German-speaking community in Belgium – Agency for European Education programmes VoG

The Agency for European Education programmes VoG of the German-speaking community in Belgium was founded in 2006. The Agency is above all the national agency in the German-speaking community (acronym DG) for the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission. The action programme, which started on 1 January 2007, combines the well-known actions of Comenius, Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus and Grundtvig, as well as the study visits. Furthermore the Agency hold the central office for the national Europass in the German-speaking community, it guarantees cooperation with the Eurydice-information network and implements the contest on the European Language Label in the DG. From 2010 on the Agency will also be the coordinating office of eTwinning.

The team of the national agency gives information and advice about funding opportunities in the Lifelong Learning Programme. It accompanies projects during implementation and offers support in order to disseminate the results.

The role of the Agency in the network RML2future
The Agency is specialist in the field of certification and assessment of language competences.

In the network the Agency for European Education programmes of the DG is the specialist for the field of certification and assessment of language competences and for comparative analysis and mainstreaming of results to decision makers and experts.

The aim of the network is to promote the European objective of multilingualism (mother language plus two), using the minority languages that are being spoken in the regions. Aware that the acquisition of competences, especially in the field of languages, must be both recognised as well as verifiable, the working package Certification and Assessment of language competences is dedicated to the propagation of information about ways of certification and assessment.

In this approach, the integration of minority languages and using opportunities to assess and certify based on a European standard plays a central role.

For this purpose the instruments and methods for the assessment of language competences, as well as widespread techniques are presented, like the ways of recognition and certification and existing essentials, e.g. the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for language learning. The implementation and application in the DG, which is involved in PISA, IGLU and DELF, is used as a practical example.

By distinguishing the different forms of certification, like e.g. self-tests, trainings, courses, online tools, formal education and by disseminating the European Language Pass the use of these methods in minority languages will be examined and made applicable.
As a result of the exchange of techniques and methods, of contact building between practitioners, researchers and decision makers, by visits to regions and offering methods for training, concrete recommendations will be made for the specific minority languages. The adaptation of language certifications for minority languages can be followed up, according to requirements and resources, by the development and preparation of language methods for other minority languages.

Contact

Edgar Hungs
Postbox / Postfach 72
4700 Eupen
Belgium / Belgien
Tel.: +32 (0)87 596384
Fax: +32 (0) 87 556 474
E-Mail: e.hungs@aebp.be
Internet: www.dglive.be/agentur