunity and consideration to encourage inclusion of socially disadvantaged students and students with disabilities (please refer to the above mentioned Scholarship Social Fund for additional information). These criteria will be closely evaluated by representatives of the jury.

Representatives of EMinS & GTZ will visit the 20 schools that have been selected as finalists and conduct workshops with the pre-selected students. The aim of these workshops is to certify students knowledge of English and their communication skills. Only once this has been confirmed will schools begin being matched with German counterparts and begin preparations for the exchange.

TIME LINE

December 2, 2009	Opening	CONTEST
February 2, 2010	Closing
February 2 - February 20, 2010	Stage I	SELECTION
February 22 - March 5, 2010	Stage II
March 8 - April 8, 2010	Stage III
April - May 2010		PROCESS OF BUILDING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND ARRANGING LOGISTICS
May 2010		EXCHANGES BEIGIN