ΒSEC WORKING GROUP ON EDUCATION
ACTION PLAN
(1 November 2008 – 31 October 2010)
Introduction
Education is a key component when facing the new challenges of the economy and society whilst in the process of securing sustainable development, stability and prosperity in all the BSEC Member States.
The purpose of the present Action Plan is to provide agreed orientation to the initiatives of the BSEC Member States and to encourage them to concentrate on specific domains in order of priority, to achieve progress, enhance through cooperative action, the competitive performance of every country and of the region as a whole in the field of Education and in particular in Higher Education and University Research.
The primary objective of the present Action Plan is to lay the foundations of a mutually and project-oriented cooperation at a regional level among all the BSEC Member States in the sphere of education in accordance with BSEC policies and instruments.
Initiatives and activities in the following areas:
Support university research projects of mutual interest, containing provisions for the renewal and modernization of research infrastructure.
Promote the use of advanced information technologies, which will provide the BSEC Member States with wider possibilities for unrestricted exchange of and access to information.
Enhance the collection and dissemination of information in the field of higher education and specifically in regard to the legislative, regulatory and standard framework in the field of education, with particular emphasis on university research through the Educational Portal of the BSEC.
Promote and support, with due respect for the principle of academic freedom, joint post-graduate programs between Universities and Institutions of Higher Education in the BSEC region. For this purpose a meeting of experts will be organized before the present Action Plan expires.
Share experience of quality assurance in Higher Education.
Encourage mobility of academic staff and students within the BSEC Member States, through multilateral agreements among the respective Institutions of Higher Education.
Support student exchanges through scholarships provided by each Member State.
Support the development of modular education and training programs with the ultimate goal of expanding Lifelong Learning.
Investigate the possibility of cooperation with international organizations, in particular with the Council of Europe, and initiatives, such as the Alliance of Civilizations.
Encourage the organization of scientific events, such as conferences, exhibitions and workshops on education policy, in regard to issues resulting from the present Action Plan.
Promote cooperation with other stakeholders in the field of Higher Education in the BSEC Member States.
Exchange information and practical cooperation with other BSEC Working Groups in related spheres of activity in order to avoid potential overlapping and create new synergies for the implementation of the present Action Plan.
Evaluate/review the implementation of the Present Action Plan and the submission of regular progress reports to the BSEC Committee of Senior Officials, the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and to the Ministers responsible for Education in the BSEC Member States.
In order to follow-up the progress achieved every six months the Member States should submit electronically brief information regarding the initiatives and activities of the present Action Plan to the Country-Coordinator.