SCILT > News View > Subject

eTwinning – what it is and why UK educators should get in quick

4 October 2019 (London Connected Learning Centre)

London Connected Learning Centre’s Peter Lillington reports back from last week’s UK eTwinning Conference.

If you’re a UK educator of 3-19 year olds and you haven’t yet heard of eTwinning – get up to speed and get in quick (and certainly before 31 October). eTwinning is a free online community for schools in Europe and some neighbouring countries, which allows you to find partners and collaborate on projects within a secure network and potentially access Erasmus+ funding.

This fantastic initiative is supported in the UK by the British Council and of the 670,000 registrations on the platform, more than 27,000 are teachers from the UK. Take a look to get a flavour of some of the projects that show the power of online international collaboration between schools: from coding, robotics, Lego and laughter to challenging perceptions on migration, language learning, history and inclusion.

Languages Beyond School

4 October 2019 (SCILT)

Do you have students looking to continue or develop their language studies when they leave school? Our aim is to provide all the information necessary for students to make an informed choice about their future language learning. To that end we invite visitors to the Beyond School pages of our website to submit feedback by completing a short survey. Responses are anonymous and will be used to help improve the user experience. We would appreciate it if teachers could share the survey with learners and encourage them to respond.

Whether they want to follow a course of study in the UK or further afield, work or volunteer abroad, the Beyond School section of our website has links to language courses at further and higher education establishments in Scotland along with opportunities UK-wide and in Europe. The site also outlines the support Scottish universities can provide to teachers and schools in their language learning.

As the UCAS application process gets underway, make sure pupils and careers guidance staff are aware of the information available on our website.

Posted in: Senior Phase, All Languages, Funding, Language Learning, Promoting Languages, Study Abroad, SCILT news

Professional Development in Germany

3 October 2019 (Goethe-Institut)

The Goethe-Institut is again able to offer a number of grants to teachers for training in Germany. The offer is aiming at German teachers just embarking on their career, as well as at teachers expanding their commitments to GCSE and A-level. Those who train German language teachers are also able to benefit from the variety of courses.

Visit the Goethe-Institut website for more information and to apply.

Magical Christmas Trips for primary and secondary schools - deadline reminder: 24 September

19 September 2019 (UK-German Connection)

Apply for funding of up to £10,000 for a Christmas trip to a partner school in Germany this year!

These visits offer primary pupils the chance to get a taste of Germany at Christmas time, meet their German peers and get involved in some seasonal cultural activity. Secondary pupils have the opportunity to brush up their German and develop their skills as young leaders.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for more information.

Reigniting the love of languages

17 September 2019 (Erasmus+)

With multilingualism being a key ingredient in making your CV stand out from the crowd, language skills are in high demand.

As well as boosting employability, learning a language also helps people to become more culturally aware, and can even improve cognitive skills in observation, memory and creativity.

In the UK less than half of the working age population can speak a foreign language. The BBC reported earlier this year that foreign language learning was at its lowest level in UK secondary schools since the turn of the millennium.

However, the Erasmus+ programme, which supports language learning in schools, is making a difference by providing funding to UK schools to run vital international activities.

Ahead of the European Day of Languages on 26 September, let’s take a look at the UK language landscape and how Erasmus+ is helping school staff and pupils to reignite their love of languages.

UK-German Connection - Back to School Newsletter 2019

9 September 2019 (UK-German Connection)

As the new school year gets underway, find out about the latest selection of initiatives from UK-German Connection in their autumn newsletter.

This edition includes information about the following opportunities:

Host a Teacher from Germany in 2020
Youth Seminars in Germany
Magical Christmas trips
UK-German bears - Alex and Ben

'The new frontier of skills development' – growing number of organisations join campaign to double the percentage of UK students studying abroad

6 September 2019 (Universities UK)

Five organisations, Cultural Vistas, Pagoda Projects, Student.com, Common Purpose and The Intern Group, have pledged support to help more UK students study abroad as part the Go International: Stand Out campaign. The pledges include new scholarships for students to study abroad, discounts on visa services, free places on development programmes and discounted accommodation overseas.

The pledges are part of the UK-wide Go International: Stand Out campaign, run by Universities UK International, which aims to double the percentage of UK undergraduates who study, work, or volunteer abroad to 13% by the end of 2020. The five organisations announcing pledges today join five organisations who have already made pledges to the campaign: CRCC Asia, Campus France, DAAD London, The Higher Education Statistics Agency and QS.

Data suggests that there are significant academic and employability benefits to students who study abroad: those who studied abroad were 20% less likely to be unemployed six months after graduating than those who did not. There were especially pronounced benefits for those from a disadvantaged background. For example, BME students who studied abroad were 17% more likely to be in a graduate job six months after graduating than their peers. The campaign aims to widen access to study abroad opportunities.

International school exchange facilitated seminar

27 August 2019 (British Council)

Would you like to set up a student exchange visit but don't yet have a partner school?

For schools looking for a partner school, we still have a few spaces available on our seminar in Germany in the Autumn term 2019, designed to allow schools to set up a partnership and plan your exchange.

All arrangements will be made by the British Council and travel, accommodation and meal costs will be covered.

Visit the British Council website for more information and to apply by 13 September 2019. Be quick, spaces are extremely limited!

No-deal Brexit fears for Erasmus student exchange scheme

13 August 2019 (BBC)

The Scottish and Welsh governments have expressed fears over the future of the Erasmus student exchange programme in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Both administrations have jointly written to the UK education secretary to express their concerns.

The EU programme helps students study in other countries.

The UK government has guaranteed payments for successful applicants and said it is "exploring participation" in a successor scheme.

Erasmus is an EU-funded programme which enables students to either study part of their degree or undertake a work placement abroad.

About 53% of UK university students who learn abroad do so through the initiative.

Some countries which are not in the EU - including Iceland, Norway and Serbia - also take part.

The letter is signed by the Scottish higher education minister, Richard Lochhead, and the Welsh education minister, Kirsty Williams.

Both devolved administrations are opposed to a hard Brexit but if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, they would like participation in Erasmus to continue.

The letter argues that leaving the EU without a deal or an arrangement covering the scheme will result in universities, colleges, and schools being ineligible to submit applications to participate in the final year of the current Erasmus+ programme in 2020.

It says: "This will be a significant loss to both our education sectors.

"Between 2014 and 2018, Erasmus+ has enabled an estimate of over 10,000 students and staff in Wales to undertake mobility visits to benefit their learning and career development.

"In Scotland, proportionally more students take part in Erasmus+ than from any other country in the UK."

It calls for an urgent meeting of education ministers to discuss the steps being taken towards ensuring that a hard Brexit does not lead to a loss of provision and opportunities for universities, colleges and schools.

Grants for UK-German activities

25 October 2018 (UK-German Connection)

UK-German Connection offers a number of grants for joint activities between schools and youth groups in the UK and Germany.

The next deadline is approaching, so if you have any projects taking place in 2018-19 for which you'd like funding, visit the UK-German Connection website for more information and apply by 31 October 2018.

Another record year for Erasmus+ in Scotland

17 October 2018 (British Council)

Scotland's share of Erasmus+ EU funding is up by more than €1m since last year. This means that a record total of €22.3m will be shared by 172 Scottish organisations working across a range of sectors:

€14.1m for universities and higher education institutions
€5.9m for organisations working in vocational education and training
€865k for youth work organisations
€832k for schools
€614k for organisations working in adult education

With further funding results for 2018 yet to be announced, and 2019 calls due to open, the figure will again rise.

Erasmus+ enables people from the UK to go abroad to study, train, or volunteer and is delivered in the UK by the British Council in partnership with Ecorys UK.

Most of the new funding is for projects between Scotland and European countries. But Erasmus+ also reaches beyond Europe and in turn helps Scotland to do so.

€3.8m of this year’s figure is shared between ten higher education projects, which will connect Scottish universities and colleges with their counterparts in the USA, South Africa, India, Israel, Palestine, China, Canada, Mexico, amongst many other countries.

If you want to find out more about Erasmus+, information sessions giving an overview of the programme and available funding are being run throughout the UK during autumn. Check the website for more details.

Grants for professional development in Germany

2 October 2018 (Goethe-Institut)

The Goethe-Institut is offering German teachers grants for courses in Germany. The programme includes courses on methodology and didactics, "Landeskunde" as well as specialised language courses for teachers.

Visit the Goethe-Institut website for more information and apply now for a course in 2019.

Wanted: External assessors for Erasmus+ funding applications and project reports

24 September 2018 (Erasmus+)

Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. Each year, UK schools, colleges, universities and youth organisations are invited to apply for funding to support vital international activities, including:

International study/traineeship/volunteering placements for students and young people
Opportunities for staff to teach or train abroad
Collaboration with international partners to drive innovation, cooperation and excellence
Opportunities for young people to interact with decision-makers on issues of concern to young people and to influence youth policy

The Erasmus+ UK National Agency (a partnership between British Council and Ecorys UK) is seeking to appoint a pool of external assessors to assess funding applications and project reports submitted under the Erasmus+ programme.

Applicants need to have knowledge and expertise in the sector(s) of the programme which they wish to assess: schools, vocational education and training, adult education, higher education and youth.

If you’re interested, please find out more on the website and register your interest before 6pm on 5 October 2018.

Languages Beyond School

21 September 2018 (SCILT)

As the UCAS application process gets underway, make sure any pupils thinking of continuing their language studies check out the Beyond School section of our website.

This section contains useful information to help senior pupils decide on the different language courses and options available once they have left school, at college, university or as part of a gap year. There are links to courses available in Scotland and across the UK.

Pupils, parents, guidance and careers staff should all find this section of our website useful.

Inspire your students with new funding for global learning

19 September 2018 (British Council)

Connecting Classrooms is back, and we have some exciting updates for the new school year.

If you are thinking about taking your school on an international journey this year, it’s time to take a look at how you can join the new Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning programme.

You can apply for Connecting Classrooms opportunities either as an individual school, or part of a cluster, which will be overseen by a lead school.

Becoming a lead school provides a host of benefits, including access to grants to develop your cluster, the opportunity to deliver CPD to other schools in your area and cover support for your co-ordinator’s time.

Visit the website for more information and apply by 28 October to be included in the first round of grant awards.

The Gaelic Language Promotion Trust

19 September 2018 (GLPT)

The purpose of the Gaelic Language Promotion Trust is to support and promote the teaching, learning and use of the Gaelic language in Scotland. The Gaelic Language Promotion Trust offers assistance to full-time and part-time students taking Scottish Gaelic language courses or courses through Scottish Gaelic.

Currently, the main activity of the Trust is the provision of grants to students of Gaelic at diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. However, the Trust recognises the importance of Gaelic pre-school provision, and following a generous legacy from Urras Gnìomhachas nan Gàidheal, Career Development Funding is now available for Gaelic students studying for an HNC in Childhood Practice, for Gaelic pre-school workers and GLPS primary teachers wishing to improve their Gaelic language skills. Priority is given to individuals currently employed in Gaelic pre-school establishments who are completing their HNC Childhood Practice modules on a part-time basis and primary teachers delivering Gaelic L2.

The Trust acknowledges the contribution that primary schools across Scotland are making to the promotion of the Gaelic language through the 1+2 language model and welcomes applications from GLPS schools for designated funding for Gaelic books. The Trust also provides grants in respect of Gaelic publishing, including digital and traditional printed books, and junior drama projects.

The Cameron Fund, a separate funding stream from the general fund, has been created to support community-based media projects. To this end, the Trust welcomes applications from individuals / communities / organisations for projects involving new media. This might include short films and vlogs which the GLPT would showcase on their website.

The next deadline for grant applications is 19 October 2018.

Erasmus+ funding for schools: twilight sessions

17 September 2018 (Erasmus+)

Interested in funding for international pupil exchanges, staff overseas teaching/training placements and partnerships with schools across Europe?

Erasmus+ and eTwinning offer fantastic opportunities for UK schools to connect with schools across Europe.

Taking place in September to November 2018, we are running free sessions in cities across the UK for school staff interested in beginning or enhancing international collaboration. There's an event in Glasgow on 30 October.

Whilst the twilight session offers a particular focus for schools, there is also a daytime information session more specifically for organisations who are new to the Erasmus+ programme and are considering submitting an Erasmus+ application in 2019.

17 September, 2018 - Minister Bruton Launches Campaign to Encourage Learning of Foreign Languages & Announces Funding for School Exchanges

17 September 2018 (Department of Education and Skills (Ireland))

(Applies to Ireland) The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton T.D. today (17th September 2018) launched a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of foreign languages and announced new funding for teacher upskilling and school language exchanges.

The campaign is aimed at school principals, teachers, guidance counsellors, parents, students and higher level institutions. Embassies, cultural services and bodies such as IBEC and Enterprise Ireland (EI) are also involved in supporting the campaign to raise awareness of the importance of learning foreign languages. The campaign will be supported by a new website (www.languagesconnect.ie) which will act as a one stop shop for schools, parents and students on language learning.

Lefèvre Trust school grants for French study visits

13 September 2018 (British Council)

The British Council is working in partnership with the Lefèvre Trust to offer a limited number of grants to Scottish secondary schools to facilitate reciprocal visits to partner schools in France. The opportunity marks the final round of Lefèvre funding and recognises the recently re-signed Memorandum of Understanding between Scotland and France.

Schools interested in applying should have an existing link to France through a partnership or exchange. Projects with a STEM focus, and from schools in underprivileged areas, are encouraged.

A French study visit is the ideal way to instil a love of the French language in learners, give them exposure to authentic language usage and enable them to experience French culture first-hand. Pupils can also benefit from:

raised levels of language proficiency in preparation for exams
improved confidence in speaking French by practising with peers at the partner school
increased motivation in continuing to learn French by exchanging language and culture in an authentic environment
strengthened partnership and development of new cross-curricular projects for the whole school.

Visit the British Council website for more information and apply by 19 November 2018.

UK-German Connection - Back to School Newsletter 2018

13 September 2018 (UK-German Connection)

Make this a year to remember for your school; welcome a German teacher, take part in our funded Christmas trips to Germany and support your Language Assistant to become a Cultural Exchange Ambassador!

Find out about these initiatives and more in the UK-German Connection 'Back to School' newsletter.

Magical Christmas Trip

21 August 2018 (UK-German Connection)

Would you like to take part in a Magical Christmas Trip this year and build on or set up a partnership with a school in Germany?

These visits offer primary pupils the chance to get a taste of Germany at Christmas time, meet their German peers and get involved in some seasonal intercultural activity. Secondary pupils have the opportunity to brush up on their German and practice their skills as young leaders.

There are two options for getting involved:

apply to take part in a visit to Berlin run by UK-German Connection to set up a link to a school in Berlin
apply for funding and organisational support to run your own Christmas visit to an existing partner school anywhere in Germany.

Application deadline: 18 September 2018.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for more information.

Japanese Language Local Project Support Programme 2018-19

20 August 2018 (Japan Foundation)

If your school is interested in introducing Japanese into the curriculum, supporting Japanese at GCSE or A-Level or starting a Japanese Club, you could be eligible for funding.

Institutions can apply for up to £3000 for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education in the UK.

Visit the Japan Foundation website for more information and apply by 22 September 2018.

Government to Improve Foreign Language Teaching in Schools

3 August 2018 (Good Morning Britain)

The government has announced plans to improve teaching to boost the number of students opting to take foreign languages at GCSE level. Minister for School Standards, Nick Gibb, believes that learning an extra language is good for young people for traveling and opens more opportunities within the workplace.

See the video interview broadcast on Good Morning Britain.

Calling all creative minds! Take part in the Together arts competition and bring a WWI project to life

29 May 2018 (UK-German Connection)

Encourage your pupils to take part in the UK-German Together arts project for a chance to have their work published and visit the British Embassy in Berlin for a special event! Led by Never Such Innocence, Together invites young people to submit art work, poetry or songs on the theme of hope and unity inspired by the WW1 Centenary.

The deadline for submitting creative work is Friday, 27 July 2018.

Further details

If you’d like to submit a joint entry with your German partner school, you could apply for funding through the Flexible Funding Scheme – World War 1.

Posted in: German, Funding, News from language & education organisations

EU offers British teenagers free Interrail pass

4 May 2018 (The Guardian)

British teenagers are to be given the chance to bid farewell to Europe with free Interrail passes for up to 30 days this summer.

The free tickets, worth up to £400 each, will be offered to any EU citizens who turn 18 before July as part of a pilot DiscoverEU scheme funded by the EU.

With Brexit on the horizon this is the first and last year British teenagers can apply for the rail bonanza, which has just been launched in Brussels.

“Any future participating depends on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations and the future relationship between the UK and the EU,” said Nathalie Vandystadt, the EU commission spokesperson for education, culture, youth and sport.

Posted in: Senior Phase, Europe, Funding, Study Abroad, Bulletin Categories, Brexit

Host a teacher from Germany

1 May 2018 (UK-German Connection)

All schools and FE colleges from the whole of the UK can take part. The UK coordinating teacher does not need to be a teacher of German, and German does not need to be on the school’s curriculum; visiting teachers are either teachers of English or have good knowledge of the English language.

Visit the UK-German Connection website and find out how your school could benefit!

Application deadlines: 26 July 2018 / 21 September 2018.

Would you like to explore Europe this summer?

20 April 2018 (European Commission)

Are you 18 years old? Would you like to explore Europe? Then you are the perfect candidate to apply for a new European Union initiative to be officially launched shortly.

In June 2018 the European Commission is selecting up to 15.000 enthusiastic young people to be the lucky recipients of a travel pass to discover Europe.

Travelling is a chance for young people to take advantage of our freedom of movement, to discover the diversity of Europe, enjoy its cultural richness, and make new friends from all over the continent. Ultimately, it’s also a great opportunity to discover yourself.

With 2018 being the European Year of Cultural Heritage, consider yourself particularly lucky. It means that you will also have the opportunity to participate in the many events that are taking place this year all over Europe to celebrate our fantastically diverse cultural heritage.

Applicants must be 18 years old (and not yet 19) at the time of application and have the nationality of one of the EU countries. You can travel up to maximum 30 days and visit up to 4 different country destinations. Moreover, there is the possibility to travel either individually or as a group.

Visit the European Youth Portal website for more information. Applications open in June 2018.

Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee Report on Erasmus+

5 April 2018 (Scottish Government)

The Scottish Government's Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee launched a short and focused inquiry into Scotland's participation in the Erasmus+ programme in November 2017. The purpose of the inquiry was to learn more about the opportunities currently available under Erasmus+ and to consider the implications of Scotland no longer participating in the programme after the UK withdraws from the European Union (EU).

The report highlights that Erasmus+ also plays an important role in supporting the Scottish Government’s 1+2 (mother tongue + 2 additional languages) approach to language learning.

Japan Foundation Local Grant Programmes 2018-19

3 April 2018 (Japan Foundation)

Japan Foundation (JF) London is now accepting grant applications for UK based Japan related projects taking place in 2018-19 through our local support programmes.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available to schools seeking to promote the introduction of Japanese into the curriculum (or onto the main school timetable) at primary and secondary levels, supporting Japanese qualifications in school or introducing the language as an extra-curricular activity.

For more information and to apply by 4 May 2018, see the online information sheet and application form.

Young People in Scotland 2018 YOYP - New National Lottery "Spark a Change" Fund

22 March 2018 (YOYP/National Lottery)

To mark the Year of Young People 2018, a new National Lottery fund has been launched to help young people #SparkAChange in their lives. Grants between £3,000 and £10,000 are available for heritage, community and sports projects which are run by and for young people aged eight to 26. Funding is available for projects which encourage positive mental health for young people and inspire them to lead active lives.

We’re all aware of the positive mental health benefits of language learning, so why not encourage your students to set up a language project, perhaps a community language class or an outdoor language adventure trail? Visit the Lottery Fund website for more information and to apply by one of the two funding deadlines - 30 April 2018 or 18 June 2018.

Erasmus+: Global skills for a global future

22 March 2018 (British Council)

The debate over the details of the UK’s future collaboration with the EU is at a critical stage. Emma Skelton reports on a recent expert seminar on the future of UK-EU partnerships for higher education.

The British Council and the Centre for European Policy Studies recently convened a high-level policy dialogue in Brussels on ‘The Future of the EU-UK Partnership on Higher Education and Student Mobility’. This was part of a series of events between key EU and UK policymakers and influencers examining the implications of Brexit for existing collaboration in the sectors of international development, culture and education.

Much discussion at the event focussed on the Erasmus+ programme. Erasmus+ is the largest provider of student mobility for British students to countries in Europe and beyond. Contributors to the seminar highlighted the importance of the UK to the scheme as a whole, as one of the most popular destination countries, which speakers attributed in part to the excellent reputation of UK universities. They also emphasised the call from British companies for more talent with international experience, intercultural awareness and language skills, which can all be gained through mobility programmes such as Erasmus+.

£3 million for language learning

21 February 2018 (Scottish Government)

Schools will be allocated £3 million this year to support pupils learning additional languages, Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn has announced.

A lack of language skills has been estimated to cost Scottish businesses hundreds of millions of pounds a year in lost exports.

The Scottish Government funding will enable every primary school pupil to start learning an additional language in Primary 1 and a second additional language by Primary 5, and for language learning to continue to the end of S3. This includes Mandarin, Gaelic and British Sign Language as well as European languages.

There has been a sustained increase in language Highers and skills-based qualifications in recent years and the Scottish Government’s continued investment will build on this success, ensuring the workforce has the right skills to make the most of international economic opportunities.

NEW - School Exchange Partnerships

19 January 2018 (British Council Scotlan)

Erasmus+ Schools-Only Partnerships have changed to School Exchange Partnerships for 2018. If your school wants to expand its international outlook, improve language learning through real life experience, visit eTwinning partners or start a new partnership with a European school, it’s now even easier to arrange exchanges of pupils and staff, through a streamlined application process. Here are some details:

Eligible schools, plus colleges involved in secondary education, can send groups of pupils on short-term exchanges, accompanied by staff, lasting from three days to two months excluding travel days, instead of the minimum five day period offered before. For long-lasting partnerships and bigger life experiences, schools can also offer long-term exchanges of between two months and a year for pupils aged over 14.
Schools can send staff on short-term joint training events of three days to two months, excluding travel days, and long-term teaching or training assignments of between two months and one year.
Partnerships must involve a minimum of two and a maximum of six schools, from at least two programme countries.
Funding is limited to €16,500 per school per year of the project.
Projects will last between 12 and 24 months, except projects organising long-term exchanges of pupils, which may last up to three years, depending on the project and the applicant’s request.
Projects should start between 1 September and 31 December 2018.
Schools can choose to be the lead organisation or a partner in a project led by an organisation from another participating programme country. The lead organisation applies to the Erasmus+ National Agency in their country for funding on behalf of the project as a whole.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 21 March at 11am (UK time)

Aims
The main goal of School Exchange Partnerships is to strengthen the European dimension in the participating schools, to build up their capacity for cross-border cooperation and their ability to cope with new challenges. By organising mobility activities for pupils, these partnerships will also promote the values of inclusion and tolerance as underlined in the Paris Declaration.

Benefits
Pupils: The short-term exchange activities are designed to offer international learning experiences to pupils, to develop their understanding of the diversity of European cultures and languages, and to help them acquire social, civic and intercultural competences necessary for their personal development

Teaching and non-teaching staff: A short period abroad enables staff to work together to exchange experience and know-how, or receive joint training. A longer posting in a partner school can allow staff to develop their knowledge and understanding of other countries' education and training systems, and helps them share and acquire professional competences, methods and practices.

eTwinning
Participating schools in all projects are strongly encouraged to use the eTwinning online platform to work together on the project before, during and after the mobility activities. See www.eTwinning.net

Summary of funding available:

The maximum funding available for School Exchange Partnerships is €16 500 per year and per participating school, excluding Special Needs Support and Exceptional costs for expensive travel. This can be made up of:

Project management and implementation – A contribution to the activities of the co-ordinating school of €500 per month, and €250 per month for partner schools (up to a maximum of €2750 per month per project). This is intended as a contribution towards the following eligible costs:

Project management (e.g. planning, finances, coordination and communication between partners, etc.)
Small scale learning/teaching/training materials, tools, approaches etc.
Virtual cooperation and local project activities (e.g. class-room project work with learners, organisation and mentoring of embedded learning/training activities, etc.)
Information, promotion and dissemination (e.g. brochures, leaflets, online dissemination platforms, etc.).
Costs linked to the implementation of the partnerships.

Travel costs – A contribution to the travel costs of participants, including accompanying persons, from their place of origin to the venue of the activity. Travel distances are calculated using the distance calculator supported by the European Commission. Amounts vary from €20 per participant for short distances between 10 and 99km, €275 pp for distances between 500 and 1999km, €360 pp for distances of 2000 to 3000km, to €1500 per participant for travel distances of 8000km or more. Please check the Programme Guide for more detailed information on the rates applicable to each distance band. Applicants will have to justify that mobility activities are necessary to achieve the objectives and results of the project.

Individual support - Unit costs per day are provided to contribute to the subsistence of participants, including accompanying persons, during the activity. These vary, depending on the participant, and duration of the activity. For example short term pupil mobility is €58 per person per day up to 14 days and €42 pp per day for 15 – 60 days. Short term joint staff training or teaching costs are €106 pp per day up to 14 days and €74 pp per day for 15 to 60 days.

Linguistic support - Contributions can be sought for linguistic support offered to participants in order to improve their knowledge of the language for activities lasting between 2 and 12 months of up to €150 per person.

Exceptional costs and special needs support - Funding is also available to cover exceptional costs and additional costs related to participants with disabilities. Requests for additional funding must be outlined within the application and will be considered by the National Agency on a case by case basis.

For full details of eligible funding please see the Erasmus Plus Programme Guide.

For detailed guides for applicants by sector and Key Action, and info on application support webinars, go to www.erasmusplus.org.uk

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations

Erasmus+ stories

16 January 2018 (Erasmus+)

Looking for inspiring Erasmus+ examples in the UK? Read these Case Studies on how Erasmus+ has supported language learning.

Dundee lecturer warns of ‘major disaster’ if Brexit kills off Erasmus programme

11 January 2018 (The Courier)

The loss of a European student exchange programme would be a “major disaster” for language teaching in Scottish schools, says a Dundee lecturer.

The Erasmus+ scheme allows young Scots to study for part of their degree elsewhere in the Europe, but its future is uncertain after Brexit.

Marion Spöring, a languages lecturer at Dundee University said the programme is vital in training Scotland’s teachers and improving education standards.

Posted in: Funding, Languages in the press, Brexit

Erasmus+ 2018 application support

19 December 2017 (Erasmus+)

2018 application deadlines announced

The European Commission has published the Erasmus+ 2018 Call

All the application details are contained in the 2018 Call for Proposals and the 2018 Programme Guide, which are on the Key Resources webpage. You can view and download the full list of deadlines on the funding deadlines page.

The Call for Proposals is an overview document with the deadlines for 2018, while the Programme Guide contains detailed information on project rules, funding levels and application processes for Erasmus+ funding. You will need to read both documents when planning an application.

The two key changes are in Schools Key Action 2 and in Youth Key Action 1:

Schools Key Action 2 strategic partnerships: there is a new name for ‘schools only’ strategic partnerships, which is now called ‘school exchange partnerships’. There is a significant budget increase and a simplified application process.

Youth Key Action 1 mobility:some elements of European Voluntary Service transfer to the new European Solidarity Corps programme. Information will be published on this as it becomes available.

Budget

For 2018 there is a budget uplift for the programme. The amount of funding available to UK applicants increases from 148 million euro (in 2017) to almost 170 million euro.

Erasmus+ and Brexit

There is a reference in the Call for Proposals to the eligibility of UK organisations beyond the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without an agreement UK Government has confirmed that the Treasury will underwrite grant agreements for Erasmus+ signed while the UK is still an EU Member State, even if payments continue beyond the point of the UK’s EU exit date.

Practical details regarding how this will be implemented will be discussed with the Department for Education (the UK’s Erasmus+ National Authority) over the coming months. In the meantime UK applicants should to prepare for participation as usual ahead of the 2018 deadlines for funding. More information is on the Brexit update webpage.

One-to-one calls

You can also now book a one-to-one session to discuss your individual 2018 KA2 application and reporting with the UK National Agency. These are being offered from 14 December to 21 February 2018.

Visit the schools section of our webinars page regularly to ensure you hear about the latest webinars and one-to-one sessions as they are announced and watch the recordings for some of those you miss.

Whether you are a school which is relatively new to Erasmus+ or experienced in applying for funding and managing the projects, look out later this month for our December schools blog which will highlight all the information you need to help you find partners and opportunities.

The EC has also produced a new handy schools leaflet that you may find helpful.

Key Action 101 School Application Support Q&A Webinars

Wednesday 13 December 2017 15:45 - 17:15hrs - register
Wednesday 10 January 2018 15:45 - 17:15hrs - register

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations

Ten top tips for schools applying for Erasmus+ funding in 2018

14 December 2017 (Erasmus+)

Whether you are a school which is totally new to Erasmus+, or experienced in applying for funding and managing the projects, there is plenty of information available on the opportunities, as well as a range of application support and tools to help you find partners and opportunities and even to manage your project.

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations

Secondary summer courses in Germany

29 November 2017 (UK German Connection)

A unique opportunity for pupils to immerse themselves in German language and culture in 2018! Places will be available for part- or fully-funded summer courses.

Applications open mid-January 2018

German Pupil Courses

German Scholarships Programme

Group leadership opportunities

For teachers of German: Become a group leader on the German Pupil Courses and accompany a group of 12 pupils to Germany. This is a great opportunity for your professional development, whilst spending two weeks immersed in German language, daily life and culture.

Group leadership opportunities

Posted in: German, Funding, Immersion, Language Learning - Secondary, News from language & education organisations

GTCS Professional Recognition for LFEE Programmes

23 October 2017 (LFEE)

LFEE were delighted – and very proud - to collect a GTCS Professional Recognition Accredited Programme Award last month for our three-week French/Spanish Immersion Programmes and the 12-month Modern Languages Immersion and Methodology Programme. This is following on from having achieved course accreditation three years ago.

Representatives from ten Local Authorities from across Scotland attended the PowerLanguage conference to witness the launch of the NEW PowerLanguage Schools (PLS) website. Feedback from those present was extremely positive and the new site is now available to other practitioners!

Our “off the shelf” L3 in Mandarin was also very popular and will be available in Spanish soon.

Last but not least, we’re very excited to say that Caroline Gordon has joined our team 2 days a week and will be helping us with communication and social media amongst other things!

Contact us for information regarding any of the above projects. We look forward to hearing from you!
photo of LFEE staff with GTCS certificate of recognition

photo of LFEE staff with GTCS certificate of recognition

Erasmus + 2018 information for schools

20 October 2017 (British Council)

ERASMUS+ 2018

If you would like an introduction to the funding opportunities Erasmus+ will provide for schools in 2018, then make sure you book your place at one of the information sessions the UK National Agency is running across the UK this autumn, including 7 November in Belfast and 15 November in Newcastle.

The European Commission expects to announce the 2018 application deadlines by the end of October. The UK is taking part in Erasmus+ as normal in 2018 (please see our Brexit webpage if you or your partners need any reassurance). In 2018, the new School Exchange Partnerships (part of Key Action 2) will be supported by a 40% increase in funding and a simpler application process, so that lots more schools can get involved and benefit from Erasmus+.

School Exchange Partnerships aim to support short-term exchanges of pupils for a minimum of three days at a time, as well as longer term pupil exchanges of up to a year. You can also still arrange staff training and teaching assignments as before. These new partnership opportunities are an ideal way to enable you to visit your eTwinning partners. More information will be provided at the 2018 information sessions and through the application support process from the UK National Agency, so UK schools should gear up for a bumper Erasmus+ year!

If you need any inspiration, please do look at the Erasmus+ schools projects lists for 2017, to see what other schools are doing through Erasmus+:

· School Staff Mobility funding results (KA101)

· Schools Education Partnership results (KA201)

· Schools-only Partnership results (KA219)

You can also watch this Brae High School video, of their Erasmus+ project, which brings the programme to life.

Posted in: Foreign Language Assistants, Funding, Partnership Working, News from language & education organisations

UK-German Connection opportunities

17 October 2017 (UK-German Connection)

UK-German Connection offers a number of initiatives and opportunities for partnerships between schools in Germany and the UK. Click on the relevant link below to find out more about their latest initiatives:

School Partnership Bursaries - Special **school partnership bursaries of £1,000** are currently available to help keep you UK-German partnership alive and help cover any costs arising from recent changes to safeguarding regulations. All you need to do is answer a few short questions about your partnership activities this year and your plans for next year by **7 November 2017**.
Young Europeans Award - Are your pupils interested in European issues? Encourage them to enter the competition and win a trip to Warsaw! With the UK (and UK-German Connection) as a partner for 2017-18, pupils are invited to team up with young people from Germany, Poland and France and enter with a project on the theme 'To be or not to be... a European.’

To find out more about other activities the organisation provides, you can also visit the UK-German Connection website.

Tianjin scholarship

13 October 2017 (CISS)

The application process for the Tianjin scholarship 2018-2019 is now open. Further information about the scholarship which offers young people the opportunity to study Mandarin in Tianjin can be found on our website. The closing date for applications is Monday 6 November 2017.

Please note that we can only accept applications from current 6th years in an authority with a Confucius Classroom hub.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact ciss-info@strath.ac.uk.

eTwinning face to face workshops

10 October 2017 (eTwinning)

This term, why not apply to go on a short workshop in another European country?

Applications are now open for teachers from Early Years to Upper Secondary to attend a 2-3 day professional development workshop in Ireland and Spain. These events are designed to facilitate new eTwinning projects through partner-finding and project planning activities. Workshop themes and subject areas are varied, spanning e-safety to computational thinking, MFL, history and culture.

Visit the website to find out more and apply by 16/19 October 2017 respectively.

Glasgow named one of the top cities in the world to learn about Chinese language and culture

20 September 2017 (Glasgow Live)

Glasgow is officially home to a world leader in the teaching of Chinese language and culture.

The Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools (CISS) has been appointed a Model Confucius Institute by the global headquarters, Hanban.

The centre, based at the University of Strathclyde, is one of only 40 facilities out of 500 across the globe to be given the status.

Bosses have also announced the institute, which is open to people from all over the country, is set for a move to a new HQ at the university's Ramshorn Theatre.

The Grade A-Listed building is being given a £2 million refurbishment - which includes a substantial investment by Hanban - to develop it as a publicly-accessible hub for learning and cultural exchange.

The new premises will have the capacity to host performances, conferences and exhibitions.

A plaque marking the new status of the institute was unveiled at a conference attended by Scottish Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville.

Liu Xiaoming, China’s Ambassador to the UK, was also a keynote speaker at the event, held to mark the fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Institute.

Strathclyde Principal Professor Sir Jim McDonald said: “As a leading international university, we are extremely proud of our academic links around the globe and our diverse student and staff community.

“This prestigious accolade for our Confucius Institute reflects the important role it plays in improving understanding of Chinese language and culture across Scotland, and we congratulate everyone involved on their fantastic achievement.

“I’m particularly pleased that the Institute’s move to its new headquarters on campus will enable even more schools, businesses and community groups to benefit from increased educational and economic opportunities, with a further 10 Confucius Classroom Hubs being announced today.”

Council to spend £160,000 teaching staff to speak Gaelic

20 September 2017 (The Herald)

A council plans to spend £160,000 teaching its staff to speak Gaelic.

Perth and Kinross aims to reverse the decline which has left just 1,287 locals speaking the language.

The local authority has revealed proposals for a £160,000 Gaelic Language Plan to be rolled out over the next five years.

Magical Christmas Trips deadline reminder: 26 September

19 September 2017 (UK-German Connection)

There's still time to apply to take part in a Magical Christmas Trip to Germany this year!

These visits offer primary pupils the chance to get a taste of Germany at Christmas time, meet their German peers and get involved in some seasonal intercultural activity. Secondary pupils have the opportunity to brush up on their German and practice their skills as young leaders.

There are two options for getting involved: either by applying to take part in a visit to Berlin run by UK-German Connection or by applying for funding to run your own Christmas visit to a partner school anywhere in Germany.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for more information and to apply by 26 September 2017.

Professional development in Germany

13 September 2017 (Goethe-Institut)

Every year the Goethe-Institut offers an attractive range of residential training and language courses for teachers of German: for primary and secondary teachers, for teachers in further education and teacher trainers:

Language Courses
Landeskunde
Methodology/Teaching Strategies

Deadline for applications: 15 October 2017.

Visit the Goethe-Institut website for more information. Teachers from Scotland, please apply to Goethe-Institut Glasgow.

News from UK-German Connection

6 September 2017 (UK-German Connection)

UK-German Connection offers a number of funded opportunities for schools in the UK to link with schools in Germany as well as providing resources and activities for the classroom and professional learning for teachers.

In their latest newsletter you can find out more about current opportunities, including:

Deadline reminder: seas and oceans youth seminar
Host a Teacher in 2018
Voyage kids: back to school special
Magical Christmas Trips
Partnerships Bursaries
Young Europeans Award
Looking ahead

Find out more on their website.

History teachers' professional development tour to Berlin

25 August 2017 (German Embassy)

The German Embassy is inviting applications for their next Professional Development Tour for British Teachers of History to Berlin, Germany, 15 – 21 October 2017.

The purpose of the trip is to give participants a wide-ranging impression of present-day Germany as a background for teaching German history in UK schools. The trip will include highlights of contemporary Berlin, talks with history teachers and teachers’ associations, visits to the German Historical Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Federal Foreign Office, the Reichstag and more.

The tour will be conducted in English. All costs relating to the trip will be covered by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Please see the attached flyer and booking form for more information. Apply by 8 September 2017.

Related Files

German history tour - Call for applications 2017 (145 KB)
Application form - History Teacher Tour to Germany 2017 (24.9 KB)

Posted in: S1-S3, Senior Phase, German, CPD, Funding, Partnership Working, Study Abroad, Teacher Education, News from language & education organisations

Funding for Gaelic Centre

17 August 2017 (Scottish Government)

A Gaelic music, culture and heritage centre planned in South Uist has been awarded £1 million funding.

The £7 million Cnoc Soilleir project will receive the investment from the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Capital Plan and is expected to create around 40 jobs.

Cnoc Soilleir will support the growth of Ceòlas Uibhist community-led activity around Gaelic language learning, music and dance, as well as the Lews Castle College UHI music programmes. Additional creative industry courses will be provided to enable further growth in student numbers.

Established in 1996, Ceòlas Uibhist has grown from a week-long music and dance school to become one of Scotland’s leading Gaelic culture, heritage and arts organisations.

Posted in: Gaelic, Scotland, Funding, Promoting Languages, Languages in the press

Magical Christmas Trips 2017

15 August 2017 (UK-German Connection)

Would you like to take part in a Magical Christmas Trip this year and build on or set up a partnership with a school in Germany?

These visits offer primary pupils the chance to get a taste of Germany at Christmas time, meet their German peers and get involved in some seasonal intercultural activity. Secondary pupils have the opportunity to brush up on their German and practice their skills as young leaders.

There are two options for getting involved:

apply to take part in a visit to Berlin run by UK-German Connection to set up a link to a school in Germany
apply for funding and organisational support to run your own Christmas visit to an existing partner school anywhere in Germany

To find out more, please visit the UK-German Connection's website and apply by 26 September 2017.

UK students ‘may be barred from Erasmus after Brexit’

1 August 2017 (THE)

Erasmus, the world's largest student exchange scheme, is celebrating its 30th birthday.

With more than three million participants since 1987, it is one of the best known and most successful policies of the European Union.

Now including adult learners, vocational students and those on work placements, in addition to university students, it has created an “Erasmus generation”, having been responsible for more than a million babies born from couples who met as part of the scheme.

About 16,000 UK students now spend a semester or a year abroad as part of Erasmus every year. France, Spain and Germany remain the most popular destinations for these students, reflecting the traditional emphasis on students taking modern language or combination degrees. However, many universities across continental Europe now offer modules in English, which has helped to increase the number of UK students able to participate who do not have prior language skills. As students strive to add distinctiveness to their CVs, the number of UK participants has increased.

In addition, the UK is one of the most popular destinations for European students, with these study placements becoming part of Britain's cultural and educational ‘soft power’ by creating thousands of de-facto UK alumni across Europe.

However, while the House of Commons Education Committee believes that “continued membership of Erasmus+ would be the best outcome for the UK”, its future participation was not mentioned in the government’s recent White Paper. The government has only committed itself to considering future participation.

The question therefore is “can the UK continue to be part of it post-Brexit?”

Since Erasmus is a programme of the European Union and established by EU law, the initial answer is no.

However, as with everything else, all depends on the exit agreement between the UK and EU before the UK leaves in March 2019. It may be that the UK continues to be a part of the scheme up to the end of the current programme (2014-2020) with future involvement subject to a separate agreement.

Posted in: Funding, Language Learning, Study Abroad, Languages in the press, Brexit

Young Brits to make German connections

19 July 2017 (UK Government)

More British youngsters will be able to learn about German language and culture after a new agreement was made between the Foreign Secretary and the German Foreign Minister.

Boris Johnson and Sigmar Gabriel have signed off on a doubling of funding for UK-German Connection (UKGC), which means an increase in the number of places available on the scheme.

The funding increase, to around £230,000 and matched by the German government, will expand the scheme’s work in bringing together children and teachers in both countries to learn about each other’s language, history, and culture.

Funding available to partner with schools in China

9 June 2017 (Access China UK / Education Scotland)

Funding is available for schools to set up a successful sister school partnership with China or if you already have a sister school this can be used to re-activate the partnership. The funding is provided by Access China UK Education, which specialises in setting up and supporting schools with active relationships. The deadline to access the fund is 26 June.

Visit the website for more information.

Japanese Language Local Project Support Programme 2017

5 June 2017 (Japan Foundation)

The Japan Foundation London is looking for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education. You can apply for up to £3,000.

We prioritise projects that fit into one of the three following categories:

Introducing Japanese into the curriculum at a primary or secondary school
Supporting GCSE or A-level Japanese courses
Introducing Japanese extracurricular club or enrichment subject at a primary or secondary school

The next deadline to apply for funding is Friday 16 June 2017.

Visit the Japan Foundation website for more information.

Host a teacher from Germany

2 June 2017 (UK-German Connection)

Would you like to have authentic German cultural input in your school? Through the Host a Teacher from Germany programme, your school can host a German teacher for two or three weeks during the academic year, at no cost.

All schools and FE colleges from the whole of the UK can take part. The UK coordinating teacher does not need to be a teacher of German, and German does not need to be on the school’s curriculum; visiting teachers are either teachers of English or have good knowledge of the English language.

Offers from UK schools to host teachers from Germany in 2017-18 are now being accepted. Application deadlines are 10 July 2017 / 21 September 2017.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for more information.

Chinese Language Assistants grants

23 May 2017 (British Council)

The British Council and HSBC are providing up to ten grants of £3,890 to cover the costs of hosting a Chinese language assistant. Schools can apply individually, or with up to two other schools if intending to share an assistant. Apply by 31 May 2017.

Euroscola dates for autumn 2017

16 May 2017 (European Parliament)

Euroscola brings together about 600 students from all over the European Union for a day in Strasbourg discussing aspects of European integration, in multilingual working groups of 100 students. It is open to students aged 16-18 and the European Parliament offers a subsidy towards the costs of the journey to Strasbourg.

As working groups consist of students from several member states it is essential that participants have a sound knowledge of at least one other European Union language. For practical purposes knowledge of French is necessary as during the "committee" meetings in the afternoon, students are expected to think and speak in a language other than their mother tongue. The debates are held mainly in French and English.

Dates for the autumn term 2017 are now available.

To find out more and to apply, visit the Euroscola website.

Japan Foundation Local Grant Programmes 2017-2018

2 May 2017 (Japan Foundation)

Japan Foundation London is now accepting grant applications for UK-based Japan related projects taking place in 2017-18 through local support programmes in the following fields:

Arts and Culture
Japanese Language
Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange

Visit the Japan Foundation website for more information and to apply.

Apply now for a fully funded Chinese Language Assistant!

28 April 2017 (British Council)

The British Council and HSBC are pleased to announce that up to ten grants of £3,890 will be offered to cover the costs of hosting a Chinese language assistant for the academic year of 2017/18.

This is a pilot scheme for UK schools in 2017/18 and is intended to support the Sustainable Development Goal “ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”. Successful schools will have the full costs of hosting a Chinese Language Assistant covered from mid-September 2017 to the end of June 2018.

Visit the British Council website for more information and to download an application form.

Application deadline: 31 May 2017.

Link with a German school

24 April 2017 (UK-German Connection)

Broaden your pupils' horizons and enhance your school's international dimension by linking with a German school. Find out how to set up and develop a partnership with a German school, including practical tips and advice on joint activities, projects and visits to Germany.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for more information.

Japanese Language Local Project Support Programme

10 April 2017 (Japan Foundation)

Introducing Japanese into the curriculum at a primary or secondary school
Supporting GCSE or A-level Japanese courses
Introducing Japanese extracurricular club or enrichment subject at a primary or secondary school

The next deadline for the 2017-18 programme is 27 April 2017.

Visit the Japan Foundation website for more information and to submit your application.

Commission gives a boost to youth mobility in Europe

27 March 2017 (European Commission)

The European Commission presented today an initiative under the Erasmus+ programme which further supports learning and mobility of young Europeans. Called "Move2Learn, Learn2Move", it will enable at least 5,000 young citizens to travel to another EU country in a sustainable manner – individually or together with their school class. The one-off initiative, which is linked to the 30th anniversary of the Erasmus programme, is consistent with two central priorities of the Commission: to put a renewed focus on Europe's youth, and to facilitate EU citizens' mobility, particularly low emission mobility.

Move2Learn, Learn2Move builds on an idea put forward by the European Parliament in 2016. It will be implemented through eTwinning, the world's biggest teachers' network. Part of Erasmus+, it enables teachers and pupils across Europe to develop projects together through an online platform.

[..] The initiative will be open to school classes of students aged 16 and above taking part in eTwinning.

Consultation on Erasmus+

20 March 2017 (Erasmus+)

The March 2017 edition of the Erasmus+ newsletter invites organisations and individuals to complete a questionnaire to share experiences and opinions to help shape how the programme might look after 2020.

The newsletter also contains news on upcoming events and activities.

Cash-strapped schools axing classes and cutting back on trips, headteachers say

10 March 2017 (The Independent)

Schools are being forced to scrap GCSE and A-level courses, increase class sizes and cut back on trips and after-school clubs as a result of a funding crisis, headteachers have warned.

Design and technology, languages and arts are among the subjects being dropped as schools struggle to deal with severe budget pressures, according to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

In a new report, based on a poll of more than 1,000 members, the union warned that pressure to cut costs is having an impact on all areas of school life.

Interim general secretary Malcolm Trobe said school leaders are being forced to make “impossible choices”.

The Government has argued that school funding is at its highest ever level.

UK-German Connection initiatives for schools

7 March 2017 (UK-German Connection)

UK-German connection have the following opportunities they'd like teachers and schools to be aware of:

What do you need now? Have your say.
It’s now more important than ever to maintain connections with Europe. With this in mind, we’re reviewing the opportunities and support we offer schools and are asking teachers for their input on what schools currently need in order to keep links with Germany alive. We’ve put together a short questionnaire for you to have your say and would be grateful for your feedback. Complete the survey.
Plastic Pirates
There’s now another chance for UK and German partner schools to apply for funding to get together in Germany and undertake research on Germany’s rivers and oceans.

Posted in: Primary, S1-S3, Senior Phase, German, Funding, Language Learning, Language Teaching, Partnership Working, News from language & education organisations

Languages Teacher Training Scholarships

23 February 2017 (British Council)

Are you passionate about French, German or Spanish? If so, you could receive a languages scholarship of £27,500 to train as a secondary school teacher in England.

Visit the British Council website for more information and to apply by 31 July 2017.

UK-German Connection latest news

21 February 2017 (UK-German Connection)

UK-German Connection offers a number of opportunities for schools in the UK and Germany to develop and maintain partnerships. In their latest Spring 2017 newsletter they highlight the following:

With the changing landscape of international relations, we want to make sure we're still offering you the right kind of support to keep your connections with Germany alive.We're currently reviewing the opportunities and services we offer and would like to invite you to tell us what you need now for your schools and pupils. Complete the short survey.
Deadline reminder of 1 March for applications for the following summer courses in Germany:
- German Pupil Course.
- German Scholarships Programme.
- Teachers can also apply for paid opportunities as group leaders on the German Pupil Course.

Host a German Language Assistant - British Council applications for 2017-18 are now open.

For upcoming deadlines for the rest of the school year, download our calendar of opportunities for 2016-17.

For further information about UK-German Connection and their activities, visit their website.

Boost language attainment with a Modern Language Assistant

8 February 2017 (British Council)

Modern Language Assistants bring authentic language and culture to the classroom. In a recent survey of host schools, Heads of Languages reported improved exam results – raising standards in under-performing students and motivating talented students to achieve more. The support of an Assistant is particularly valuable with the on-going focus on languages in the 1+2 initiative, and can particularly help to complement the development of language teaching in primary schools.

The British Council Language Assistants programme draws on over 100 years of experience with overseas education authorities to provide a trusted, high quality service.

Applications are now open! For more information visit the British Council website.

In 2016 the Erasmus+ UK National Agency awarded nearly €1.2m+ to Scotland’s schools and colleges for Key Action 2 (KA2) Strategic Partnerships, and 70% of Scottish applications for school-only partnerships were successful. The next Erasmus+ funding deadline is 29 March. If you are planning to apply, access our tailored guidance for school-only applications and school education applications; pre-recorded videos; and telephone support sessions.

eTwinning Workshops

3 February 2017 (British Council eTwinning)

Interested in eTwinning and partnering with schools across Europe on collaborative projects? Check out the professional development opportunities in the UK and overseas for both primary and secondary sectors.

Visit the British Council eTwinning website for more information.

Professional Learning for Teachers of Gaelic Medium Education (GME)

27 January 2017 (Education Scotland)

Streap, the Postgraduate Teaching Certificate for teachers of GME will start on 4 September 2017. There are a limited number of places available. An induction event takes place in Glasgow on 14 and 15 September 2017. There is now a Facebook page relating to this professional learning. Please email for more information. This programme is currently fully funded by the Scottish Government.

Find out more about the programme on the University of Aberdeen website.

UK-German Connection Funding

26 January 2017 (UK-German Connection)

A reminder that the next deadline for grants for UK-German activities is 31 January 2017.

For an 'at a glance' overview of our grants and details about each programme, please visit the UK-German Connection website.

Cuts forcing schools to axe language and science exams

19 January 2017 (The Herald)

Schools are having to cut the number of subjects they offer to pupils as a direct result of cuts, teachers’ leaders have warned.

An education union said current budgetary pressures meant courses such as extra languages and sciences could not run unless at least ten pupils were interested.

The concerns were raised at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s education committee which is examining the roll-out of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) reforms.

Erasmus+ application support

9 January 2017 (Erasmus+)

The next Erasmus+ funding deadline for Key Action 1 School Staff Mobility is 2 February. For UK schools and colleges, the UK National Agency has guidance documentation, and videos on an introduction to Schools Key Action 1 and completing the eForm.

There is also a Q&A webinar at 4-5pm on 19 January.

LFEE Europe immersion courses in France and Spain 2017-18

6 January 2017 (LFEE)

LFEE Europe has been an international course provider since 2002. Our team of experienced and fully qualified native teachers are committed to promoting French and Spanish language and culture throughout Europe. Funding for all our courses is available through the European Union Erasmus+ Programme.

For more information see the attached flyer or visit the LFEE website.

Related Files

LFEE Europe Brochure 2017-18 for UK teachers (187 KB)

Posted in: French, Spanish, CPD, Europe, Funding, Immersion, Language Learning, Language Teaching, Study Abroad, Teacher Education, News from language & education organisations

Eilidh’s next year of study is full of Eastern Promise

1 January 2017 (Milngavie Herald)

Eilidh McConnell, a sixth year pupil at Douglas Academy in Milngavie, has won a scholarship to study and work in China next year.

Eilidh, who will defer her University place for a year, competed with other Scottish pupils and was interviewed in Strathclyde University for the place. The opportunity is offered by the Confucious Institute of Scotland which seeks to promote Chinese language and culture in Scotland.

Posted in: Senior Phase, Chinese, Funding, Study Abroad, Languages in the press

School Partnership Bursaries

29 November 2016 (UK-German Connection)

Do you have a link with a German school? Have your schools engaged in any joint activities in 2016?

Keeping up connections between the UK and Germany is now more important than ever. To help you to keep your school partnership alive, UK-German Connection is offering schools special partnership bursaries of £1,000.

It's easy to apply. Just complete a short online questionnaire by 7 December 2016.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for more information.

Language assistants risk being lost in translation

11 November 2016 (TESS)

Most schools still do not have access to a modern language assistant, new figures show, amid fears that the scheme will wither away if a key source of funding is stopped.

Native speakers of foreign languages have long come to Scotland to work in schools and help teachers to bring those subjects to life. But as local authorities cut budgets, their numbers fell as low as 72 by 2013-14.

Figures obtained by TESS show that the provisional number of modern language assistants (MLAs) has risen to 146 this year, including 23 in independent schools.

The data from British Council Scotland – which arranges for MLAs to work in the country – show increased numbers in all five languages that are part of the scheme: French, German, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish.

But there is still some way to go to match the 278 MLAs that were working in schools in 2005-06 – the highest number since existing records began in 2003.

The picture also varies markedly around the country: 18 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have no MLAs, while Edinburgh has the most with 25, and even a small council like Angus has as many as 19.

Lucy Young, head of education at British Council Scotland, said that councils often used funding from the Scottish government’s 1+2 languages programme to recruit MLAs at an annual cost of about £10,000 per assistant.

Under the programme – being rolled out in all primary schools – pupils are expected to have knowledge of two languages other than their own by the time they reach secondary.

But this key funding is due to be stopped in 2020 – putting schools’ access to MLAs at risk.

Read the full article on TESS online, 11 November 2016 (subscription required).

UK-German Connection news

9 November 2016 (UK-German Connection)

The latest funded opportunities from UK-German Connection can be found on their website via the appropriate links below:

Host a Teacher from Germany in 2017 - Schools now have a second chance to host a teacher from Germany for two or three weeks during spring or summer 2017. Apply by 12 December.
NEW: special school partnership bursaries - funds to help maintain school links. Submit applications by 7 December.
Flexible grants for themed projects - apply any time - available for joint activities on particular themes
Win a trip to Berlin! Competition for language assistants - submit an idea for a project between a German and UK school. Deadline 30 November.

For more information about UK-German Connection and their full range of activities, visit their website.

LFEE Europe immersion courses 2017-2018 in France and Spain for primary and secondary teachers

8 November 2016 (LFEE)

The dates for our immersion courses 2017-2018 have just been released. Please visit the LFEE website to find out new dates and further information or see the attached brochure.

Successful applicants receive a grant from the British Council that covers all costs, including flights, accommodation and subsistence, as well as the course fee.

NEW: Immersion follow up

If you have already attended our immersion course in France in the past and wish to attend another course with us, we have created a follow up immersion which will take place in the beautiful city of Avignon in Provence. Please contact us for further information.

Should you wish to participate in our immersion courses in France or Spain from July 2017 to April 2018, please pre-register at immersions@lfee.net and we will send you further information on how to apply to the Erasmus+ European funding for schools.

Do not hesitate to visit our website and blog for more information and to see what your colleagues have said about their course last summer.

A bientôt!

Related Files

LFEE Europe Brochure 2017-18 for UK teachers (180 KB)

Posted in: Primary, S1-S3, Senior Phase, French, Spanish, CPD, Funding, Immersion, Language Learning, Language Teaching, Study Abroad, Teacher Education, News from language & education organisations

Japan Foundation Funding Programme 2017

1 November 2016 (Japan Foundation)

The Japan Foundation is now accepting applications to several Annual Grant Programmes which support organisations and individuals in the fields of Arts and Culture, Japanese Language Education and Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange.

Visit the website for more information about each programme and how to submit your application.

New grant post EU referendum and funding deadline reminder: 31 October

21 October 2016 (UK-German Connection)

Apply for a grant to engage your pupils in discussions on our future in Europe as part of our flexible funding scheme. If you’d like to apply for flexible funding, a taster trip or a planning visit to a partner school, these programmes all have a rolling deadline. For other activities, such as joint thematic projects and partnership celebrations, don’t miss the deadline: 31 October 2016.

Posted in: German, Funding, News from language & education organisations

Erasmus+ 2017 deadlines announced

21 October 2016 (Erasmus+)

All the deadlines and information on the types of activities you can apply for are contained in the 2017 Call for Proposals document and the 2017 Programme Guide both of which you can download from the Key Resources page of our website. The Call for Proposals is an overview document containing all the deadlines for 2017, while the Programme Guide contains all the detailed information on how to apply for Erasmus+ funding. You will need to read both documents when planning an application.

UK-German Connection flexible funding scheme

27 September 2016 (UK-German Connection)

This special flexible funding scheme is designed to bring young people of the UK and Germany together to facilitate an exchange of ideas, joint learning and open discussions on special topics and current issues.

Funding is available for schools and youth groups in the UK and Germany for grants of between £500 and £5000. Activities must be joint and bilateral (UK-German) with a high level of interaction between the young people.

Current themes available under the flexible funding scheme:

World War 1
Our future in Europe - maintaining the UK-German connection

Visit the UK-German connection website for further information about the scheme and guidelines for applying.

More funding for Gaelic learning

23 September 2016 (Scottish Government)

More than 10,000 young people will benefit from additional funding for Gaelic music, drama and language teaching.

The Scottish Government will provide £33,000 to Fèisean nan Gàidheal in 2016-17 to support Gaelic learning.

The new funding will go towards the production of a new Gaelic music, drama and dance show involving children from two Gaelic primary schools – one in the Highlands and one in the central belt.

It will also allow the organisation to offer their Fèisgoil Gaelic language lessons to local authorities that have not experienced them yet.

Erasmus+ information sessions: Autumn 2016 series

19 September 2016 (Erasmus+)

Erasmus+ will be holding a series of free half-day information sessions in 6 venues across the UK.

The sessions are for any organisation in the UK working in the sectors of education, training, youth or sport. These events will provide an overview of the funding opportunities available under Erasmus+ in 2017, and are primarily intended for newcomers to the programme.

There will be a session in Glasgow on Wednesday 2 November 2016.

For information on all the locations and to register your place, visit the Erasmus+ website.

eTwinning Professional Development Workshops - Autumn 2016

19 September 2016 (eTwinning)

Secondary school teachers and school leaders interested in embedding international practices in their classrooms are invited to apply for one of the professional development workshops taking place this November.

Each workshop aims to share good practice, meet project partners and set up high quality eTwinning projects on the themes below. The selected teachers and school leaders will have the opportunity to meet like-minded educators from Europe, learn innovative approaches and practice new skills.

Workshop 1 - Immigration and tolerance (17-19 November, Greece)
Workshop 2 - Storytelling (18-20 November, Iceland)
Workshop 3 - Strategic Leadership for high quality eTwinning and Erasmus+ projects (24-26 November, UK - Cardiff)

For more information about each workshop and to apply, visit the eTwinning website.

Magical Christmas Trips to Germany 2016

12 September 2016 (UK-German Connection)

Give your primary pupils the chance to experience Germany's Christmas culture in a real-life setting! This four-day visit will give them the chance to meet German children of the same age and get involved in seasonal intercultural activities.

As part of this programme, a group of primary pupils from the UK travel to Germany with their teachers, as well as 'mentors' from a nearby secondary school to meet their German peers, learn some new German words and get a taste of Christmas in Germany.

To find out more and how to apply, visit the UK-German Connection website.

The organisation offers a number of funded activities for primary and secondary pupils and teachers, details of which can also be found on their website. Visit their funding webpage for all the grant options available.

Travel grants for UK schools with partnerships in Germany

5 September 2016 (British Council)

The UK is the partner country for this year’s Oceans and Seas focussed Year of Science organised by the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). Together with our UK partners the British Council Germany, the UK Science & Innovation Network and UK-German Connection, we invite you to take part in a collaborative Citizen Science Project working on the “Plastic Pirates” project together with your German partner school.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has agreed to bear the travel and accommodation costs incurred by British partner schools who take part in the project.

Would you and your pupils like to become Plastic Pirates? If so, get in touch with your German partner school if they are also taking part in the programme. They should then let the Editorial Office of the Science Year know who will help you organise your research trip to Germany.

Visit the British Council or UK-German Connection websites for more information.

Funding for Japanese Language Education Projects held in the UK

1 September 2016 (Japan Foundation)

Institutions can apply for up to £3000 for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education in the UK. We prioritise projects that fit into one of the three following categories:

Introducing Japanese into the school curriculum
Supporting formal Japanese courses and qualifications
Japanese clubs

The next funding application deadline is 16 September 2016.

For more information about the programme and how to apply, visit the Japan Foundation website.

Residential training courses in Germany 2017

30 August 2016 (Goethe-Institut)

Every year the Goethe-Institut offers an attractive range of residential training and language courses for teachers of German (specialists and non-specialists) as well as teacher trainers.

Available are language courses, courses on "Landeskunde", methodology and teaching strategies and also courses for teacher trainers.

Apply now for a scholarship from the Goethe-Institut Glasgow. Deadline for applications is 15 October 2016.

Details and application form are available on the Goethe-Institut website.

Funding for French exchange opportunities

24 August 2016 (British Council)

Secondary schools, sixth form and further education colleges that already have a partnership with a school in France can apply for funding for reciprocal student visits.

Both Charles de Gaulle and Lefèvre trust funding is available, each offering £5000 for reciprocal visits and extended project work.

Visit British Council's Schools Online website for more information and apply by 10 November 2016.

Ambitious virtual Gaelic school wins £700,000 boost

24 August 2016 (The Scotsman)

A scheme aimed to widen the availability of subject choices for teenagers in the Western Isles is to benefit from a massive funding boost.

Gaelic virtual school the e-Sgoil, announced by Gaelic agency Bòrd na Gàidhlig in March, will be based in Stornoway and initially focus on Highers, Advanced Highers and supporting teachers in training.

e-Sgoil will allow secondary pupils across the Western Isles to access more curriculum subjects through online classes.

It will be developed thanks to £550,000 in Scottish Government funding and £150,000 from Bord na Gaidhlig.

Posted in: Gaelic, Scotland, Funding, Languages in the press

Foreign languages A-level slump blamed on cuts

18 August 2016 (BBC News)

A sharp decline in entries to modern foreign language A-levels has been blamed by head teachers on severe funding pressures.

Entries to A-levels in French have dropped by 6.4% from last year, in German by 4.2% and in Spanish by 2.7%.

Malcolm Trobe of the ASCL heads' union said schools and colleges were finding it hard to run courses with small pupil numbers, due to funding shortages.

The government replied that it had been encouraging pupils to take languages.

This is mainly through the English Baccalaureate - the wrap-around qualification which requires pupils to sit a range of certain GCSES including a language.

More money needed to keep the conversation flowing

29 July 2016 (TESS)

Experts say extra funding is vital if the government's 1+2 foreign languages programme is to succeed.

Read the full article in TESS online, 29 July 2016, pages 8-9 (subscription required).

Posted in: Scotland, 1+2, Funding, Language Policy, Scottish Government, Languages in the press

The Smart Choice: German schools' network

15 June 2016 (Goethe-Institut)

This opportunity is currently not available.

Posted in: Primary, S1-S3, Senior Phase, German, Funding, Language Learning, Language Teaching, Partnership Working, Promoting Languages, News from language & education organisations

Visit China with Chinese Bridge for UK schools

6 June 2016 (British Council)

Are you interested in encouraging the teaching and learning of Mandarin in your school?

Chinese Bridge is offering an exciting opportunity for school leaders, heads of languages, and local authorities. If you want to invest in your own professional development, link with a school in China, or encourage teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture in school, this Hanban funded visit could be just what you need.

Travel, accommodation and expenses in China will be covered by the programme, but schools must pay for their own flights.

Successful applicants will be offered a place on a week’s visit to China from 22- 29 October 2016 and will be invited to take part in a pre-departure briefing to prepare for the visit.

Only 60 places are available, so visit the British Council Schools Online website to find out more and make sure you apply online by 12 noon on 7 July.

The UK-German Bears project - apply now to host Alex and Ben

3 June 2016 (UK-German Connection)

Alex and Ben, our UK-German bears, are preparing for their travels again and can't wait to find out who they'll visit next! We can match you up with a German partner school to work with on this fun, interactive three-week project for primary children, which helps them learn about each other's language and culture.

Find out more about the project and available hosting dates on the UK-German Bears website.

UK-German Connection offers a variety of funded activities including professional development opportunities for teachers to visit Germany, the chance to host a German teacher at your school, as well as a Youth Ambassadors programme for young people interested in German language and culture. See the calendar of opportunities available on the UK-German Connection website for full details.

Funding for Japanese Language Education Projects held in the UK

1 June 2016 (Japan Foundation)

Introducing Japanese into the school curriculum
Supporting formal Japanese courses and qualifications
Japanese clubs

The next funding application deadline is 17 June 2016.

For more information about the programme and how to apply, visit the Japan Foundation website.

Connecting Classrooms school partnership programme

31 May 2016 (British Council)

Connecting Classrooms is a global education programme brought to you by the British Council in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID).

It offers a free learning journey which helps you to improve your classroom practice and develop your ideas with like-minded teachers internationally.

By developing and networking with thousands of teachers across the world, the British Council aims to help young people develop the knowledge, skills and values to live and work in a globalised economy.

To find out more about the programme and how to take part, visit the British Council Schools Online website, where you can also hear a participating teacher reflect on her time visiting Nigeria with Connecting Classrooms.

Connecting Classrooms is open for applications!

16 May 2016 (British Council)

After the success of the first window of applications, the second is now open for professional partnerships funding. By applying for a £3,000 grant, you can gain the experience to work with your partner face-to-face, allowing you to further support and guide each other on the Connecting Classrooms learning journey. Visit now to learn more about the grant funding and eligibility criteria.

Internships in China

9 May 2016 (Generation UK/British Council)

Whether you’re looking to pick up an internship in accounting, architecture, engineering or just about any other industry, Generation UK-China can help provide funding for your trip and make sure you make the most of your time in China.

Companies across the world are looking to engage with China, and value employees with experience in China immensely. New industries and work opportunities in China are rising up faster than the skyscrapers that accommodate them. Developing a connection with China could be the smartest choice you can make right now.

There are two-month internships available for applicants aged 18 years and over who are currently enrolled full-time at a UK university or who have graduated from a UK university within the past year. Whilst the ability to speak Mandarin is not essential, it is recommended successful applicants learn some of the basics.

Full details of the available opportunities, funding and application process can be found on the British Council's Study, Work, Create web portal.

eTwinning Generation - Celebrating Ten Years of eTwinning

29 March 2016 (eTwinning)

Thinking about linking your class with another through an eTwinning project? Read the latest publication from the British Council eTwinning team which contains an inspiring collection of testimonials from former participants in eTwinning projects.

Many of the interviewed young people consider eTwinning to be the most motivating
and enjoyable way to learn. Their experiences with eTwinning have helped them to
develop their language and ICT skills, as well as an understanding of different cultures,
in line with the goals set out at the launch of the platform back in 2005. But there is
much more to it.

See the book 'eTwinning Generation - Celebrating Ten Years of eTwinning' and visit the website to find out how to start your own eTwinning journey.

Study in France - apply for an Entente Cordiale Scholarship

26 February 2016 (French Embassy)

The Entente Cordiale Scholarship Scheme is a prestigious bi-lateral awards scheme that funds British postgraduate students who want to study in France and French students who want to study in the UK. Funded for the most part by the private sector in both countries the scheme provides funding for around 20 French and British students each year.

Applications are now open. The deadline to apply is 13 March 2016.

For full details about the scholarships and how to apply, visit the French Embassy's website.

Posted in: HE, French, Funding, Study Abroad, News from language & education organisations

Mind your language! Teacher takes on Government over cuts to foreign language budget

10 February 2016 (Cambridge News)

A petition launched by a Cambridgeshire teacher to save the provision of languages teaching in schools is closing in on its target of 10,000 signatures.

Language teacher Jane Driver is calling on the Government not to cut funding for the Routes into Languages (RiL) organisation, which is due to stop in July.

Ms Driver, of Godmanchester, has said it is vital RiL continues to be funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and her petition has now been signed by 7,500 people.

She said: "Unlike other organisations, they [RiL] work together with schools and teachers to develop collaborative projects aimed at promoting language-learning at GCSE and beyond.

"The ability to speak another language is a skill that is in high-demand by UK businesses, who are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit UK residents with foreign language skills.

"We have a shortage of linguists – businesses are desperate for people with languages. It's not the right time for the government not to re-fund this project."

Posted in: All Languages, England, Funding, Language Teaching, Languages in the press

The lowdown on applying for an Erasmus partnership project

4 February 2016 (Erasmus+)

You can apply for funding for one or two types of Strategic Partnership project in 2016, depending on the sector: supporting exchanges of practices, or supporting innovation. This year’s application deadline is 31 March, except youth with two remaining deadlines: 26 April and 4 October. The support available from the UK National Agency includes guidance notes and webinars tailored for each sector.

You can now download the new factsheet on working with partners in your Erasmus+ project with information, advice and top tips from the National Agency. It contains best practice from those currently running Strategic Partnership projects as well as hints from our programme teams. From monitoring to arranging partner meetings, why not take a look to see how it could benefit your partnership?

Posted in: Funding, Partnership Working, News from language & education organisations

Erasmus+: Providing more and better opportunities to support Europe's future generations

26 January 2016 (European Commission)

In its first year, Erasmus+, the bigger and more fit-for-purpose programme for education, training, youth and sport, is already living up to expectations.

With a budget of over €2 billion in its initial year, Erasmus+ has already offered more than one million people the opportunity to take part in 18.000 funded projects. More flexible opportunities for collaboration across sectors are also helping Europe's education, training, youth and sport systems to try out innovative practices and contribute to reform and modernisation.

Reports published today offer the first results one year after the start of the Erasmus+ programme and can be accessed on the European Commission's website.

Making an impact in Erasmus+

13 January 2016 (Erasmus+)

This is a selection of project stories from 2015 demonstrating how UK organisations are making an impact as a result of the Erasmus+ and predecessor EU programmes. Take a look at the achievements of projects across all the sectors for both the organisation and project participants, including Brae High School from the Shetland Isles who exhibited and shared their experience at the 2015 Erasmus+ Annual Conference.

Erasmus+ funding for schools

11 January 2016 (Erasmus+)

Schools planning to apply for Erasmus+ funding in 2016 can benefit from tailored information and support to increase your chances of making a successful application. This includes live Q&A webinars taking place between January and March and pre-recorded webinars giving overviews and advice on completing applications.

Further links and details can be found in the Erasmus+ January bulletin which can be accessed online.

UK-German Connection programmes and funding

7 January 2016 (UK-German Connection)

The next deadline for grants to fund projects and partnerships between UK and German schools is 31 January 2016.

See the full programme of opportunities available and deadline dates for each.

Some programmes have rolling dates, such as the UK-German Bears Project, a free three-week bilateral programme, which puts pupils not only in touch with Alex, the teddy bear from Germany, but also with a German school class. The German class hosts Ben, the British teddy bear, at the same time as the UK school hosts Alex, making this a fun, interactive way for primary children to learn about each other’s language and culture! The bears come with a wide range of downloadable resources with ideas for short-term bilateral activities, which tie in with primary curriculum topics wherever possible. There are still some hosting dates available for February 2016. If you're interested in taking part, find out more on the Bears Project webpage.

For more information about all the programmes offered by the UK-German Connection, visit their website.

Erasmus+ December update

10 December 2015 (Erasmus+)

Support for applying for Erasmus+ funding can be found in this most recent newsletter from Erasmus+. This support includes a series of webinars, advice on opening the eforms and links to some new and improved resources.

Erasmus+ Key Action 1 applications open

3 December2015 (Erasmus+)

Apply for school staff mobility funding through Erasmus+. Whether you are a teacher or support staff in a school, Key Action 1 is the funding strand that applies to you and your organisation.

Key Action 1 is about mobility which would usually mean you spend time abroad. Mobility projects are transnational, and so all project activity except structured courses or training events must involve at least two schools – your own school and the partner school(s) abroad.

To find out more and to apply for funding, visit the Erasmus+ website. Application deadline is 2 February 2016.

Warnings of blow to Gaelic TV

26 November 2015 (The Herald)

Campaigners have warned of a "major blow" to Gaelic television after George Osborne quietly axed UK Government funding.

The Chancellor did not renew a £1 million-a-year grant from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

[...] Two years ago the then Culture Secretary Maria Miller described the service as playing a "crucial role in the cultural and economic well-being of Scotland".

She also said that the Scottish Gaelic language was an "integral part of our incredibly diverse culture".

And she said that the sum provided the "funding certainty that the channel needs to continue bringing high-quality Gaelic language programmes to the small screen".

Japanese Language Local Project Support Programme - Final 2015 deadline

2 November 2015 (Japan Foundation)

This programme enables institutions to apply for up to £3,000 for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education. Primary and secondary schools can also apply for up to £1,000 to support the launch of an extra-curricular Japanese language class. The final deadline this year is November 20th. Don't miss out!

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations, Japanese

Scottish Funding Council Gaelic Language Plan 2014-19

28 October 2015 (Scottish Funding Council)

The SFC has just published its Gaelic Language Plan 2014-19. This Plan has been prepared under Section 3 of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and was approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig on 17 September 2015.

See the SFC publication on their website.

Posted in: Gaelic, Scotland, Funding, News from language & education organisations

Charles de Gaulle and Lefèvre Trust funding

26 October 2015 (British Council)

Charles de Gaulle Trust funding is specifically for students aged 17 to 19 to attend a French partner school or college and work on research or projects that contribute to their learning and future development.. The visits give students the chance to prove to future educators and employers that they are globally-minded, committed and dedicated young people.

Students aged 16 and below can benefit from an award from the Lefèvre Trust, which offers grants to UK schools to facilitate reciprocal visits to their partner schools in France. A French study visit is the ideal way to instil a love of the French language in your students, give them exposure to authentic language usage and enable them to experience French culture first-hand. It will also boost confidence levels before key GCSE, A level, National Qualification and Higher level French oral exams.

The deadline for applications for both funding programmes is 30 November 2015. Full details and application forms are available on the British Council website.

Support for Gaelic early years

21 October 2015 (Scottish Government)

Children in Gaelic speaking communities will be helped to get the best start in life after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced £100,000 funding for 41 early years’ groups and organisations.

The money will support the running costs of the groups and provide employment opportunities for Gaelic speaking leaders so that children can develop their skills in the language.

The First Minister made the announcement in Skye as she delivered the Sabhal Mòr Ostaig lecture for the first time. She said:

“We want all of Scotland’s children to have the best start in life. That includes providing opportunities for children to learn and improve Gaelic in their early years. Our support for Gaelic medium education is encouraging and enabling more children to learn the language and has helped to slow the decline in our population of Gaelic speakers. I am determined to do all I can to support the future of the language in Scotland. Today’s announcement ensures that children will be able to take up Gaelic at the earliest possible age.”

Erasmus+ 2016 applications

20 October 2015 (Erasmus+)

The European Commission has released the 2016 application deadlines for Erasmus+. All the deadlines and information on the types of activities you can apply for are contained in the 2016 Call for Proposals document and the 2016 Programme Guide, both of which you can download from our Key Resources page. The Call for Proposals is an overview document containing all the deadlines for 2016, while the Programme Guide contains all the detailed information on how to apply for Erasmus+ funding. You will need to read both documents when planning an application.

UK-China School Partnerships Programme

15 October 2015 (British Council)

What's the UK-China programme all about?

The programme promotes learning and exchange between UK and Chinese teachers and students.

Both you and your Chinese partner school will work together on a joint project, either Shakespeare Lives or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) between 1 January and 31 December 2016.

Grants of £1500 per school are available to be used during the project for teacher visits, professional development courses or project expenses.

Visit the UK-China School Partnerships Programme website to download the application form. The deadline for applications is 15 November 2015.

Erasmus+ Learning Networks booking now open

8 October 2015 (Erasmus+)

Learning Networks are discussion groups for organisations involved in projects funded either through the Erasmus+ programme or through its predecessor programmes – the Lifelong Learning Programme (including Erasmus, Comenius, Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes) and Youth in Action.

The date for the next Learning Networks event as 3 December 2015. Book your place online here. The event will take place at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Erasmus+ information sessions: dates announced

8 October 2015 (Erasmus+)

Starting on 20 October, Erasmus+ are holding half-day information sessions across the UK aimed at organisations new to Erasmus+. The sessions will give an overview of the funding opportunities available under Erasmus+. If you have previously applied for funding, support will be available through webinars and our helplines.

Information sessions will be held in six venues across the UK, including Glasgow on 10 November.

Further training in Germany 2016: Apply now for a scholarship from the Goethe-Institut

8 October 2015 (Goethe-Institut)

Every year the Goethe-Institut offers an attractive range of residential training and language courses for teachers of German (specialists and non-specialists) as well as teacher trainers. Available are language courses, courses on "Landeskunde", methodology & teaching strategies and also courses for teacher trainers.

Deadline for application: 15 October 2015.

Apply to: Goethe-Institut Glasgow (language@glasgow.goethe.org).

Posted in: German, CPD, Funding, News from language & education organisations

Mandarin lessons to get £10m boost, says Chancellor

22 September 2015 (BBC News)

Mandarin in English schools will get a £10m boost, and 5,000 more pupils will learn it by 2020, George Osborne has said on a visit to China.

The cash will be used to recruit and train teachers to teach the language to GCSE level, said the Chancellor in a speech to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Mr Osborne suggested Mandarin would be more "relevant" than traditional options like French or German.

He revealed his daughter, Liberty, was already learning China's main language.

Language study beyond school

11 September 2015 (SCILT)

Do you have students looking to further or develop their language learning on leaving school? Make sure they know about the Beyond School section of the SCILT website. With useful information on different language courses and options available here in Scotland, there are also links to UCAS and language courses UK-wide to help their selection process and the transition from school.

The section includes advice and information on:

The benefits of language learning for you and your career
Undergraduate language courses at Scottish and UK universities
Options for combining languages with other degree subjects
Beginner and refresher language courses and modules at Scotland’s colleges
The gap year – opportunities to study, work or volunteer abroad
The student voice – blogs, advice, hints and tips from those who’ve been there

The site also outlines the support Scottish universities can provide to teachers and schools in their language teaching and staff professional development.

So please make your language teaching professionals, pupils and guidance staff aware of the ‘Beyond School’ website. It’s got their language needs covered!

Ulster University to close school of modern languages

2 September 2015 (THE)

Ulster University has confirmed the closure of its school of modern languages while identifying another four subject areas for “rationalisation”.

[..] Robin Swann, an Ulster Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the chair of its employment and learning committee, said that the closure of the modern languages department would be particularly damaging.

Funding for Japanese Language Education Projects held in the UK

1 September 2015 (Japan Foundation)

Institutions can apply for up to £3000 for non-profit-making projects or activities which will have a significant and wide impact on the promotion of Japanese language education throughout the UK, or in their local area. For example, conferences on Japanese language education, seminars for teachers, projects to produce Japanese language teaching materials, etc. We also welcome projects that introduce Japanese into the curriculum, or bring it into the timetable at Schools or Universities.

The next deadline for funding applications is 18 September 2015.

More information is available on the Japan Foundation website.

Lefèvre Trust - funding for school partnerships with France

20 August 2015 (British Council)

Develop your pupils' French language skills. Grants of £5000 are available from the Lefèvre trust for UK secondary schools to plan reciprocal visits with their partner schools in France.

Visit the British Council website for more information and to apply by 30 November 2015.

Funding for UK-German activities

14 August 2015 (UK-German Connection)

Schools can apply for grants for joint projects or activities with a German partner school, anniversary celebrations and preliminary visits for teachers.

The next deadline for grants is 31 October 2015 (the next deadline after this will be 31 January 2016).

Funding deadlines for the various opportunities on offer can be found on the attached document or visit the UK-German Connection website for full details of the opportunities available.

Related Files

UK-German Opportunities Deadlines 2015-16 (105 KB)

Posted in: Primary, S1-S3, Senior Phase, German, Funding, News from language & education organisations

Science A-levels cut in sixth form college cash squeeze

11 August 2015 (BBC News)

Sixth form colleges in England say they have had to cut the number of science and foreign language courses they offer, because of financial pressures.

[..] A-levels in modern languages have been cut in 28 colleges (over a third), while 17 (just under a quarter) reported cuts in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.

Education Grants for Gaelic Teaching Students 2015-2016

13 July 2015 (Bòrd na Gàidhlig)

Bòrd na Gàidhlig has set up this fund to support those currently working towards a career in Gaelic teaching. Applications for funding should be submitted to Bòrd na Gàidhlig as soon as possible and no later than Tuesday 15th September 2015.

Funding for UK-German partnership activities and projects

18 May 2015 (UK-German Connetion)

UK-German Connection would like to remind you of an upcoming funding deadline. Grants are available for joint projects or activities with a German partner school, anniversary celebrations and preliminary visits for teachers. The next deadline for grants is 31 May 2015 (the next deadline after this will be 31 October 2015).

Grants with rolling deadlines:
Please note that you can apply at any time for Instant Impact (for taster trips), the WWI flexible funding scheme, and Partnership Visit Fund (for teacher’s visits).

If you have any questions about the above grants or would like to discuss your ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact UK-German Connection either by email on funding@ukgermanconnection.org or by telephone (020 7824 1573).

Posted in: German, Funding, News from language & education organisations

Funding for UK-German school partnerships

12 May 2015 (UK-German Connection)

Updated funding guidelines and application forms are now on the UK-German Connection website.

The following funds are available for schools:

Challenge Fund - for joint thematic projects in all curriculum areas
Challenge Fund - World of Work - for 'world of work' projects, with or without pupils' work experience
Partnerships in Learning - for peer-learning activities to strengthen school partnerships
Partnership Visit Fund - for partnership visits for teachers to plan or revive joint activities for pupils

Next funding deadline is 31 May 2015.

Lefèvre funding for French exchange trips

23 April 2015 (British Council)

Develop the speaking confidence of your pupils in advance of oral examinations with a trip to France. The Lefèvre Trust is offering grants of up to £5000 to UK schools to facilitate reciprocal visits to their partner schools in France. Application deadline is 19 May 2015.

Visit the British Council website for more information about the funding programme and how to apply.

Learning lessons from overseas

12 March 2015 (Scottish Government)

Scottish students that have never studied abroad will be given the chance to learn in a new environment overseas in the coming academic year.

The Outward Mobility Fund is now open for applications for 2015/16, backed by £130,000 funding from the Scottish Government.

The fund supports student to go to Canada, China, India, the USA for any duration of time, or to Europe destinations for a period less than three months. The scheme is particularly aimed at students who had never studied abroad and to date 367 people have been offered places.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Angela Constance said:

[..]“Heading abroad can help our students gain intercultural understanding, problem solving and language skills, greater self-confidence and better employability prospects. I have heard of a number of success stories from the scheme including one project that took 10 students from the University of the West of Scotland to China to study mechanical and civil engineering techniques.”

Erasmus+: more than just mobility

11 March 2015 (European Parliamentary Research Service)

Did you know that an experience abroad can double your chances of finding a job?

Erasmus+ is the new single integrated European Union education programme for 2014 to 2020 aimed at improving young people’s skills and employability. It also promotes modernisation of education and training in Member States, by facilitating transnational contacts amongst different players and across different sectors. The programme brings together the previous EU programmes in education, training and youth, introduces a loan facility and includes sports as a new area.

Overall, Erasmus+ is intended to contribute towards the EU’s strategic objectives for education and training, in line with Europe 2020 priorities, with special focus on addressing skills deficits and skills mismatch. In January 2015, nearly 5 million young people (under 25) were unemployed in the EU, yet a third of employers find it hard to recruit staff with the necessary skills. In this context, Erasmus+ focuses on increasing attainment in higher education, lowering early school drop-out rates and improving attainment in key skills such as knowledge of a foreign language.

Funding for Japanese Language Education Projects held in the UK

2 March 2015 (Japan Foundation)

For further information and to apply by 1 April 2015 visit the Japan Foundation website.

UK-German Connection Partnership Visit Fund

27 February 2015 (UK-German Connection)

Our new Partnership Visit Fund provides financial support for teachers who wish to visit their (prospective) partner school in order to gain an insight into the school and/or plan activities between their young people.

Funding is available to help set up, revive or develop partnership activities or to support teachers who have taken on a new role in an existing partnership.

Visit the UK-German Connection website for full details.

Discover Germany! funded trip for S1 pupils - project ideas

24 February 2015 (UK-German Connection)

Interested in the UK-German Connection's funded trip to Berlin for your S1 pupils but need some help identifying a project? Take a look at some showcase examples on the UK-German Connection website.

For more information about the trip itself and to apply by 26 March 2015, visit the Discover Germany! webpage.

Erasmus+ Key Action 1 application - technical error and Key Action 2 guidance

17 February 2015 (Erasmus+)

A technical error has been identified in Key Action 1 application eForms for schools, VET and adult education. The error occurs in the calculation of Special Needs and Exceptional Costs budget sections of the eForms. The European Commission have provided information on the error for potential applicants which we advise you to read before submitting your application eForm.

Follow the link below for further details and to access the link to an online pdf describing the error.

Guidance for Key Action 2 applications for Strategic Partnerships in the fields of higher education (HE), vocational education and training (VET), schools, and adult education is also available online.

Erasmus+ guidance published for UK Key Action 1 applications

5 February 2015 (Erasmus+)

Guides for UK applicants are now available to download for mobility (Key Action 1) in higher education in programme countries, vocational education and training (VET), schools, and adult education. The guide for higher education international credit mobility will follow soon.

These guides contain detailed information on completing the eForm and submitting your application for funding.

The deadline for submitting your Key Action 1 application for HE, VET, schools, or adult education is 4 March 2015 at 11am (UK time).

We are also running application support webinars, which are free to attend and can be joined from the comfort of your home or office. Register now via the support webinar link to secure your place on a session.

2015 Disability Scholarship Program

23 January 2015 (CRCC Asia – British Council)

CRCC Asia are delighted to offer two *funded China Internship Programs with the British Council, specifically for students with a disability. The successful candidates will undertake a business placement at the British Council, in Beijing and Shanghai, and obtain first hand experience of China’s business and cultural environments. They will be required to complete the two-month China Internship Program during May-November 2015. The program is open to university students with a disability, and all eligible candidates from any academic discipline are welcome to apply.

Posted in: HE, Chinese, Funding, News from language & education organisations

Summer courses in Germany for secondary pupils 2015

21 January 2015 (UK-German Connection)

Do you have pupils who are interested in going to Germany this summer? UK-German Connection has two fantastic courses that might be of interest to them, both of which combine language learning with cultural trips and excursions, as well as staying with host families. The application deadline for both courses is 10 March 2015.

German Pupil Courses: These two-week language and culture courses are part-funded and are for pupils in S5 or S3. Follow the link for further details and the online application.

German Scholarships Programme: This is a free four-week programme for excellent students of German in S5. Follow the link for further details and the application form.

There are also opportunities for teachers to act as group leaders on the German Pupil Courses.

Posted in: S1-S3, Senior Phase, German, Funding, Immersion, News from language & education organisations

Funding opportunities for UK-German activities

21 January 2014 (UK-German Connection)

Do you need funding for activities with your German partner school? UK-German Connection has grants available for UK-German projects, activities and anniversary celebrations. The next deadline for grants for UK-German activities is 31 January 2015 (the next deadline after this will be 31 May 2015).

Connecting Classrooms funding

7 January 2015 (British Council)

Apply for funding for your school partnership now! This is the last grant application round for the current Connecting Classrooms funding offer.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get funding to collaborate directly with international peers. Connecting Classrooms brings challenging global issues to life through meaningful cross-cultural relationships.

The grant supports visits from at least one teacher from each of the schools in your partnership. Make sure you submit your application for funding in 2015 by the deadline of 30 January 2015.

For more information and to apply, visit the British Council Schools Online website.

Erasmus+ application support webinars

22 December 2014 (Erasmus+)

Booking is open for webinars providing guidance on completing application eForms, by Key Action and sector. The UK National Agency team will be online from Wednesday 7 January to give practical advice and guidance. Places are limited so please book your place as soon as possible.

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations

Erasmus+ application forms now live

22 December 2014 (Erasmus+)

Application eForms are now available for Key Action 1 mobility and Key Action 3. These are the live forms to use for your funding application. The European Commission is working to finalise forms for Key Action 2 and we will publish these on our website as soon as they are available. Our guidance activities, including webinars and handbooks, will start in January 2015.

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations

Connecting Classrooms: UK-China School Partnerships

2 December 2014 (British Council)

British Council Connecting Classrooms programme offers funding for partnership activities between schools in China and the UK.

Funding applications must demonstrate how planned activities will increase global citizenship, enrich education practice, and develop an equitable and sustainable partnership between all schools involved.

Grant applications can be accepted from UK and China schools, sixth-form colleges and comparable institutions providing full-time general, vocational, technical and special-needs education for pupils aged 3-18 years old.

Further information regarding eligibility and how to apply is available on the British Council Connecting Classrooms website.

Deadline for applications is 31 January 2015.

Primary pupils learn languages in new scheme

30 October 2014 (Evening Telegraph)

Hundreds of thousands of pounds of Scottish Government funds have been pumped into Dundee to give every child the opportunity to learn two foreign languages in primary school.

Currently core languages such as French, German and Spanish are being introduced to the primary school curriculum, but there is scope for children to be speaking Gaelic, Russian and Mandarin in the near future.

Dundee City Council has received £131,170 to finance the 1+2 Approach for the 2014-15 school session in addition to the £103,973 it received in 2013-14.

Last year Hillside Primary School piloted the programme in which they started learning a foreign language as early as P1 before picking up another by P5, and now 16 more primaries are taking on the new language learning.

Posted in: Scotland, 1+2, Funding, Language Policy, Scottish Government, Languages in the press

Change to Erasmus+ application deadlines for 2015

24 October 2014 (Erasmus+)

Following the recent announcement of the 2015 Call for Proposals for the Erasmus+ programme (on 7 October), the European Commission has revised the Programme Guide:

The deadline has changed for Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships from 30 April 2015 to 31 March 2015.
The conditions under which Russian organisations are allowed to participate in Key Action 2 in the field of higher education are detailed in line with the European Council conclusions regarding bilateral cooperation with Russia.
The conditions of participation for Partner Country organisations under Key Action 2 Sport are the same as those defined in the 2014 Programme Guide.

The revised deadline affects partnership applications for higher education, vocational education and training, schools and adult education plus cross-field applications.

All other deadline dates remain as published on 7 October.

You can download factsheets detailing the key deadlines for 2015. We recommend that you follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep track of the latest programme news.

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations

Connecting Classrooms partnership funding

9 October 2014 (British Council)

The British Council offers funding of £1,500 for partnerships between schools in the UK and other countries.

The partnership offers young people the chance to collaborate directly with their international peers, bringing challenging global issues to life and creating meaningful cross-cultural relationships. The grant must be spent on visits from at least one teacher from each of the schools in the partnership. It should be used to cover the cost of flights, accommodation, travel insurance, local transport, visas, vaccinations, and food.

A reminder that the next deadline to apply is 31 October 2014.

Erasmus+ application deadlines for 2015 announced

7 October 2014 (Erasmus+)

The European Commission has today (7 October 2014) published the dates of the next set of application deadlines for the Erasmus+ programme as part of the 2015 Call for Proposals.

The European Commission publishes a Call for Proposals each year – this provides high-level details on programme eligibility, award criteria, budgets and application deadlines so that you can apply for funding for your projects. An updated Programme Guide, containing all the detailed information on project rules, funding levels and application processes, is also published each year.

The 2015 Call and the 2015 Programme Guide are now available. You can read and download them on the Erasmus+ website, along with factsheets detailing the key deadlines for 2015.

For an introduction to the opportunities available to the UK through the Erasmus+ programme you can also read the 'Learning Together' 2014-15 brochure.

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations

Charles de Gaulle and Lefèvre Programmes

19 September 2014 (British Council)

Secondary schools, sixth form or further education colleges that already have a partnership with a school in France, can apply to receive funding for reciprocal student visits. The two grants available can be used for individual and/or group visits.

The Charles de Gaulle Trust joint project offer, gives students aged 17-19 the opportunity to develop vocational skills in a multilingual environment. The £5,000 grant per school is for reciprocal student visits to facilitate the project work.

The Lefèvre Trust offers a grant of £5,000 per school for students aged between 11-19

If pupils in your school and your partner school fit the age ranges specified then you can apply for both grants simultaneously. So, you and your partner school could access £10,000 each in total.

Visit the British Council website for more information about the trusts and how to apply. Application deadline is Tuesday 11 November 2014.

Funding for Japanese Language Education Projects held in the UK

18 September 2014 (Japan Foundation)

Projects with a wide impact on Japanese language education
Up to £3,000 for projects that contribute widely to the maintenance and strengthening of Japanese language education, eg conferences on Japanese language education, seminars for teachers, projects to produce Japanese language teaching materials, projects by organisations working in partnership, which benefit not only the institution applying for the programme, but which have a beneficial effect on others etc.
Introducing Japanese to schools or universities
- Up to £3,000 for projects that promote the introduction of Japanese into the curriculum (or onto the main school timetable) at primary and secondary schools. Or projects that support the introduction of Japanese language classes at university.
  - As part of our Primary Japanese Campaign, primary schools that would like to introduce Japanese as their main language in the new Key Stage 2 curriculum from September 2014, will be able to maintain their project by re-applying for funding twice for the same project. This means primary schools will be able to apply for up to a total of £9,000 over three years.
- Up to £1,000 for projects in primary or secondary schools that introduce Japanese as an extra-curricular activity or enrichment subject, even if this is not within the school timetable. These activities must continue for at least a year to qualify for the grant.

There are two more application deadlines for the 2014-15 programme: September 26th 2014 and November 28th 2014.

More information and application forms are available on the Japan Foundation website.

Posted in: Funding, News from language & education organisations, Japanese

£1.8 million training boost for language teaching

9 September 2014 (Government Dept for Education)

(Applies to England) Thousands of teachers will receive extra training and support to improve the teaching of foreign languages, thanks to £1.8 million of government money to fund a series of new school-led programmes, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced today (9 September 2014).

From this week schools across England will teach the new, more challenging languages curriculum - including a new requirement for languages to be compulsory for children aged 7 to 11 years. This will ensure that children in England learn the languages they need to succeed in the modern world.

Erasmus+ briefing sessions

8 September 2014 (Erasmus+)

We are pleased to announce a series of briefing sessions on the Erasmus+ programme in the UK. The purpose of these events is to provide an overview of the funding opportunities available under Erasmus+.

The sessions are for all organisations in the UK working in the sectors of education, training, youth or sport. They will be particularly useful for newcomers to Erasmus+ including anyone who has not yet applied for funding but would like to know more about the range of possibilities under the new programme which launched at the start of 2014.

Registration is now open. There is no charge to attend but places are limited.

To register for the Glasgow event on 4 November, visit the Erasmus+ website.

Connecting Classrooms - School Partnerships

28 August 2014 (British Council)

The British Council offers funding of £1,500 for partnerships between schools in the UK and other countries.

The partnership offers young people the chance to collaborate directly with their international peers, bringing challenging global issues to life and creating meaningful cross-cultural relationships.
Hear from teachers who are already involved in active partnerships and ask questions about the Connecting Classrooms programme at one of our upcoming webinars in October.

Learning lessons from overseas

15 August 2014 (Scottish Government)

Study trips to France, Spain, China and the USA are among the opportunities available to Scots-based students through new Scottish Government funding.

Grants totalling more than £127,000 have been shared among 12 projects – including summer exchange programmes, study trips and internships – all aimed at helping students from seven universities or colleges gain a global perspective in their respective fields.

Sixth-form colleges face closure because of deep budget cuts, with courses in languages, maths and science also being chopped

16 June 2014 (Independent)

Applies to England

Sixth form colleges are under threat with several facing closure this year because of deep cuts to their budgets, claims a new study by the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association (SFCA). A survey of England’s 93 sixth form colleges reveals that more than one in three colleges have already had to axe their language courses – while more than one in five have scrapped courses in the Stem science and maths subjects.

Sunderland agrees to waive year-abroad fees

15 June 2014 (THE)

The University of Sunderland has joined a growing list of institutions who have decided to waive fees for language students on a study year abroad.

Introducing Erasmus+ - the new way to study on your year abroad in Europe

20 May 2014 (The Independent)

“A new country, new culture, new people... it was not a walk in the park but definitely a life-changing experience” is how Jessica Tradati, an Italian student who studied in Manchester for two semesters, would describe her time on Erasmus.

The Erasmus programme is known for providing students an unforgettable cultural exchange abroad; more than three million students across Europe have participated in this foreign adventure over the last 27 years.

Posted in: Funding, Study Abroad, Languages in the press

Erasmus exchanges get down to business

30 April 2014 (BBC News)

For a generation of European students, the Erasmus programme has been synonymous with having a good time while studying in another country.

Three million students have taken part in this exchange visit project over 27 years.
There were serious underlying principles about life skills, employability and getting a taste of another culture.

But it also had an optimistic international feel-good factor. This European Union project was where higher education met overseas travel and the spirit of Eurovision.

There has even been a spin-off movie about the social experience of Erasmus students house-sharing in Barcelona. It's a rom-com with lessons.

But times have changed. And so has Erasmus, which is now rebranded as Erasmus+.

The youthful idealism is being replaced with something with a harder edge and a more clearly defined strategic purpose.

Posted in: HE, Funding, Study Abroad, Languages in the press

UK’s young people to benefit from €1 billion Erasmus+ fund

28 April 2014 (British Council)

The European Commission has announced it will make available almost €1 billion over seven years to help people in the UK to gain crucial international skills under the new Erasmus+ programme, managed in the UK by the British Council and Ecorys.

Hundreds of thousands of young people in the UK will be able to access the new programme over the next seven years in order to study, train, gain work experience and volunteer across the EU and further afield.

More than 30,000 young people per year – the equivalent of over 70 fully-laden jumbo jets – are expected to gain opportunities to expand their horizons under the programme. This represents a 50 per cent increase on the number of UK young people receiving grants compared with the EU’s previous Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action programmes, which Erasmus+ will replace.

£1 million boost for language teaching in schools

23 April 2014 (Scottish Government)

The Scottish Government’s commitment for every child to start learning a second language from P1 onwards and a third no later than P5 by 2020 has been strengthened by a further investment of £1 million.

The increase brings the total, additional funding for languages in schools in 2014/2015 to £5 million. The money will build on the good work already underway in Scotland as part of the 1+2 policy, the most ambitious languages learning programme in the UK.

Posted in: Scotland, 1+2, Funding, Scottish Government, Languages in the press

Travel bursaries will expand cultural horizons

18 April 2014 (The Scotsman)

Over the centuries, Scotland has always been an outward-looking nation reaching out to other countries and cultures across the globe. Sometimes economic necessity has forced large numbers to leave these shores, sometimes it’s been war. Historically, certain Scottish forays overseas have also had more dubious outcomes, such as the ill-fated Darien scheme to establish a colony in Panama or the enrichment of many Scottish merchants through slavery.

But a genuine spirit of exploration and discovery has prompted many more to venture abroad and expand their cultural horizons. This natural wanderlust has had a profound impact on Scottish culture and society, stretching back to the Scottish Enlightenment and far beyond.

Posted in: Cultural Diversity, Funding, Language Skills, Study Abroad

The role of schools in building community links through languages

28 March 2014 (The Guardian)

(Applies to England) Schools play a key role in the community, but the devolution of budgets has put funding for specialist language services at risk.

Posted in: England, Community Languages, Cutbacks, Funding, Languages in the press

Bring French language and culture alive for your students with funding for a visit to France

19 March 2014 (British Council)

Secondary schools (including sixth form and further education colleges) that have existing partnerships with a school in France can receive funding for reciprocal student visits.

There are two grants available, one from the Charles de Gaulle Trust and one from the Lefèvre Trust. They both offer student mobility grants to schools in the UK and France and can be used for individual and/or group visits.

The application process is now open and the deadline to apply is Friday 2 May 2014. See the British Council website for full details.

Erasmus+ updates

14 March 2014 (British Council)

Key Action 1

Don’t forget that the Key Action 1 deadline is this Monday 17 March. Apply now for funding for staff mobility including teaching assignments and staff training abroad including structured courses and training events and job shadowing and observations in partners schools. For more information visit the Erasmus+ website.

Key Action 2

The Key Action 2 application eForms for Strategic Partnerships for all fields are now available to download on the Erasmus+ website. The National Agency Guidance on completing the eForms will follow but in the meantime you can consult the European Commission’s Technical Guide for further information on downloading and completing the eForm.

There are also some support webinars over the coming weeks for schools and local authorities. Visit the website for more information and to sign up.

New funding programme from UK-German Connection

7 March 2014 (UK-German Connection)

We're pleased to launch a new grant for joint activities between partner schools in the UK and Germany. The 'Partnerships in Learning' Fund supports a wide variety of thematic activities designed to help pupils, teachers and schools to learn from each other. The activities should involve a broad range of young people across year and subject groups, with a particular focus on younger year groups.

The next deadline for the Partnerships in Learning Fund is 31 May 2014.

We have also revised our current grants - have a look at the updated guidelines and application forms for bilateral projects for partner schools in the UK and Germany.

Erasmus+ advice sessions

3 March 2014 (British Council)

British Council are running two Key Action 2 advice sessions in Edinburgh on 11th March, one in the morning, 9.30-12, and one in the afternoon, 14.00-16.30. These are informal sessions providing tailored support to schools who wish to apply for funding for school partnerships under Key Action 2. They will take place at the British Council office in Edinburgh.

There will also be an advice session for Local Authorities wishing to apply for Key Action 2 funding in our London office on 20th March.

British Council are also running these advice sessions as webinars for those who cannot make the face-to-face dates:

Webinars for Local Authorities - 27 March 10:30; 25 March 10:30
Webinars for Schools - 25 March 16:00; 26 March 16:00; 27 March 16:00

The deadline for Key Action 2 applications is 30th April 2014.

More information and online registration for the sessions can be accessed through the link below.

Important changes to guidance for Erasmus+ applicants

3 March 2014 (British Council)

On 27 February 2014, the European Commission published new guidance for organisations intending to apply for funding under Erasmus+.

We are currently updating our own guidance to reflect these changes, but in the meantime a summary of the following key changes is available on the Erasmus+ website:

New version of the Programme Guide
Partner Mandate Template now published
European Commission launches a Technical Guide for eForms

Erasmus+ French immersion courses for teachers

20 February 2014 (Institut français)

Primary and secondary teachers in Scotland are lucky as they have a great choice for immersion courses in France. Here is a selection of immersion courses specially designed for teachers. These courses are run by organisations which are accredited by the French Ministry of Education and are easy to recognise as they have the "label Qualite FLE".

Funding for all these courses is available through the new European Erasmus+ programme. Successful applicants will receive funding which covers all expenses - course tuition fee, accommodation, subsistence and travel.

See the attached spreadsheet for details of the courses available and how to apply.

Related Files

Erasmus plus French immersion courses for teachers (14.4 KB)

Posted in: Primary, S1-S3, Senior Phase, French, CPD, Funding, Immersion, Study Abroad, Teacher Education, News from language & education organisations

Erasmus+ Advice Sessions

20 February 2014 (British Council)

To help UK organisations apply for decentralised Erasmus+ funding opportunities, we are offering a range of advice sessions to provide tailored guidance by field.

On 11 March there are two sessions in Edinburgh to assist schools through the application process for Key Action 2.

For information on all the workshops available to different organisations and to book a place, visit the Erasmus+ webpage.

Erasmus+ guidance for applicants

13 February 2014 (British Council)

Please follow the link to find the latest news on Erasmus+ including updates on the availability of application forms.

You can start preparing for your application by reading the Erasmus+ Programme Guide. This gives detailed information on the different areas of the programme. Key areas to look at are:

p55 onwards for KA1 for schools. This includes information on eligibility, duration of projects and funding
p96 onwards for KA2 for all organisations. This includes information on eligibility, duration of projects and funding

The distance calculator is also live on the EC website.

For any queries please contact the British Council via: erasmusplus.enquiries@britishcouncil.org

Foreign languages in Wales – from bad to worse

11 February 2014 (Speak to the Future)

Last year we heard that the Welsh Government intended to remove the languages element from the Welsh Baccalaureate. Now even more damage is to be done to language learning in Wales. In December last year we reported that the Welsh government intended to remove the languages element from the Welsh Baccalaureate, a move Speak to the Future deplored because, as Campaign Director Bernardette Holmes put it ‘even modest levels of competence connect us to the wider world and help us to understand other cultures’. Now we hear that even more damage is to be done to the teaching and learning of foreign languages in Wales: CILT Cymru’s budget is to be cut by two thirds from April.

Posted in: S1-S3, Senior Phase, Funding, Languages in the press

Language learning cash to be cut by two thirds

4 February 2014 (BBC News)

The National Centre for Languages (CILT Cymru) - which encourages children to learn foreign languages - is having its funding slashed by two thirds. BBC Wales understands that Cardiff-based Cilt Cymru will have its government funding reduced from around £600,000 to around £200,000 in the financial year starting in April. The Conservatives have attacked the Welsh government's decision. But ministers say in a time of austerity they have to prioritise.

Erasmus+ information webinars

16 January 2014 (British Council)

The new Erasmus+ programme, which succeeds the Comenius (schools and FE) and Erasmus (HE) programmes, has just been launched. We will be running a series of webinars to help potential applicants find out more about the new programme. These will be running in January and February (and March, depending on demand).

The webinars will give organisations an overview of the decentralised funding opportunities available under Erasmus+ and provide tailored application guidance by field.

The Erasmus+ website also contains a quick guide to making applications under Erasmus+ and information about how organisations should register on the European Commission Authentication Service (ECAS) to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC).

Visit the Erasmus+ website for further details of the webinars and to register.

Arabic Language and Culture Programme – Call for Pilot Schools and Arabic Advisers

4 December 2013 (British Council)

Call for Pilot Schools

Under the new Arabic Language and Culture Pilot Programme, British Council, Qatar Foundation and Mayor of London would like to invite schools that wish to either introduce Arabic or to extend the teaching of Arabic anywhere in the UK to apply for grants. In order to qualify for these grants, schools will have:

A strong track record in languages
An existing partnership with a school in an Arabic speaking country or commitment to developing one
Head-teacher and Governors support
A willingness to work with other supplementary/mainstream schools
A willingness to share experience with 5 or more cluster schools (these can be mainstream and supplementary schools) and willing to run taster activities / workshops / open days.

Grants of up to £10K per cluster will be available.

Applications outlining your proposals to introduce or to extend the teaching of Arabic in your school and with at least five cluster schools must be filled in and emailed to ArabicSchools@britishcouncil.org by 20 December 2013. If you wish to discuss your school’s application in more detail please contact us at ArabicSchools@britishcouncil.org.

Invitation to Arabic Advisers

We are also looking for Arabic Advisers to support the development of Arabic language and culture materials and to support the designated pilot schools.

Applicants to become Arabic Advisers will need to fulfil the following criteria:

MUST be working in or have worked in mainstream/primary schools at primary or secondary level
Be fluent Arabic speakers
Have experience of running training days/workshops for teachers
Have experience of developing materials for use in the classroom

Successful applicants will be appointed on a call-down contract, which, depending on the location of the pilot schools, is likely to offer one or two days’ work per month until the end of July 2015.

Applications for Arabic Advisers must be filled in and returned to ArabicSchools@britishcouncil.org. If you wish to discuss your application in more detail please also contact us at this email address.

Erasmus+ for schools

23 November 2013 (Prezi, Andreas Bruun)

Information on how Erasmus+ can assist schools in obtaining funding to support CPD, training of teachers, Comenius Assistants – all of which could help support the 1+2 Agenda.

Increasing numbers of UK students studying in Europe

15 November 2013 (The Telegraph)

The proportion of UK students who are looking to study or work in mainland Europe reached the highest level in 2012/13 since the Erasmus programme was launched 25 years ago.
This is likely to be due, at least in part, to the tuition fees that UK students now face to study at home.

This European Union flagship student mobility scheme saw 14,607 students studying or working in Europe in 2012/13, according to the British Council, which has seen the numbers on the scheme double since it took over running the UK side of it in 2006/7.

Scottish students feature particularly highly, at 13 per cent of those on the scheme, even though they represent just 8.5 per cent of the UK's overall student population.

Ruth Sinclair-Jones, the British Council's head of EU programmes, said: "The international experience offered through Erasmus has been shown to make a real difference in terms of people's employability. So while students in Scotland deserve praise for reaching out and looking to gain highly sought-after international skills, it is a concern that students in England and Wales are beginning to slip behind.

£800 million to help UK students study overseas

14 November 2013 (UK Government)

Thousands of UK students will be helped to study overseas thanks to the new EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport, Universities Minister David Willetts announced today.
The 2014-20 Erasmus+ programme is designed to double the number of people in the EU benefiting from opportunities abroad.

Funded by the European Commission, and bringing together a number of existing EU programmes, Erasmus+ is worth an estimated £793 million (€940 million) to the UK. It will increase opportunities for international study, teaching and volunteering in Europe and beyond.

Posted in: FE, HE, Funding, Study Abroad, Languages in the press

The David Buckland Trust

12 November 2013 (David Buckland Trust)

Students can apply for an award from the Trust which can be used to support further foreign language studies within the UK or abroad, or to aid transition to higher study within a university in the UK. DB Trust awards fall into two categories:

An award for an individual student aged 16 or over, this award should be applied for by the student themselves using the ‘Student Application Form‘
An award for an individual student aged below 16, a group of students of any age, or any other award for a school/setting/organisation. This award should be applied for by a representative of the school /organisation/setting using the ‘Group Application Form‘.

For the purpose of any grants a foreign language is any language other than English which the pupil is learning solely or mainly at school (a language does not count if acquired by birth and/or upbringing).

Visit the website for more information and to apply.

STEM Projects

8 November 2013 (UK-German Connection)

Do you want to organise a bilateral STEM project but don't know where to start? Have a look at the examples on the UK-German Connection website for some inspiration!

Hornsea School & Language College, The Hessle Federation of Schools and Bremerhaven’s Humboldtschule placed technology into the context of the socioeconomic potential of the wind industry.
Skipton Girls’ High School and Gymnasium Grootmoor in Hamburg came together in Germany and the UK to apply engineering skills to the design of environmentally friendly buildings.
Range High School in Formby and Berufliche Oberschule Schwandorf combined science and ecological awareness when assessing the pros and cons of using different energy sources.

Find out more on the UK-German Connection website.

If you are planning a project, or want to read more about previous projects, why not have a look at the funding pages via the link below. The next application deadline is 31 January 2014.

Japanese Language Local Project Support Programme 2013-14

05 November 2013 (The Japan Foundation)

This programme enables institutions to apply for up to £3,000 for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education. Additionally, primary schools can now apply for up to £1,000 to support the launch of an extra-curricular Japanese language class.

The next deadline for applications is November 29th 2013 - apply soon!

Visit the website for further information and how to apply.

Grant Preparation Webinars

16 September 2013 (British Council)

Connecting Classrooms is a global education programme, which offers funding and resources for school partnerships, professional development for teachers, and the opportunity to share best practice with colleagues in the UK and more than 50 countries throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.

If you are applying for a Connecting Classrooms grant in October this year, we are running a series of webinars to help you with the application process. The webinars will take a detailed look at the application form and provide guidance and advice for completing it. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A’s if you have particular questions or concerns about your application.

Each webinar will run from 16:30-17:30, with additional time at the end for Q&A.

See the website for details of all the sessions available and to book your place.

Scots students in Europe

16 September 2013 (Scottish Government)

Scotland only UK country to offer support for study in EU. Up to 500 Scots studying at five European universities will be able to apply for financial support in a pilot that marks the first time any UK students have been offered help with European study.

Scots enrolled at Scottish universities already benefit from the best package of support in the UK, including free tuition fees, Education Secretary Michael Russell said this shows how decisions taken in Scotland benefit Scots.

Now those who choose eligible courses at the University of Southern Denmark, Malmo University in Sweden, Rhein Waal University in Germany, and the universities of Groningen and Maastricht in the Netherlands can have their fees paid by the country they study in and apply for the same package of bursaries and loans as those studying in Scotland.

Bring French language and culture alive for your students with funding for a visit to France

6 September 2013 (British Council)

British Council Schools Online has two exciting opportunities to develop your UK/France partnership. There are two grants available, one from the Charles de Gaulle Trust and one from the Lefèvre Trust. They both offer student mobility grants to schools in the UK and France and can be used for individual and/or group visits.

The grants are available to secondary schools. Submit your application by 30 September 2013.

See the British Council webpage for full eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Call to set aside cash for school language skills

6 September 2013 (The Herald)

Plans to expand foreign language teaching in Scotland face being undermined by the lack of overseas assistants in the classroom, it has been claimed.

The warning follows figures that show a lack of progress in boosting the numbers of native language speaking staff in schools. Now the British Funding Council has called for funding for the assistants to be ring-fenced in an attempt to improve the uptake. Councils have employed only 70 foreign language assistants for the 2013/14 school year despite a campaign to increase their use.

Before the onset of council cuts, Scottish schools employed hundreds of the assistants - native speaking staff who work to bring language learning alive, as well as fine-tuning comprehension and pronunciation.

The foreign language assistant programme, run by British Council Scotland, is funded by the Scottish Government, but the money is no longer specifically set aside and most councils have decided to use funding elsewhere.

Comenius in-service training grants

6 August 2013 (British Council)

Apply for a grant to job-shadow a colleague or attend a conference in Europe with Comenius funding. Apply by 17 September 2013.

More Scots to get the chance to study abroad

19 July 2013 (TESS)

The number of young people from Scotland given the opportunity to study or train abroad is expected to double under new funding from the EU, it has emerged.

The Erasmus+ programme will replace the traditional Erasmus programme, which caters mainly for undergraduates and has sent more than 70,000 students from the UK to spend time abroad as part of their studies.

The revamped scheme will bring together a number of other programmes aimed at school and college students, as well as the existing Erasmus provision. The idea is to create a “one-stop shop” to make it easier for young people to arrange study or training placements abroad.

Posted in: Europe, Funding, Study Abroad, Languages in the press

Opportunities and funding for your UK-German school partnership

15 June 2013 (UK-German Connection)

Would you like to undertake a joint project with a German school? Are you interested in professional development? Could your German do with brushing up?

Visit the UK-German Connection website for up-to-date information on UK-German opportunities for you and your pupils, including seminars, events, courses and funding programmes.

The next funding application deadline is 31 October 2013.

Press release: British Council launches campaign for 15,000 UK students to go to China

11 June 2013 (British Council)

The British Council has launched a new UK-wide campaign to encourage and support student mobility to China, known as ‘Generation UK’.

The campaign aim is for at least 15,000 UK students to either study or gain work experience in China by 2016. Underlining the British Council’s ongoing commitment to promoting international opportunities to students across the UK, the goal of Generation UK is to create a new generation of more globally, culturally and business aware young people.

Opportunities and funding for your UK-German school partnership

5 June 2013 (UK-German Connection)

Would you like to undertake a joint project with a German school? Are you interested in professional development? Could your German do with brushing up? Visit the UK-German Connection website for up-to-date information on UK-German opportunities for you and your pupils, including seminars, events, courses and funding programmes. The next funding application deadline is 31 October 2013.

Japanese Language Local Project Support Programme 2013-14

3 June 2013 (The Japan Foundation)

Visit the website for further information and how to apply.

Grants for UK-German school partnership activities from UK-German Connection

26 April 2013 (UK-German Connection)

UK-German Connection has grants for school partnership activities between the UK and Germany and the next deadline is 31 May 2013. We now have new forms and guidelines for these grants, so please be sure to have a look at them on the relevant web pages.

Our grants are:

CHALLENGE FUND: for joint thematic activities between UK and German schools in all curriculum areas.

CHALLENGE FUND - WORLD OF WORK: for UK-German school partnerships undertaking work experience or enterprise-related activities.

CELEBRATORY FUND: for activities in celebration of partnership anniversaries between UK and German schools.

If you have any questions about the above grants or would like to discuss your ideas or your project dates, please contact Frederike Müller at UK-German Connection either by email on frederike.mueller@ukgermanconnection.org or by telephone (020 7824 1570).

The next application deadline for these funds after May is 31 October 2013.

UK-German Connection is a bilateral government initiative which promotes contact and understanding between young people in the UK and Germany, through a variety of programmes, grants, activities, networks, and through our website.

Comenius In-Service Training Grants - apply now!

5 April 2013 (British Council)

Want to undertake a professional development course, job shadow a colleague or attend a conference or seminar in any of the other 32 participating Comenius Countries? A Comenius in-service training grant can help.

An in-service training grant can be used for one of three core activities:

Undertaking a professional development activity in another Comenius Country (choose from a range of activities, including structured professional development courses, foreign language methodology courses and foreign language courses).
Job shadowing a colleague in another Comenius Country (job shadow a European colleague for a period of one working day to six weeks. The placement must relate to your professional responsibilities in the UK).
Attending a European conference or seminar in another Comenius Country (attend a conference or seminar organised by a representative European association or network active in the field of school education).

For further information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the British Council website. Application deadline 30 April 2013.

Foreign language teaching to be subject of debate at Holyrood

29 March 2013 (Scottish Parliament)

The teaching of foreign language learning in Scottish primary schools will be the focus for a conference taking place at the Scottish Parliament in May. The European & External Relations Committee is holding the event as part of its inquiry into the Scottish Government’s recent proposal to increase foreign language learning in primary schools. It will bring together parliamentarians and those involved in language learning to discuss the key findings of the committee’s inquiry to date.

Open to all with an interest in language education, whether as a parent, teacher or policy developer, the conference takes place on the morning of Friday 10 May 2013 at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

Anyone wishing to attend the event should contact the Parliament by 19 April to secure a space.

Funding for language policy a 'drop in the ocean'

7 March 2013 (BBC Democracy Live)

Teaching unions told the European and External Affairs Committee that £4m to fund the Scottish government's 1+2 language policy would be a "drop in the ocean".

The policy describes a framework for language learning in Scotland based on the mother tongue + 2 additional languages model recommended by the European Union and adopted in many countries in Europe and beyond.

The money earmarked by the Scottish government is £120k for the pilot projects, and £4m for after the pilots in 2013-14.

Languages class target unachievable

21 February 2013 (The Herald)

Parents have criticised the Scottish Government's ambitious strategy of increasing language learning in Scottish schools, branding it unachievable. Council officials have also cast doubt on the policy, arguing current funding for the costly initiative is insufficient. The warnings come two years after the Government announced plans to teach all primary pupils at least two modern languages in addition to their mother tongue – known as the 1+2 model.

£750,000 help Scots study in mainland Europe

9 January 2013 (The Herald)

Scottish students studying in mainland Europe will be eligible for a full package of financial support for the first time under a £750,000 pilot scheme.
Under the initiative, the Scottish Government will offer 250 students bursary payments of up to £1750 and a student loan of up to £5500.

Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, said officials would assess the demand for funding to ensure all Scottish students studying in the EU in future years would benefit. He said: "I want to ensure our young people have the opportunity to reap the cultural and career benefits of living and studying abroad.”

Funding for UK-German activities - deadline reminder

7 January 2013 (UK German Connection)

Please note the upcoming application deadlines for the Challenge Fund and Celebratory Fund programmes from the UK German Connection: 31st January and 31st May 2013.

SCHOOLS CHALLENGE FUND

* Enhance the international dimension in your school and get pupils involved in cross-curricular projects!

* UK-German Connection provides grants for joint thematic activities in all curriculum areas, with or without a language element. The fund is designed to encourage young people to explore topics of their choice and develop their skills in an international and hands-on context.

* Funding can go towards project resources, joint activities and reciprocal partner visits.

* For further details, please see: http://www.ukgermanconnection.org/challengefund

* NEW! The new Challenge Fund - World of Work funding programme specifically supports partnerships undertaking work experience or enterprise-related activities as part of their partnership visits: http://www.ukgermanconnection.org/worldofwork

CELEBRATORY FUND

* Provides grants to support activities in celebration of partnership anniversaries.

* Further details and an application form can be found here: http://www.ukgermanconnection.org/celebratoryfund

If you have any questions about the above programmes or would like to discuss your ideas, please contact Lucy Farrant either by email at lucy.farrant@ukgermanconnection.org or by telephone (020 7824 1570).

Posted in: Primary, S1-S3, Senior Phase, German, Funding, Partnership Working, Promoting Languages, News from language & education organisations

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