Staff exchanges - call for applications (2nd round)

[Laurentiu Bunescu]

Dear all,

We are proud to officially launch the second round of call for proposals on staff exchanges for the member organizations of our network!
This initiative responds to a real need of the European telecentres movement identified by TE members – knowledge sharing and provides a maximum grant of 850,00 Euro to each successful application.

Working and consultation space has been especially created on http://telecentreeurope.ning.com/group/exchangevisits/forum/topics/... to ease the access to information and open discussions regarding the staff exchanges.

Overall objectives
1. To Facilitate Shared Learning Process – Networking Forum
The exchange visits provide an opportunity for open discussion of current practices in telecentres across Europe. Each telecentre and country has its own culture unique to itself; therefore, practices from setting to setting will be different in a variety of ways. The processes of exchange visits are intended to create an open environment for sharing best practice ideas and work-team processes.

2. To Review and Share current work practices and processes
Telecentre-Europe Steering Committee strongly encourages the exchange of telecentre workers to look at identifying similar successful practices across telecentres in Europe with a focus on telecentre management, local/national communication systems and networks. The objective is focused on the overall quality improvement of the day to day management of a telecentre.

3. Self assessment/peer support of telecentre work
A primary objective of the exchange visits is to encourage each telecentre to continually re-evaluate activities, projects, communication and outreach to community members.

4. To Start Developing a Data Feedback system
Another important component of the exchange visits is the ability to provide feedback of data that can be used to improve telecentre operations in general. These exchange visits offer wide dissemination of information from the community setting, thus creating an ownership in the improvement process.

Deadlines
Application submission: 10 November 2009
Announcement of successful applications: 12 November 2009
Exchange visits unfold: 15 November – 15 December 2009

Evaluation
Telecentre-Europe Steering Committee will form the evaluation and decision body for establishing the successful applications. Each SC member will evaluate all applications received and will score each based on an evaluation grid. The applications with the higher scores will be declared successful.

Guidelines, application and supporting documents
• Application guidelines
• Application form
• Narrative report form
• Financial report form

Please review carefully the application guidelines for a better understanding of the entire application process.

For any questions, please feel free to contact me at [e-mail] !