for the future (2000 - 2007)

Below are the chalk lines of EFECOTâs plan for the future. These priorities and strategic recommendations will mark and map out our further journey.

Plans need implementation. EFECOT will therefore prepare and co-ordinate projects and actions in this field. But this is not the sole responsibility of EFECOT. We would like to embark with you on a creative enterprise. Any person, organisation or institute active in the field of traveller education with a good, solid project proposal, which is within the lines and purport of the Policy Plan, is warmly invited to present this proposal to EFECOT. EFECOT will keep a continuous keen eye on the developments in the landscape of education-training-culture programmes and suggest appropriate subsidising programmes for good and relevant pre-proposals. You will moreover continue to receive EFECOTâs support for further follow-up and implementation throughout the lifetime of your potential project.

We hope that this policy provides you with a clear framework and stimulating support to realise good project ideas.

Please do not hesitate to make use of the form for project pre-proposals to present your project idea.

The English language version of the full Policy Plan is available from EFECOT or can be downloaded (zipped PDF-file).

The Policy Plan lists EFECOTâs major strategic priorities and objectives for 2000-2007:

The scope of the work of EFECOT will be continue to be on the needs of the children of families who are mobile as a consequence of their trade or profession.In addition EFECOT would also like to take initiatives for:

• Sharing its experience with all Traveller Communities
• Involving parents in the decision making process
• Promoting flexible learning opportunities for adults (lifelong learning)

EFECOTâs working programme will particularly account of the following to:

• Improving secondary education
• Open and distance learning
• New technologies to support flexible learning methods
• Support and training of teachers

EFECOT will anchor and consolidate its work on a regional and international basis involving different levels:

• Traveller communities in the different Member States
• Schools, teacher and other supporting professionals
• Policy level

and stimulate the dialogue between communities, professionals and policy level.

• EFECOT will encourage specific service improvement for individual communities and within individual regions (regional networking).
• EFECOT will proactively strengthen its transnational role by encouraging co-operation and co-ordination between policymakers and practitioners across the regions.

The Policy Plan pictures EFECOTâs strategic procedures for 2000-2007

Via a coherent and balanced working programme EFECOT will avoid unnecessary overlap but enhance synergy between projects and make creative cross-links. The working programme will comprehend 3 categories of projects.

• Projects to pursue research processes to strengthen the knowledge on which EECOT should build = Research and Development Projects

• Projects to apply successful outcomes and proven practices to specific contexts = Application Projects

• Projects to promote networking within and across the regions = Network Project

A project can be co-ordinated by EFECOT central or by a partner of the network with support and guidance from the Central Co-ordination Team.

• Evaluation will occupy a major place in EFECOTâs policy, both within the different projects (detailed evaluation criteria) and on the overall level of the organisation (involving the perspective of the new ãStanding Committee for Policy, Review and Developmentä)

• Dissemination will continue to play a prominent role. For the future the emphasis will be on building upon the best aspects of existing dissemination practices; broadening the scope of dissemination and incorporating the use of new technologies for dissemination purposes. Via ãEdulinaä[1] products and outcomes from EFECOT and other projects will be distributed in a professional way and on a larger scale.

The Policy Plan pictures EFECOTâs structures for 2000-2007:

At the management level

• Continuing efforts will be done to increase formal EFECOT membership, with the emphasis on the countries of Southern and Eastern Europe.

• A ãEuropean Consultative Groupä will be established, open to all regions, which will form the basis of a structure linking EFECOT to developments within individual countries.

• A ãStanding Committeeä will be established by the Board of Directors, focusing on policy implementation, review and development.

At the network level

• Efforts to increase the number of partners with again priority given to regions which are currently under-represented (countries of Southern and Eastern Europe)

• Developing structures within individual countries, in order to encourage co-ordinated efforts, effective targeting of resources and shared dissemination of experience at a regional level. (regional networking).

• At the level of the Central Co-ordination Team

EFECOT will move towards an organisation with a deepened foundation supporting different types of projects: (research and development projects, application projects, network projects) and covering core activity (such as translations, publications, finance). EFECOT central can play a co-ordinating role or a supporting role (for projects co-ordinated by a partner of the network).

Immediate implications

The need for a new Resolution, based upon updated information and taking account of recommendations contained in the Policy Plan.

Actions to secure a more appropriate funding base for the core supportive activities of the organisation.

Contact us by e-mail: EFECOT