The International Unit is responsible for developing and supporting initiatives which promote the International Dimension in schools and youth groups throughout the Southern Education and Library Board. The work of the Unit includes establishing school partnerships and co-ordinating exchange programmes for students in collaboration with the Board's education partners in France, Germany and Spain. This service has been widely used by teachers of modern languages in many SELB schools.
The work of the International Unit is co-ordinated by the SELB International Officer, Caitriona Hughes, who is based at Board Headquarters in Armagh.
As Chairman and Chief Executive of the SELB, we are committed to supporting the work of our International Unit by formalising and agreeing partnerships with corresponding educational bodies in Germany, Spain and France, and by providing resources and encouragement for the work of the Unit.
It is the responsibility of all educators to ensure that young people are well prepared to meet the many challenges that they will face in their personal and working lives. Motivation, flexibility and fluency in a second or indeed a third language are what the employers of the future are looking for. We in the SELB are committed to enabling all young people within the Board's area to achieve these skills and we would hope that the strong partnerships and friendships developed with France, Spain and Germany will be a two-way process which will benefit all our young people by preparing them better for the world of work and by developing their personal understanding of their place in an inter-dependent world.
The first SELB-organised exchange with the Bayerischer Jugendring (Bavarian Youth Council), Germany in 1986 was the catalyst for the Board to realise the importance of introducing European Awareness to its schools, colleges and youth groups. The Department of Education endorsed this stance by giving special funding in 1991 to create the post of Officer for European Awareness. A formal partnership established with the Delegacion de Educacion y Ciencia of Granada, Spain in 1990 was developed to include officer and teacher study visits and student exchange visits. Such visits to Spain and Germany has enabled partnerships to develop between a number of schools, colleges and youth groups. A Work Experience Exchange Programme between Tours, France and the SELB started in 1990 and led to a partnership being formalised with the Academie d'Orleans-Tours in 1993. Contacts were also established with countries outside the European Union between 1990 and 1992; these included youth exchanges with Russia, support for school visits to Romania and training provided for youth workers from Bulgaria and Hungary. This new remit led to the creation of a full-time post of International Officer in 1993.
As we approach the millenium, the SELB's International Unit will continue to offer an efficient and effective service to its customers at home and abroad and will strive to maintain and improve the excellent record it has achieved to date.
Chairman of the Southern Education and Library Board
Chief Executive of the Southern Education and Library Board
Mission Statement of the SELB International Unit
'To promote International Awareness among young people by providing an extensive range of stimulating programmes that allow today's youth to discover and understand how others live throughout the world'.
Principal activities of the SELB International Unit
SELB International Partnerships
FRANCE : Academie d'Orleans-Tours
GERMANY : Bayerischer Jugendring
SPAIN : Delegacion de Educacion y Ciencia Granada
SWEDEN : Malmo Skolor
FINLAND : Heinolan Kursikeskus
Activities planned for the school year 1998-99
Spanish School Exchange (return visit to N.Ireland) September 1998
French School Exchange Spring 1999
German Work Experience Exchange February / March 1999
Spanish Work Experience Exchange March / April 1999
French Work Experience Exchange Spring 1999