The main objective of the Jean Monnet Lifelong Learning Programme is to support the development of European integration studies in third level institutes across the EU. The Jean Monnet Programme - European Module was in operation at IT Tralee between 2003 and 2008. An application for a further five year period will be submitted in 2011. The European Commission intends to give priority to applications that extend the reach of European integration studies to those in society who would not normally come in contact with the European Union. It is hoped that an E.U. module will be developed by I.T. Tralee and offered to civic society groups (e.g primary and secondary school teachers) for whom knowledge of the European Union would be a distinct advantage.
Over the past six years the Jean Monnet Programme has supported and facilitated the study of European integration on academic courses across a broad range of faculties at the Institute of Technology Tralee. It has offered students an opportunity to participate directly in a range of EU sponsored activities as well as fostering debate and critical reflection on the process of European integration,and Ireland’s role within it. The annual E.U Debate has provided an ideal platform locally for discussion and debate within the wider community on issues germane to Ireland’s EU membership . The annual debate will continue to constitute an integral part of the activities of any future Jean Monnet Programme.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
EU Debate 2010
On Wednesday 27th March 2010 the Institute of Technology, Tralee in conjunction with the EU Commission in Dublin will host the ITTs 7th annual EU debate which promises plenty of excitement. Six students from 2nd year Business Studies will debate the topical issue of European monetary union.
This event is jointly sponsored by the School of Business at ITT and the EU Commission in Dublin. The main objective of this event is to foster greater awareness and dialogue about the EU and Ireland’s role within it, amongst third level students, staff and the general public. It also follows on from six successful EU debates which IT Tralee has organized since 2003.
The Motion for this year’s debate is “This House believes that there can be no European Union without monetary union.” The proposition representing Year 2 of the Higher Certificate in Business Studies include Mr. Martin O’Connor, Ms. Barny Hassan, and Mr.Paul Adeola Oluwaseun. The opposition representing Year 2 of the Bachelor of Business Studies include Ms. Alice O’Regan, Mr. Lloyd Power and Mr. Alin Zlatescu. The panel of judges for this year’s debate are ITT lecturers Ms. Fiona Tobin, Mr. Pat McGarty and Mr. John Shanahan. The guest speaker for this year’s event is Mr. Tim Hayes who worked in the EU Commission in Brussels for 16 years. He is now Head of Sector at the European Commission Representation in Ireland. He will speak on theme of EMU in the context of the current financial crisis. The event is taking place in the North Campus, Solas Building (L108) on Wednesday 24th March at 7.30 pm. Admission is free and open to the public.
For further information on the event: Lucy Kelly-Crowe at 066 7191867 or email lucy.kelly@ittralee.ie
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
6th Annual EU Debate 2009
The 6th Annual EU Debate took place at the Institute of Technology, Tralee on 27th of April 2009. The event provides a forum locally for discussion and debate on Ireland's EU membership. The event revolves around a student-led debate. 
The motion for the 2009 debate was "This House believes that the Lisbon Treaty is dead".Dorina O Iacov, Who participated in last's debate said:
"I am glad I have accepted to take part in the EU debate last year.
I have learned so much about EU and it's institutions and this involvement also gave me an opportunity to speak about my beliefs in regards to the overall benefit that EU had or didn't on Europe. I had a very informative and memorable night and met many local politicians.
I now have great memories."
I have learned so much about EU and it's institutions and this involvement also gave me an opportunity to speak about my beliefs in regards to the overall benefit that EU had or didn't on Europe. I had a very informative and memorable night and met many local politicians.
I now have great memories."
EU careers
There are opportunities for graduates with a level 8 Bachelor degree in the following disciplines: Law, Economics, Public Administration, Accountancy, Languages, ICT, science. The basic requirement for any position in EU institutions is competency in a second EU language (French, German or Irish). There is a shortage of graduates with competency in Irish to fill positions that have become available since Irish was designated an official language of the EU in 2007. On the 16/3/09 the 2010 competition for positions began. Graduates can apply on-line at the following website http://europa.eu/epso/
You can watch the lecture on career opportunities in the EU institutions at the following website http://www.euireland.tv/archive.php?event=12
Here is the presentation on career opportunities in the EU institutions
You can watch the lecture on career opportunities in the EU institutions at the following website http://www.euireland.tv/archive.php?event=12
Here is the presentation on career opportunities in the EU institutions
EU careers presentation
View more presentations from EUdebate.
ITT Bests UL Debaters 2008
ON Wednesday April 2, the Millstream Common Room became
the venue for the much anticipated Lisbon Treaty debate
hosted by UL Debating Union and featuring speakers both
from UL and also speakers from Institute of Technology
Tralee.The ITT speakers were arguing in favour of the Treaty
and the purportedly more difficult task of opposing thenew Reform Treaty was left to the Limerick speakers.Adjudicators
for the debate were Mr John Shanahan and Dr Patricia Conlon.
In what was an information rich debate,the speakers from Tralee were extremely well prepared,putting forward both deep analysis and intelligent
rhetoric to make the case for the Lisbon Treaty.
Their first speaker, Liam Moran used the example of heart surgery,and the confidence people place in their doctors to
make the right decision, comparing this with the majority
of the Irish political scene backing the Lisbon Treaty.
The case for Lisbon was furthered by James Barry,whose
primary focus was on how this was a requirement for the EU
to remain efficient and to continue giving benefits to all
member states. Emily Cane,the final speaker for ITT
focused on economics in part and how Ireland's objection to
the Reform treaty could jeopardise foreign direct investment
and damage the nation's prosperity.
In refuting these arguments, the team from UL took
the line that while the EU has been good to Ireland,the Lisbon
Treaty would not. In opening for UL, Eamon Quinlan
stated that the Reform Treaty was a case of 'smoke
and mirrors' with most of the content being the same as the
EU Constitution which was rejected previously by other
nations. He went on to discuss the harms to Ireland under the
Treaty, including the democratic deficit. Continuing this
line of argument, Aoife Finnerty spoke about how it
was a bigger loss to a small country such as Ireland to be
without a EU Commissioner for any period of time.Final
speaker in the debate Oisín Collins spoke about how the
Reform treaty was a future for Europe, but not the best future
for Ireland.
After the debate, the adjudicators departed to deliberate the outcome. During this interval, refreshments were served and the audience had a
chance to speak with the debaters. The adjudicators returned shortly and the verdict was announced with IT Tralee winning the debate and Ms Finnerty of UL taking the best speaker award.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Jean Monnet Project 06-07
During the academic year 2006-07 in the region of 210 students participated directly in the Jean Monnet Project with a further 150 attending the main activity of the project – the annual Jean Monnet debate. This year the main Jean Monnet event took place on 16th November 2006. This was organised in conjunction with the European Commission in Dublin and it involved a student led debate between students from ITT and University of Limerick. The guest speaker for the evening was former Irish Times Washington correspondent Mr. Joe Walshe. An expert on Irish Foreign Policy, his speech focused on the impact of EU membership for Ireland’s policy of neutrality.
The event was hailed as a great success; Mr Harry O’Connor complimented the staff of ITT for the excellent organisation of the event and for the enthusiasm which the debate generated between the competing colleges. The happy outcome for the participating teams from ITT and UL was the opportunity to travel to Brussels to visit the European Commission and the European Parliament. This visit took place over a three day period at the end of March 2007. A group of 8 students and staff travelled from IT Tralee and 3 students from the University of Limerick. The group attended the European Parliament for its Plenary Session where they had the opportunity to listen to a speech delivered by Mr. Javier Solana, the High Representative for CFSP. They also met local MEP Mr. Brian Crowley. The other organised sessions included “An Introduction to the European Union” ( Mr. Harry O’Connor); “Ireland in the EU” (COREPER); “Lobbying in the European Union” ( Ms Barbara Wynne, IBEC). It was a wonderful learning experience for all and one which I hope will be repeated in the not too distant future. I include a piece written by one of the students which clearly highlights the importance of such trips from a student perspective.
Other events organised in the context of the Jean Monnet project included:
· Visit of MEP Kathy Sinnott in conjunction with the European Movement Ireland in December 2006
· Visiting Lecturer from Belgium, February 2007
· Visiting Speaker from Kerry County Council Arts Office, March 2007. Ms Kate Kennelly spoke to students of the Folk Theatre Studies degree about an EU sponsored project entitled “Arts in Adult Education”. This project is sponsored by the EU’s Socrates II programme ‘Grundtvig 2’ and its involves four EU partners, Ireland, Czech Republic, Greece and Hungary.
The event was hailed as a great success; Mr Harry O’Connor complimented the staff of ITT for the excellent organisation of the event and for the enthusiasm which the debate generated between the competing colleges. The happy outcome for the participating teams from ITT and UL was the opportunity to travel to Brussels to visit the European Commission and the European Parliament. This visit took place over a three day period at the end of March 2007. A group of 8 students and staff travelled from IT Tralee and 3 students from the University of Limerick. The group attended the European Parliament for its Plenary Session where they had the opportunity to listen to a speech delivered by Mr. Javier Solana, the High Representative for CFSP. They also met local MEP Mr. Brian Crowley. The other organised sessions included “An Introduction to the European Union” ( Mr. Harry O’Connor); “Ireland in the EU” (COREPER); “Lobbying in the European Union” ( Ms Barbara Wynne, IBEC). It was a wonderful learning experience for all and one which I hope will be repeated in the not too distant future. I include a piece written by one of the students which clearly highlights the importance of such trips from a student perspective.
Other events organised in the context of the Jean Monnet project included:
· Visit of MEP Kathy Sinnott in conjunction with the European Movement Ireland in December 2006
· Visiting Lecturer from Belgium, February 2007
· Visiting Speaker from Kerry County Council Arts Office, March 2007. Ms Kate Kennelly spoke to students of the Folk Theatre Studies degree about an EU sponsored project entitled “Arts in Adult Education”. This project is sponsored by the EU’s Socrates II programme ‘Grundtvig 2’ and its involves four EU partners, Ireland, Czech Republic, Greece and Hungary.
IT Tralee Trip To Brussels 2007
On Wednesday the 28th of March 2007,I had the privilege of travelling to Brussels with a group from I.T. Tralee and UL to further our education about the EU. As part of my B.A in Folk Theatre Studies,I must study EU Arts Policy for one semester. The objective of this module is to give students an understanding into how the EU promotes cultural inclusion and social cohesion through the Arts.
This trip offered all candidates an inside view into how each segment of the EU runs. On our first day we were offered the opportunity to sit in the VIP gallery of the European Parliament for a plenary session. Here we witnessed Mr. Solana the EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy discuss, among many other issues, the deployment of anti-missile defence systems in Europe by the United States. The whole process was over-whelming, from the high-tech security procedures to enter the Parliament, to the actual building, complete with the many interpreter boxes, highlighting to us the complexity and linguistic diversity of the European Union.
The remainder of the trip was just as exhilarating with an informed discussion from Brian Glynn,(COREPER) on the impact European integration has had for Ireland. Our second day, now feeling very much an European citizen, we were escorted to the D.G for Culture and Education, where Harry O’Connor, from the EU Commission's representation in Ireland, provided us with a very comprehensive introduction to the European Union and its policies, this discussion however turned into somewhat of a debate. Ms.Barbara Wynne IBEC, introduced to us to the intriguing process of lobbying in the European Union.
The trip was a rollercoaster of education and learning, however us girls did make time for some retail therapy and sight seeing!! We all reluctantly returned to Kerry on the 31st of March after much pampering, wining and dining all thanks to the EU. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the European Commission in Dublin for affording ITT and UL students a unique opportunity to visit the headquarters of the EU in Brussels.
Sarah Walshe,
Folk Theatre Studies – Year 4
Institute of Technology,
Tralee,
Co.Kerry
This trip offered all candidates an inside view into how each segment of the EU runs. On our first day we were offered the opportunity to sit in the VIP gallery of the European Parliament for a plenary session. Here we witnessed Mr. Solana the EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy discuss, among many other issues, the deployment of anti-missile defence systems in Europe by the United States. The whole process was over-whelming, from the high-tech security procedures to enter the Parliament, to the actual building, complete with the many interpreter boxes, highlighting to us the complexity and linguistic diversity of the European Union.
The remainder of the trip was just as exhilarating with an informed discussion from Brian Glynn,(COREPER) on the impact European integration has had for Ireland. Our second day, now feeling very much an European citizen, we were escorted to the D.G for Culture and Education, where Harry O’Connor, from the EU Commission's representation in Ireland, provided us with a very comprehensive introduction to the European Union and its policies, this discussion however turned into somewhat of a debate. Ms.Barbara Wynne IBEC, introduced to us to the intriguing process of lobbying in the European Union.
The trip was a rollercoaster of education and learning, however us girls did make time for some retail therapy and sight seeing!! We all reluctantly returned to Kerry on the 31st of March after much pampering, wining and dining all thanks to the EU. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the European Commission in Dublin for affording ITT and UL students a unique opportunity to visit the headquarters of the EU in Brussels.
Sarah Walshe,
Folk Theatre Studies – Year 4
Institute of Technology,
Tralee,
Co.Kerry
EU's future debatable at ITT - EU Debate 2006.
A debate on the future of Europe took place at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, on Monday, February 27, 2006. As part of the activities sponsored under the Jean Monnet Project 2006, students from the School of Business and Humanities at the ITT debated the European Union's Constitutional Treaty. The motion for the debate was: 'This house believes the treaty establishing a constitution for Europe is dead - may it rest in peace.''
The event is one of many debates on European issues held at the ITT annually. The debate provides students with an opportunity to air their opinions and to discuss European matters of interest. The competing teams represented the Department of Business and the Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism at the ITT.
The guest of honour for the event was Brian Crowley MEP. The debate was sponsored under an EU-funded programme, whose aim it is to support the introduction and development of European Integration Studies at universities and other higher education establishments in the member states of the EU. The institute has been awarded funding under the programme to aid the teaching of a short programme concentrating on European Integration Studies.
Members of the public were invited to attend the debate, which was followed by a question and answer session with Brian Crowley. The debate took place on Monday, February 27 at the ITT North Campus, commencing at 2.30 pm.
The event is one of many debates on European issues held at the ITT annually. The debate provides students with an opportunity to air their opinions and to discuss European matters of interest. The competing teams represented the Department of Business and the Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism at the ITT.
The guest of honour for the event was Brian Crowley MEP. The debate was sponsored under an EU-funded programme, whose aim it is to support the introduction and development of European Integration Studies at universities and other higher education establishments in the member states of the EU. The institute has been awarded funding under the programme to aid the teaching of a short programme concentrating on European Integration Studies.
Members of the public were invited to attend the debate, which was followed by a question and answer session with Brian Crowley. The debate took place on Monday, February 27 at the ITT North Campus, commencing at 2.30 pm.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Dukes to attend IT event - EU Debate 2005.
Chief Executive of the Institute of European Affairs (IEA) Mr. Alan Dukes, was the guest at an EU sponsored event under the Jean Monnet Project 2005 in IT Tralee. This is an EU funded programme whose aim is to support the introduction and development of European Studies in universities and other higher education establishments in the Member States by way of contribution to the on-going debate on the future of Europe. The School of Business and Humanities hosted a student led debate on a topic germane to Ireland's membership of the EU on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 3 pm in the North Campus.
2 teams drawn from the School of Business and Social Studies and the School of Engineering debated the EU's Constitutional Treaty in the context of enlargement and outlined the implications for Ireland. The debate was preceded by an address at 2.15 pm by Mr. Dukes on the Constitutional Treaty which was the subject of a referendum in Ireland later that year. Both events were free and open to the public.
2 teams drawn from the School of Business and Social Studies and the School of Engineering debated the EU's Constitutional Treaty in the context of enlargement and outlined the implications for Ireland. The debate was preceded by an address at 2.15 pm by Mr. Dukes on the Constitutional Treaty which was the subject of a referendum in Ireland later that year. Both events were free and open to the public.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The inaugural EU debate 2004
The inaugural Eu debate took place in 2004.
The motion of debate no.1: This house believes a Constitution for Europe is a Treaty too far.The teams: NCBS year 2 Vs NCBS Year 2. The teams consisted of Padhraic Fernane(Captain), Aine O'Sullivan, James O'Keeffe and Claire O'Connel Vs. Emer O'Connor(Captain), Michael Walsh, Shane O'Sullivan and Cathriona McCarthy.
The motion of debate No.2: This house believes that Irish Neutrality has no role in the European Union of the future. The teams: National Diploma in Tourism Year 2 Vs National Diploma in Construction/Civil Engineering. The teams consisted of Oonagh Neilan(Captain), Virginia Costelloe, Michael Lenihan and Seamus Heffernan Vs Mike Ashe(Captain), Donncha Fleming, Graeme Heasman and Michael Casey.
The motion of debate no.1: This house believes a Constitution for Europe is a Treaty too far.The teams: NCBS year 2 Vs NCBS Year 2. The teams consisted of Padhraic Fernane(Captain), Aine O'Sullivan, James O'Keeffe and Claire O'Connel Vs. Emer O'Connor(Captain), Michael Walsh, Shane O'Sullivan and Cathriona McCarthy.
The motion of debate No.2: This house believes that Irish Neutrality has no role in the European Union of the future. The teams: National Diploma in Tourism Year 2 Vs National Diploma in Construction/Civil Engineering. The teams consisted of Oonagh Neilan(Captain), Virginia Costelloe, Michael Lenihan and Seamus Heffernan Vs Mike Ashe(Captain), Donncha Fleming, Graeme Heasman and Michael Casey.
Kathy Sinnott MEP visits IT Tralee 2006
Kathy Sinnott MEP talks to IT students on her life as an MEP
pictured L/R are Lucy Kelly Crowe ITT , Pat McGarty ITT MoiraHealy Tralee, Michael Slattery Tralee , Carl Holland Tralee and Kathrina Purtill ITT. 19/2/06 Photo By: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus.©
Kathy Sinnott MEP talks to IT students on her life as an MEP pictured L/R Moira Healy Tralee, Michael Slattery Tralee , Carl Holland Tralee. 19/2/06
Photo By: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus.©
pictured L/R are Lucy Kelly Crowe ITT , Pat McGarty ITT MoiraHealy Tralee, Michael Slattery Tralee , Carl Holland Tralee and Kathrina Purtill ITT. 19/2/06 Photo By: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus.©
Photo By: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus.©
Lack of transparency and debate in India-EU free trade agreement
The widespread optimism about the possible signing of the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) sometime in 2010 fails to take into account the many thorny issues that remain to be resolved. Not the least of them are the tariff negotiations on goods and some agreement on the trade in services. Apart from these , an area of concern is sustainable development and climate change raised by members of the European Parliament. Lena Kolarska-Bobinska, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and vice-chairwoman for the delegation for relations with India, points out that some 30 to 70 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have raised several issues relating to environmental aspects, marginalisation of groups of people and global warming in their meetings with MEPs.
More information on:
Lack of transparency and debate in India-EU free trade agreement
More information on:
Lack of transparency and debate in India-EU free trade agreement
Saturday, March 13, 2010
29 secondary schools to participate in Mock EU Council
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
EU SIGN LIBRARY
The European Union has recently launched a new sign language website:
www.signlibrary.eu The website is part of a project which aims to give
access to literature for Deaf people by translating world literature into
Sign Language.
At present the project has partners in Austria, Germany, Hungary and
Slovenia who will translate a set of literary works and texts into the
respective national Sign Language. An expert jury consisting of deaf
peer-group-members and European literary and linguistic experts have chosen
the texts. Sign language poets and interpreters from the peer group of Deaf
people prepare these texts and translate them into Sign Language. These are
filmed available online or you download them for free.
The website will offer an open-space community and the possibility for
visitors to update their own “releases”. As part of the project guidelines
for the production of sign language books will be developed. These will
provide information on how to translate world literature into sign language.
People and communities who are interested in producing sign language books
(e.g. Publishing Houses, sign language Poets, Teachers, people studying sign
language etc), will get hints for a professional (but not expensive)
production, including information on the translation into „glosses“, sign
language-performance, recording, edition, and production of additional
material like glossary or digital text and the production of the
video-files.
The project aims to lay the foundations for the development of a long-term
online-library for all of Europe.
www.signlibrary.eu The website is part of a project which aims to give
access to literature for Deaf people by translating world literature into
Sign Language.
At present the project has partners in Austria, Germany, Hungary and
Slovenia who will translate a set of literary works and texts into the
respective national Sign Language. An expert jury consisting of deaf
peer-group-members and European literary and linguistic experts have chosen
the texts. Sign language poets and interpreters from the peer group of Deaf
people prepare these texts and translate them into Sign Language. These are
filmed available online or you download them for free.
The website will offer an open-space community and the possibility for
visitors to update their own “releases”. As part of the project guidelines
for the production of sign language books will be developed. These will
provide information on how to translate world literature into sign language.
People and communities who are interested in producing sign language books
(e.g. Publishing Houses, sign language Poets, Teachers, people studying sign
language etc), will get hints for a professional (but not expensive)
production, including information on the translation into „glosses“, sign
language-performance, recording, edition, and production of additional
material like glossary or digital text and the production of the
video-files.
The project aims to lay the foundations for the development of a long-term
online-library for all of Europe.
EUROTRIP – Are you up for the challenge?
27 January 2010 - This week sees the launch of Eurotrip, an exciting new competition which affords two media-savvy adventurers the opportunity to have a free trip around Europe this Spring, kicking off in Helsinki and finishing in Brussels, taking in some of Europe's most exciting capitals on the way. But the winning duo's trip around Europe has a twist. The winners must cover 16 countries in just 20 days – no small feat – and, if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, they will also be given 12 uniquely quirky and challenging tasks, designed to test their limits and that of Ireland’s EU membership.
The two lucky winners will be asked to share their findings along the way online, by tweeting and facebooking each day, talking about the places they visit, the people they meet and how they dealt with the challenges they were faced.
Euro-trip is organised as part of the "Talk to EU" public information initiative funded by the European Commission.
Ruth Deasy, Press Officer at the European Commission Representation said: "The aim is to unearth some interesting findings and insights on what it means to be European. We’re encouraging those interested to visit the website www.talktoeu.ie/eurotrip and to get involved. We’re looking for creative entries that stand out from the crowd and we’re encouraging interested participants to upload a video to showcase their personalities”.
Closing date for entries is the 10th March at 5.00pm. All entrants must be over 18 and free to travel from the 1st to the 21st April.
The two lucky winners will be asked to share their findings along the way online, by tweeting and facebooking each day, talking about the places they visit, the people they meet and how they dealt with the challenges they were faced.
Euro-trip is organised as part of the "Talk to EU" public information initiative funded by the European Commission.
Ruth Deasy, Press Officer at the European Commission Representation said: "The aim is to unearth some interesting findings and insights on what it means to be European. We’re encouraging those interested to visit the website www.talktoeu.ie/eurotrip and to get involved. We’re looking for creative entries that stand out from the crowd and we’re encouraging interested participants to upload a video to showcase their personalities”.
Closing date for entries is the 10th March at 5.00pm. All entrants must be over 18 and free to travel from the 1st to the 21st April.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
EFSLI receives EU funding !
European Forum of Sign Language Interpreter (EFSLI) is a European membership led organisation of Sign language Interpreters in national & regional associations, individual and associate members.
Efsli made a successful application to the Jean Monnet Programme under the Life Long Learning Programme. The grant is for the year 2010 only and is for all the training programmes and
schools that efsli is providing.
http://www.efsli.org/
Efsli made a successful application to the Jean Monnet Programme under the Life Long Learning Programme. The grant is for the year 2010 only and is for all the training programmes and
schools that efsli is providing.
http://www.efsli.org/
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