A projet designed by Augustin van Rijckevorseland supported by the belgian Presidencyof the European Union Council

Augustin van Rijckevorsel avr@emforum.eu - tel : 00 32 476 84 35 6844 rue des Palais 1030 Bruxelles - www.emforum.eu

Presentation of the EMF Program

Sommaire

A. Objectives 2

B. Structure and organization 2

C. For whom 3

D. Academic modalities 3 E. Internet support 5 F. Timeline and locations 6

G. Services provided by EMF 6 H. Marketing of the Forums 7 I. Feedback to the European authorities 7

J. Budget, prices and financing 8

K. Support 9

Table of contents

EMF in two words :

Objective

The goal of EMF is to increase European Union cohesion through better preparation of its citizens in understanding and addressing the topics that will be inherent to the EU of 2020.

Observations

The European Union today, in the way it is perceived by its citizens, seems to have to deal with three important de�cits:

A de�cit in the sense of belonging and in general interest for the European cause.,

A de�cit in intercultural understanding between and within the European member states.

A de�cit in awareness concerning the big issues that await Europe in the next ten years.

These three de�cits and the resulting negative image of the European Union are an obstacle to the healthy functioning of its management and decision-making organs.

In this context the question arises of how to put into place the democratic mechanisms that are indispensable in dealing with the challenges that the European Union will face in 2020. Amongst the various answers to this problem, education stands out as one of the most e�cient ones as it is a tool to leverage progress in the long term. The Bologna Declaration and the Erasmus Student Exchange Program have already opened the way to increased European interaction at the educational level.

Regardless of the remarkable improvements these initiatives have created for European youth, the three challenges mentioned above still prevail. Furthermore, education is a delicate topic to approach at a European level, particularly due to strong regional and national cultures and a desire from Member States for a legitimate sense of independence.

EMF proposal

The EMF proposes to continue the advancements made by the Bologna declaration and the Erasmus Exchange Network through an original program that respects the total independence of the involved parties.

Concretely EMF proposes a program that is combining:

A Masters course with a topic common to all European universities participating in the EMF project, covering a political, economic or social issue.An annual forum, at the European Parliament, to be attended by the students and professors who have worked on the topic at hand in their masters course as well as by in�uential economic, social and political �gures.

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A. Objectives

1. To bring a European vision to tomorrow’s decision makers through the decision makers of today.

2. To increase the understanding and to spread a positive and dynamic image of an economic and social Europe for the upcoming generation.

3. Emphasize the speci�cities and common denominators of the di�erent:

European countries MA �elds of study ( economics, history, geography, social  sciences, …)

In relation to the key issues approached by the di�erent forums.

4. Put into perspective the content of the education of the young people witnessed by entrepre-neurs who operate at a European level; use and valorize the students’ e�orts (bottom-up) as a pedagogical engines.

5. To trace the di�erent points of view and socio-economic arguments that have been developed along the course of the forum by all the participants to inform political and economical decision makers with this information knowledge.

B. Structure and organization

Besides the traditional management organs of a Not-For Pro�t organization, the ESF activities will be organized through the following structure :

1. The Academic Council

Constitution :

CEO’s of companies that represent the Europe’s industrial tissue. Representatives of big industrial lobbies, Représentants de grands syndicats européens, Representatives of European unions, Representatives of big European academic institutions.

Missions :

To de�ne the biannual themes, Identify and invite orators, Promote the forums in order to maintain their reputation.

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B. Structure et organisation

2. The Executive Council

Constitution :

Founding members and volunteers, Recruted personnel and/or personnel accorded by the partners.

Missions :

Ensure the day-to-day management of the EMF, Ensure the search for funding for the structure and organization of the forums (through sponsors, assistance and subsidies) Ensure the promotion, organization and coherence of the forums.

C. For whom, why ?

The two main targets of EMF are:

1. Students enrolled in a MA program

Initially the MA programs that will be targeted are the �elds of Economics, Social Sciences, Finance, Law and Politics. Other MA programs will be included at a later stage.

2. Professors and Directors that are head of the master departments that are targeted by the di�erent forums.

These students and professors will be recruted in all the universities and schools of higher education of Europe.

D. Academic modalities

The EMF program is split up into four major stages:

1. De�nition of the semi-annual theme,

2. Participation in the Forum,

4. Évaluation of the participants.

1. Defining the Theme

In order to guarantee the pertinence of the chosen theme, it will be de�ned by the Academic Council. In making its choice, the Academic Council will apply the following criteria:

Relevance to the major issues facing Europe in 2020, Potential for multidisciplinary analysis, Direct relevance for all of the countries in which the participating institutions are located.

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2. Theme preparation

To guarantee the academic value of each Forum, the participating universities will have to o�er the course in their course curriculum and designate a professor who will teach the course and who will prepare the students for the Forum event at the EP.

The universities will be responsible for the ECTS accreditation of the course related to the European Master Forum. Prior to each forum, EMF will provide the participating universities a preparatory document that will contain:

the theme of the forum selected by the Academic Council, the subjects and questions that should be studied, the list of invited speakers, useful guidelines for the good understanding of the Forum’s topic, a suggestion of a complementary bibliography helpful to the course.

The methodology utilized will be determined by the participating professors. It will have to allow participants to have su�cient autonomy to participate in the di�erent roundtable conferences (cf. point 3) that will be organized under the auspices of the Forum.

3. Participation to the ForumThe Forum will take place on the premises of the European Parliament.It will be divided into three phases:

a. Presentation of the subject at hand by the guest orators :

For these presentations, the EMF will be sure to invite key orators, directly concerned with the issue and representing:

di�erent facets of the subject matter, divergent points of view and opinions relating to the subject matter.

b. Roundtables by Topic :

Each roundtable will deal with one aspect of the forum’s theme.They will each assemble students from diverse academic and geographic backgrounds that have chosen to analyze said aspect of the theme.

The purpose of these roundtables is to:

contrast the major elements presented by the orators with the points of view, ideas and opinions of the table’s participants, cast light on the di�erences and commonalities between the various perspectives of those present, establish a brief synthesis of the conclusions reached through the table’s debates, Formulate the questions that will be asked to the orators during the course of the debate.

The dynamic of these roundtables will be assured by a rotation of persons recognized by the Academic Council for their competence in relation to the topic at hand.

These roundtables will be organized in such a way that each participant will be able to express the points of view that he or she will have prepared in the framework of his or her respective institution, and that he or she will have come to defend.

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D. Modalités académiques

c. Debate between the orators and the participants :

The debate will be instigated by the questions prepared through the di�erent roundtable discussions.

Each participant will then be able to participate based on the questions that he or she will have prepared within his or her academic institution.

The debate will be monitored and guided by a journalist selected by the Academic Council.

4. Evaluation of the participants

The program will sanction a double evaluation:

A self assessment by the participating institutions: the method and content of the assessment is de�ned by the professors responsible for teaching and guiding the students and will be formulated  according the professor’s criterion. An evaluation between institutions: this evaluation will be based upon the summary reports that will be sent in by the participant (one report per participating institution). This report will be examined and evaluated by the Pedagogical Committee of the EMF. The �rst prize will be awarded by the Arendberg Foundation and will consist in 1500 Euros. 

E. Internet Support

The communication and continuity of the di�erent Forums will be guaranteed by an internet platform. This platform will allow full visibility of:

1. The preparatory documents for future forums,

2. The organizaional logistics (transport, lodging, etc.)

3. A preparatory "virtual forum" designed to gather the potential questions and suggestions of participating students,

4. Feedback from each forum containing :

the reports produced by each roundtable the reports produced by each of the participating institutions Videos, virtual recap of forum, etc.

5. A networking platform for all of the protagonists that would allow them to exchange and share CVs, employment opportunities, etc.

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E. Support internet

La communication et la continuité des di�érents Forums seront garanties parune plateforme Internet. Cette plateforme mettra à disposition :

1 Les documents de préparation des futurs forums,

2 Les modalités pratiques d’organisation (transport, logement, etc.)

3 Un « forum virtuel » de préparation pour collecter les éventuelles suggestions et questions des étudiants participants,

4 Le feed-back de chaque forum, contenant :

Les rapports de synthèse réalisés par chaque table ronde Les rapports de synthèse réalisés dans les di�érentes académies Vidéo, forum virtuel de suivi, etc.

5 Une plateforme de Networking pour tous les protagonistes qui permettrait les échanges de CV, o�re d’emplois, etc.

F. Timeline and Location

The forums will be organized at least once per semester. They will last at least two days.

In order to ensure the European nature of the forums, they will be organized in the very heart of the Euro-pean institutions, in the European Parliament. In time, certain forums could be organized in the di�erent member states of the European Union.

Each forum will host between 300 and 400 participating students.

Practically, EMF will provide to the participating students and to the speakers all the necessary services available for the good development of the forum, to know:

1. Preparation and distribution of academic preparatory �les for the forum,

2. Coordination of contacts between, the speakers,

3. Organization of transport and lodging of the speakers, invited people and the participating students,

5. Organization of the logistics of the forum,

6. Preparation and distribution of the summary �les and feedback of the forums.

G. Services provided by EMF

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B. Structure et organisation3. Suivi des réservations des étudiants participants,

4. Organisation du transport et du logement des intervenants, des invités et des étudiants participants,

5. Organisation de la logistique des Forums,

6. Préparation et di�usion des dossiers de conclusion et de feedback des Forum.

H. Marketing of the Forums

The objective of the the marketing is to convince target audiences and sponsors to participate in the Forums.

Personalized contacts will be organized through the invitation of members of the Academic Council through various o�cial academic, and European and international media.

These media will also be solicited to ensure active coverage of the Forums.

Given the public target being reached, the quality of the speakers and the numerous generated inter-actions though the forums, each forum can be considered by the o�cials  of  European Politics as a "Macro-Focus Group"  whose �ndings can be useful to feed their re�ections on the approached topics.

Each forum hence will be the object of a duly documented report  on:

the themes, opinions and arguments presented and defended by the speakers, the feedback of the participants ( students, universities), a summary of the divergent and convergent points between the groups, lconclusions.

I. Feedback to the European Authorities

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The overall organizational budget for the �rst forum made up of 350 participating students, 10 orators and 20 VIP guests is 60.000 € distributed in the following manner :

The total of these costs will be funded in kind or in cash by three poles :

J. Budget, prix et modalités de financement

Wording Budget

Participating studentsTravel, accommodation, meals and co�ee break : 42. 000 €120€ X 350 persons

SpeakersTravel, accommodation, meals and co�ee break : 5.000 €500€ X 10 persons

VIP diner10 speakers + 30 VIP guests : 2.800 €70€ X 40 persons

Room Rent PM

Audio visual equipment 2.500 €

Stewards 1.200 €5 persons

Organizational costs, 12.000 €documentation and closing

Total cost estimates 65.500 €

Wording Budget

Participating students : 10.500 €30€ X 350 persons

Private Sponsors 35.000 €

Public institutions 20.000 € European union, host country or region, etc.

Total cost estimates 67.500 €

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Mr. Karel Bartak Head of Unit: Communication and exploitation of results DG EAC C.3,

Mr. Jean-Luc Dehaene Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dexia Group Chairman of the Board of Directors of the College of Europe,

Mr. Paul Demaret Rector of the College of Europe

Mr. Stefano Grassi Secretariat General - SG. D2 Policy coordination,

Dr. Alexandre Lamfalussy First President of the European Monetary Institute.

Mr. Marc luyks Gizy Ex-Adviser of Presidents Delors and Santer to the "Forward Studies Unit" of the European Commission in Brussels,

Mr. Jean-Claude Marcourt Vice-President, Minister of Economy, of SME’s, of Foreign Trade, of New Technologies and Superior Education.

Mr. Enzo Moavero Milanesi Judge at the EC Court of �rst instance,

Mr. Mario Monti President of the administration council from the Boconni University,

Mr. Toni Pelosato Chef de cabinet du Ministre de l’Enseignement de la Communauté Française de Belgique.

Mr. François Reniers Vice rector l’ULB,

Mr. Pascal Smet Flemish Minister of Youth, of Education and Equal Opportunities,

Mr. Marc Tarabella PS European Deputy,

Mr. Guy Verhofstadt President of the Alliance Group, of democrats and Liberals for Europe.

K. Support already obtained

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