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AQUA-TNET NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 2008

This is a free e-mail news service provided by AQUA-TNET for the AQUA-TNET network and its partners. Please forward this newsletter to your colleagues and students. Please submit any relevant information for dissemination in the newsletter to aquatnet@aquatt.ie

In the AQUA-TNET Newsletter you will find an update of AQUA-TNET and its activities. AQUA-TNET is the European Thematic Network in the field of aquaculture, fisheries and aquatic resource management, funded under the European Commission Socrates Erasmus Programme. Below, you will find an update regarding the AQUA-TNET project, we will give you the highlights of the AquaTT's Training News, a short summary of Bib-mail, an Information of Interest, and a short summary of the human resource jobsite PiscesTT Jobs. 

Contents

1. AQUA-TNET News

    Agenda

    Research & Education

    Other

2. AquaTT Training News

3. Bibmail

4. Information of Interest

5. Pisces TT Jobs

6. Other

AQUA-TNET News

1. AQUATNET shows highlights at Annual Event 2008


 

AQUA-TNET held its 2nd Annual Event in Krakow (Poland), in conjunction with EAS2008. Each Work Package presented the highlights from their activities over the past three years, which showed how much the network has achieved during that time. The PhD database, with links to full Ph.D. manuscripts, abstracts, related articles and author information, was officially launched. The AQUA-TNET Ph.D. portal is constructed as a valuable information and research tool, gathering scientific and background information on finished doctoral research work throughout Europe. AQUA-TNET members are also working on an online database for all Master Programmes and Courses in the sector, which will be expanded fully in the new phase AQUA-TNET 2008-11. Other highlights presented were the TUNING template for the Aquaculture sector, giving amongst other aspects, European degree profiles, typical occupations in the sector, and level cycle descriptors based on learning outcomes and competences, and a database of potential mobility exchanges, including recommendations and a good practice guide.

Based on the work done in the vertical Work Packages, representatives from Industry, Research and Consumers had the opportunity to comment and express their practices and needs to the academic community. The group discussion regarding whether higher education institutions are able to meet the lifelong learning needs of an innovative aquaculture industry, showed that Higher Education Institutions are still uncertain with regard to their role in the provision of lifelong learning within industry sector - whatever this role might be!  This is an issue that might merit further consideration.

As AQUA-TNET activities increase, so does its relevance and influence. With the recently approved Community co-funding the network now has an excellent opportunity to build upon the first phase and continue this long-running network (1996-2008) in AQUA-TNET2008-11. The new programme will allow the network to continue its important work of helping the sectors covered to contribute to the creation of a European Higher Education Area. The renewal will allow the network to review priorities and activities and make any improvements necessary to help meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Please visit www.aquatnet.com for more information.

Impact of current EC reforms at grass roots level

The Bologna Declaration in 1999 initiated the widest-reaching reforms to European higher education in decades, leading to a new organization of university studies for all participating European Universities, allowing the creation of transnational multidisciplinary programmes with opportunities to deepen related topics and giving students a greater say and involvement in higher education social issues.

It seemed that in the years from 2001 to 2008, the Bologna Process assumed a momentum that seemed unstoppable, although the interested parties often found it hard to keep up with the pace of change. The Bologna Process was acting as a catalyst and was doing far more than merely harmonising the external structure of European 1st and 2nd degrees into a 3+2 format. The major changes in legislation needed to effect the reforms were taking place throughout Europe, however reluctantly in some cases. The Trends IV Report (2005) revealed that "reforms were a highly complex affair for institutions, with societal demands increasing, policy messages often conflicting with each other, and priorities difficult to establish." Two years later, the situation has moved on, and the Trends V report (2007) contains significant findings not only on the implementation of new Bologna degree cycles but also on the attitudinal shift that seems to have taken place across the higher education sector. Since this Report is based on more than 900 European higher education institutions who contributed either by responding to a wide-ranging questionnaire, or by hosting visits of research teams, or through providing input in other meetings, its major findings can be considered truly indicative of what is happening at grass roots level.

AQUA-TNET’s members can be said to be representative of institutions and organisations which are eager to implement both the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the European Research Area (ERA). The findings of the Trends V report (2007) are in line with findings in the AQUA-TNET network. The report shows the progress made by Europe’s universities in implementing the Bologna reforms, with the vast majority of the 908 institutions involved stating that they consider it vital to move rapidly towards a European Higher Education Area.

Please CLICK HERE for the full report, produced by AQUA-TNET WP1 and 3.

 

 


Agenda 


1. SCOFDA workshop “Diagnosis and Control of Fish Diseases”, 4-5 November 2008, Copenhagen (Denmark)

Main themes of the next SCOFDA workshop are “Control of Pathogens in Warm Water Aquaculture” and “Recirculated Model Trout Farms”. The workshop is organised by the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences in Frederiksberg C (Denmark)

Please mail Kurt Buchmann at kub@life.ku.dk for more information
 
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2. Ph.D. course “Physical and biochemical methods for analysis of fish as food”, 17 - 21 November 2008, Kgs. Lyngby (Denmark)

Eating quality of the end product is an issue of increased importance in aquaculture. Research in this area often requires measurement of the different constituents of the fish. In this context we here announce a Ph.D. course in “Physical and biochemical methods for analysis of fish as food”. The course takes place 17th – 21st November 2008 at DTU Aqua, Dept. of Seafood Research, Søltofts Plads, Building 221, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. The aim of the course is to provide insight into the state of the art of advanced laboratory techniques and methods that are recommended for analysis of fish muscle components relevant in studies of ante mortem (e.g. feed, stress) effects on fish as well as for following post mortem changes in fish. The course comprises 5 days of exercises.

For further information see: http://www.aqua.dtu.dk/upload/dfu/kalender/phdcourse_methods_analysis_fish_food_2008.pdf or contact Alice Jensen, e-mail: aj@aqua.dtu.dk 

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3. Applied Training Workshop - “From Theory to the Application of Genomics in Northern European Aquaculture: Basis and Prospects”, 3 December 2008, Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling (UK)
 
This workshop is organised by Institute of Aquaculture in Stirling and Genesis Faraday as part of the Aquagenome EU project to disseminate knowledge and training in genomics in aquaculture. This workshop is focused on the application of genomic technologies to northern aquaculture species (salmon, trout, cod, etc) in contrast to the recent workshop held in Paris which focused on temperate and Mediterranean aquaculture species.

•    Cost: Free
•    Number of places available: 30 (applications will be assessed to ensure that attendees are from the target audience sectors)
•    Registration: Aquagenome website: http://www.aquaculture-europe.org
•    Language: English
•    Information: Carol Telford (carol.telford@genesis-faraday.org) from Genesis Faraday (www.genesis-faraday.org).
 
 
4. Strategy Workshop Series: “Positioning your University in the Wider World” (Vienna, 4-5 December 2008)
 
EUA and its partners, HUMANE and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE) recently announced the launch of a new series of strategy workshops designed for leaders and managers of European universities: “Building Productive Relationships in a New Stakeholder Environment”.

The first workshop - to be held on the 4-5 December at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna - will focus on “Positioning your university in the wider world”. Designed to give university leaders the opportunity to analyse, critique and improve their approaches to international strategy development, the workshop will be structured around four case studies:
•    International consortium building;
•    Regional partnerships with international outreach;
•    Delivering specialist Masters programmes across different countries;
•    International Doctoral Schools.

These will provide the ground for further group work and a final plenary session, animated by expert facilitators. Participants will analyse the impact of the development and implementation of a strategic approach on the university’s governance and institutional processes. Work will also cover issues on the identification of stakeholders as well as the commitment of the university’s leadership.

This is a high-level development opportunity specifically designed for those working at the most senior levels of higher education in Europe, such as Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Administration. Interactive and informative - with input from high profile experts, professional facilitators and senior leaders and managers from Europe and beyond - the sessions will be carried out in small groups, to enable participants to address their own priorities and ‘work in progress’ on key strategic agendas for European universities.
 
Click here to find out more and to register for the conference.
 
 
5. Training Course: Towards participatory fisheries governance, 16 March – 03 April 2009, Wageningen (the Netherlands)
 
In this training course cases of fisheries co-management will be analysed to determine the conditions for success. The implications of choosing for this approach will be examined, and the toolbox available to the fisheries manager to regulate fishing effort will be discussed.

Government-led, centralised fisheries management has only been successful in some large-scale fisheries. It has seldom been successfully applied in small-scale fisheries, particulary not in countries with a large small-scale fishing sector and with limited means and manpower for management. A greater role of resource users in design, implementation and enforcement of fishing management regulations (the co-management approach) has been advocated as a way forward.

For more information: http://www.cdic.wur.nl/UK/newsagenda/agenda/Towards_participatory_fisheries_governance_.htm
 
 
6. Training course: Fisheries data collection and analysis,  6-24 April 2009, Wageningen (the Netherlands)
 
Information about fishers, catch, effort, fish stocks, processing and trade form the basis for policy choices, management plans and evaluation. When not the sector, but the whole aquatic ecosystem is the object to be managed, also information about the impacts of fishing on other, non-target components of the aquatic ecosystem needs to be collected and analysed.

In this course participants will learn to appraise what information is essential (both socio-economic and fisheries science information). Techniques to collect socio-economic information will be taught, and participants are guided to develop a more analytical attitude towards fisheries data and catch/effort information.

For more information: http://www.cdic.wur.nl/UK/newsagenda/agenda/Fisheries_data_collection_and_analysis.htm
 
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7. Please check AquaTT Training News October 2008 for a complete overview of upcoming events, conferences and workshops

Please click here for Education and Training information, Collaboration and Other information and click here for the Events in the Maritime Sector.

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Research & Education 

1. HE_LeO online Handbook: "Implementing Competence Orientation and Learning Outcomes in Higher Education”

The Leonardo da Vinci project “Competence Orientation and Learning Outcomes in Higher Education” (HE_LeO) – co-funded by the European Commission – has supported the linkage of national and institutional activities in the HE-sector with regard to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong learning (EQF) and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) framework.

The project aimed to bridge the gap between European policies and institutional approaches of implementing learning outcomes. Ten partner institutions – universities and ministries of five countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Spain) – contributed examples of processes and practices for implementing learning outcomes on national, institutional and program level.

As part of the project, a new Handbook has been published: Implementing Competence Orientation and Learning Outcomes in Higher Education - Processes and Practices in Five Countries.

The publication is addressed at institutional actors within universities as well as policymakers and actors within ministries responsible for the HE-sector, for international affairs, for the development of National qualification frameworks and/or for the Bologna process.

Please click here to find out more about the Handbook or visit the project website

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2. Practical Guide to EU funding opportunities for Research and Innovation

The European Commission has published a new 'Practical Guide to EU funding opportunities for Research and Innovation'.

This guide is intended to provide all stakeholders with user-friendly information on the different funding sources including the 7th Framework Programme and Structural Funds. It includes a description of each fund, advice for policy makers and a checklist and scorecard to allow potential beneficiaries to identify exactly how they can access European funding at every stage of the development and implementation of a project.

Please click here to read the guide.

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3. OECD Report “Education at a Glance 2008”

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published the latest edition of its “Education at a glance” report.

The 2008 edition of "Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators" enables countries to see themselves in the light of other countries’ performance. It aims to provide comparable and up-to-date array of indicators on the performance of education systems.

The indicators look at who participates in education, what is spent on it and how education systems operate and at the results achieved. The latter includes indicators on a wide range of outcomes, from comparisons of students’ performance in key subject areas to the impact of education on earnings and on adults’ chances of employment.

Please click here for more information and to download this publication.

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4. ERA must be open to the world

The EU and its Member States must 'transform Europe's research labyrinth into a European Research Area open to the world, attracting the best brains and contributing to address global challenges', said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. Mr Potocnik was speaking at the launch of a new European strategy for international cooperation in science and technology. 'If Europe wants to maintain its position as a global leader in Science and Research, we need to find the most efficient ways to collaborate within the EU and to transform our willingness to cooperate with our partners worldwide (into action) while targeting our priorities.'

This international cooperation strategy is the last in a series of five initiatives launched by the Commission with the aim of strengthening the ERA. The others, which concern the management of intellectual property by public research organisations; the promotion of research careers and researcher mobility; research infrastructures; and boosting cooperation between national research programmes, were launched earlier this year.

For more information, please visit EU website on international cooperation in science and technology:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm

European Research Area (ERA):
http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.html

International cooperation under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7):
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/capacities/international-cooperation_en.html.

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Other 

1. AquaTT – unique partner in FP7 Research Programmes

As you are probably aware, currently a significant number of calls in the EC 7th Framework Research Programme related to the marine are open, in particular under THEME 2 and THEME 6, but also SME actions and Mobility Actions.

If your institution is involved in FP7 consortia, AquaTT would like to ask you to consider the added value of including AquaTT in your consortia. As well as coordinating the secretariat of AQUA-TNET, for more than 16 years, AquaTT has been a key partner in projects funded by the European Commission under a range of programmes, adding value through the supply of essential services that every research initiative requires. These knowledge management services include dissemination, validation, technology transfer & translation and technical training coordination, customised to each project. PLEASE CLICK here fo a summary document of what we can offer consortia. We strongly believe that we can add value to any application thereby enhancing the chances of a high evaluation and thus funding.

In addition, AquaTT can help you. Please let us know if you have an interest in FP7 projects; we might be able to assist you. We regularly receive information and contact from groups looking for competent partners across Europe. If you let us know your interests and expertise, we can contact you if we hear about collaboration opportunities. As the FP7 programme progresses, the marine funding will become larger with many new topics, increasing the chances of getting funded for your project proposals. If you are new to FP7 we can also help given our extensive experience applying for funding and implementing projects. So please do not hesitate to ask us if you have any questions about participating.

I would be grateful if you could forward this mail and attachment to relevant colleagues who may be interested.

Thank you in advance for your support,

Marieke Reuver
AquaTT Project Manager
AQUA-TNET Secretariat
E-mail: marieke@aquatt.ie

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2. Lifelong Learning Programme: discover success stories in your language

Hundreds of projects are launched every year under the different strands of the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP): Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Grundtvig and Jean Monnet. "Europe creates opportunities" portrays a selection of best practice from among European projects, networks and partnerships that could serve as examples and inspiration to others. These publications are now available in 21 languages.

For more information, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/news864_en.htm

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3. Students looking for internship

Two students at the Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble (France) are searching help in finding a company willing to offer an internship. They are in the last year of their studies at the Chemical Department, working on specialization in chemical processes and treatment of effluents. They are looking for a 20-week internship, starting on or after the 26th of January 2009.

Please click here (English / French) for details and if interested please contact them directly.

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4. Student Matters Newsletter – US Aquaculture Society

Please click here for an update from the U.S. Aquaculture Society’s Student Activities Committee, focusing specifically on Aquaculture America 2009 (Seattle, Washington) with information for students (including discounts).

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AquaTT Training News 

trainingnews sept2007AquaTT's Training News is a free monthly electronic newsletter. With the latest news from the European education community, opportunities for collaboration, announcements and a student corner, Training News is an important dissemination channel for education and training opportunities for the aquaculture and fisheries sectors.

Highlights of the October 2008 issue:   

CLICK HERE for the latest AquaTT Training News (October 2008)

CLICK HERE for the AquaTT Calendar with a comprehensive overview of all Events in the Maritime Sector 

Please email news@aquatt.ie to submit your news which will reach almost 4,500 subscribers interested in aquaculture and related sectors education.

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BibMail 

BibMail is a biweekly updated overview of the content tables of the major aquaculture-relevant scientific journals.

CLICK HERE for the BibMail of October 2008

To go to the BibMail website link on the AQUA-TNET site please CLICK HERE

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Information of Interest

Information of Interest is a biweekly updated overview of interesting publications, reports, and manuals relating to aquaculture in a broad sense, with links to the respective files or information points.

CLICK HERE for the Information of Interest of October 2008

To go to the Information of Interest website link on the AQUA-TNET site please CLICK HERE 

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PiscesTT Jobs

pisces sept.2007The human resource service PISCES TT Jobs (www.piscesttjobs.com) is an exciting and valuable free online service for employers and potential employees in aquaculture and related science sectors. Employers can post job vacancies and job searchers can upload their CVs. This service therefore facilitates human resource development in the industry.

Upon registration, employers can post and instantaneously edit job vacancies, MSc/PhD and student placement positions. If requested, companies will only receive CVs of those applicants who are qualified for the position requirements. PISCES TT Jobs already has more than 1000 registered candidates with comprehensive CVs.

At the moment 18 interesting jobs are listed:

If you are interested in posting a job vacancy or registering for the service, please go to the PiscesTT Jobs website or contact Marieke Reuver at marieke@aquatt.ie

Other 

This update is published by the AQUA-TNET Secretariat. For further information, e-mail: aquatnet@aquatt.ie

If you would like to post a notice, news item or event details on the next issue of the AQUA-TNET Newsletter or on the AQUA-TNET website, please send details to Marieke Reuver at marieke@aquatt.ie 

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About AQUA-TNET

AquaTNET new05All old AQUA-TNET Newsletters and other AQUA-TNET information is archived on the AQUA-TNET website (www.aquatnet.com).

AQUA-TNET welcomes any feedback regarding content, presentation and user-friendliness of the newsletter. Please forward this mail to any colleagues that may be interested. Please submit any relevant information for dissemination in the newsletter to aquatnet@aquatt.ie.

DISCLAIMER: AQUA-TNET provides this newsletter as a free service to its partners. Most of the information is provided by AQUA-TNET. Where it is not, the source of the news is provided in the text of the news brief or else AQUA-TNET attributes the news to the coordinating body as the "Data Source Provider". In no way does this newsletter intend to wrongly or inappropriately claim projects, news, etc. as its own nor is it responsible for incorrect information provided from other sources. The AQUA-TNET Newsletter is a dissemination tool and forum for both AQUA-TNET and its partners.

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