At the LANDCOMMANDERIJ ALDEN BIESEN   1 - 5 December 2010 

DRAFT PROGRAMME

Wednesday 1 December - "introduction"

14.00 - 18.00: arrival, car shuttle Bilzen - Alden Biesen
19.30 : drink, welcome and introduction to the seminar:
            Overview of the programme - "Making the most of your contact
            seminar" Guy Tilkin, project manager Alden Biesen
20.00 : "school fair" : exchanging information on one's school,
           project plans and region.
           European walking dinner (including typical snacks
           brought by the participants)>

Thursday 2 December - "Getting informed and finding project partners"

08.00 : breakfast
09.00 : information on LLP and
           Comenius 1 partnerships: representative of the Flemish NA
10.00 : coffee break
11.00 : Practical examples & ideas
12.00 : lunch
13.15 : group picture
13.30 : visit of Alden-Biesen
14.45 : carroussel workshop: brainstorming & finding project
           partners & coffee
16.30 : plenary: overview of ideas and partnerships
17.00 : finding partners, workshop session: working on your own
           project proposal
20.00 : dinner
21.30 : informal meeting, bar
 

Friday 3 December - "Creating your own project proposal"

08.00 : breakfast
09.00 : "how to fill in the application forms?": Flemish NA representative
10.30 : creating your own project, workshop session & coffee
12.00 : overview of ideas and partnerships
12.30 : lunch
13.30 : departure for Maastricht
14.00 : guided tour in Maastricht
15.30 : free time in Maastricht
18.30 : back to Belgium
20.00 : dinner in Tongeren
23.30 : return to Alden Biesen

Saturday 4 December - "Finalising your proposal"

08.00 : breakfast
09.00 : self-evaluation and aims: Guy Tilkin
09.30 : creating your own project, workshop session
12.30 : lunch
13.30 : creating your own project, workshop session & coffee
15.00 : coffee break
17.30 : presentation of partnerships and projects, exchange of ideas
20.00 : Farewell dinner ....and bar

Sunday 5 December

08.15 : breakfast
09.00 : transfer by bus to Brussels airport (arrival at 10.15)

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Aim: Promoting the creation of COMENIUS partnerships

Target group: Principals or teachers of primary or secondary special needs schools. All participants must be willing to organize a Comenius project in their school and must be looking for a partner. Each National Agency is invited to send a representative as well.

Conference documents: At the conference participants will receive material on the theme and the profiles of the participating schools, indicating the type of school, region, specific characteristics of the school and their experience or expectations concerning exchanges. Participants are also requested to bring information on their region and school (to be displayed at stands) and information on their national school system.

Dates: 1 - 5 December 2008

Venue: Landcommanderij ALDEN BIESEN, Kasteelstraat 6, B 3740 Bilzen, Belgium, tel.: ++32 (0)89/519393 or 519352 fax: ++32 (0)89/417033,  Email: guy.tilkin@alden-biesen.be,   Web page: http://www.Alden-Biesen.be. Participants can receive calls during meal times at: tel. nr. ++32 89 519390

Alden Biesen is a castle, built by the Teutonic Knights and is situated in the eastern part of Flanders (Belgium), near the Dutch border: 100 km. east of Brussels, 15 km. west of Maastricht. The nearest railway station is Bilzen (at 6 km.). Nowadays it is a state cultural centre, owned by the Flemish Community. The seminar takes place in Alden Biesen. Participants will be hosted in the castle or in surrounding hotels.

Travel arrangements: From Brussels Airport you can reach Alden Biesen by train. At the airport you can buy a ticket to Bilzen via Leuven - (change in Leuven station - and Hasselt). In Hasselt you have a connection to Bilzen (every 15 min. to the hour). People arriving in Brussels South station by Eurostar or Tallis can take the train to Hasselt in Brussels South. People arriving by train from the east (via Köln and Aachen) take the train to Liège. In Liège they take the connection to Bilzen / Hasselt and get off the train in Bilzen. All participants arriving in Bilzen station will be picked up by car (car shuttle at train arrival times).
Alden Biesen is close to the motorway as well ( E 313 ANTWERPEN - LIEGE : exit 31) .
We expect you to arrive in Bilzen on Wednesday between 16.00 and 18.00.

The seminar will end on Sunday morning. We will arrange a bus back to Brussels at 09.00 a.m. You can expect to be at the airport at 10.30 a.m. so you can book a plane back from 12.00 on.

Preparations for the course:
Please bring with you:

- information on your region and school (photographs, brochures, posters). Tables and panels will be available to create your own stand at the 'school fair'.
- information on the education system in your school.
Be prepared to explain your education system to the other participants
- typical snacks or drinks from your country/region. Don't bring too much!

Arrange a meeting with your principal and some colleagues before you come to the course. Make sure you are informed about possibilities and plans for internationalisation at your school: possible activities, age range of the pupils involved, working language, E-mail access for pupils, plans for use of ICT, assistance from colleagues etc.

Fill in the profile form provided by your NA. These profiles must be sent back (together with a passport photograph) before the 1 November to the Landcommanderij Alden Biesen, t.a.v. Myriam Swinnen, Kasteelstraat 6, B - 3740 Bilzen, Belgium (fax ++32/89/417033). All participants will receive a file with all profiles.

Language: The working language of the seminar is English. There will be no translation during the lectures.

What can you expect?

• A unique opportunity to meet with up to 40 participants from all over Europe, giving you the best possible chance of creating school partnerships.
• The International School fair
• A guided tour in the Landcommanderij Alden Biesen
• Guided tour in Maastricht and free time for shopping,…
• An example of a Comenius project from an experienced teacher
• Advice on how to fill in the application form

Seminar costs will be paid by your National Agency. These will cover organisational costs, conference documents, all meals, 4 nights’ accommodation and bus transport during the seminar. The organisers will invoice your National Agency for these costs after the seminar.

Please ensure your National Agency has confirmed your funding for this seminar.

Venue:

Landcommanderij Alden Biesen, Kasteelstraat 6, B 3740 Bilzen, Belgium
Tel.: ++ 32 (0)89/51 93 93 or 51 93 52, Fax: ++ 32 (0)89/41 70 33
e-mail: guy.tilkin@alden-biesen.be
Web page: http://www.alden-biesen.be

Participants can receive calls during meal times at: tel. nr ++32 (0)89 51 93 90
Alden Biesen is a TELENET HOTSPOT

Registration:

Fill in the registration sheet provided by your National Agency. These registration sheets must be sent back (together with a passport photograph) before 1 November 2010 to:
EPOS vzw
Isabel Laenen
Hendrik Consciencegebouw 7 C 13
Koning Albert II laan 15, 1210 Brussel, België
Or via fax: ++32 2 553 98 90

Information:

Additional information can be obtained at:
The Flemish Comenius Agency, Isabel Laenen, Email: isabel.laenen@epos-vlaanderen.be

Or at Alden Biesen, Guy Tilkin
- Tel: ++ 32 (0)89/51 93 52
- Fax: ++32 (0)89/41 70 33
Email:>guy.tilkin@alden-biesen.be
Home: http://www.alden-biesen.be