TPrincipal C Duncan Rice will undertake his first official task as Chairman of the UK SOCRATES-Erasmus Council when he attends the UK launch of the second phase of the SOCRATES-Erasmus Programme set to take place at the Conference Centre, Villa Park, Birmingham on Monday .
Over 250 delegates will take part in the event, including Vice Chancellors and College Principals, representatives from colleges of further and higher education, Local Education Authorities and the teaching unions.
Principal Rice will be chairing a session on Higher Education: “I feel very privileged to be chairing the UK Council of this enormously important European Programme, particularly at a time when we are all beginning to appreciate the major contribution of all sectors of education to the national economy and the role they play in enabling all citizens to “be all they can be”.
“During my time as Chairman, I look forward with great confidence to the SOCRATES-Erasmus programme developing further and making an even greater contribution to the enhancement of the student experience of Higher Education.”
Keynote speeches at the Launch in Birmingham will be given by Baroness Blackstone, Minister for Education and Employment; Sam Galbraith, Scottish Executive, Minister for Children and Education; and Edward Roberts CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive, Peterson Spring Ltd, CBI West Midlands Regional Councillor.
The SOCRATES-Erasmus Programme, funded by the European Union, aims to increase movement between countries of young people including schoolchildren and students, teachers and the wider community. It offers opportunities for schools, colleges and universities, teachers, students and policy-makers, for learners of all ages, interests and abilities. The second phase of the Programme runs from 2000 to end December 2006. It draws on experiences of the first Programme, with a focus on lifelong learning. It supports building of knowledge, skills and competences likely to foster citizenship and employability.
One section, Erasmus, is dedicated to encouraging the exchange of student and staff in Higher Education. Students can benefit from the Programme, either by studying in a university in another European country for a period, or by participating in courses given by visiting lecturers.
The University of Aberdeen has SOCRATES links with 120 universities across the European Union. Each year it sends around 123 students to European universities and receives some 306 visiting students across all subject areas. Currently 24 Departments throughout the University have active SOCRATES-Erasmus links.
The UK SOCRATES-Erasmus Council was established in March 1988. The role of Chairman has been held in turn by Sir Raymond Rickett (Director of what is now Middlesex University), Professor Clive Booth (Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University), Professor Lord Smith of Clifton (Vice Chancellor of the University of Ulster) and now Professor Rice.