1.  New NSC Thematic Group - Innovation and Education

2.  Search for partners - North Sea Schools Network

3.  NSC Food Event - Presentations and workshop outcomes etc.

1.  The new NSC thematic group structure:

"INNOVATION AND EDUCATION"

The NSC General Assembly in Aviemore June 2006 decided to merge the Education and Research Group and the Economic Development Group. The new group is called "Innovation and Education".

On September 13th 2006 the chairs, vice-chairs and co-ordinators of the 'old' groups held a planning meeting in Haarlem (Holland) to prepare the future of the new group. The planning meeting also made a draft "Terms of Reference" and a draft "Work Plan". These documents were presented to the Executive Committee meeting in Schiphol, Holland, on 20th October 2006.

Elections of NSC Office Bearers

On 20th October 2006 the NSC Executive Committee elected the following representatives for the Innovation and Education Group:

Chair: Cllr. Alan Livingstone, Perth & Kinross Council, Scotland. E-mail: Alivingstone@pkc.gov.uk

Vice-chairs: Cllr. Bernard Cailliau, Region Nord-Pas de Calais, France. E-mail: b.cailliau@nordpasdecalais.fr

Cllr. Ole B. Sørensen, The Region of North Denmark.

Co-ordinator: Mr. Erik Lindboe, Rogaland County Council, Norway.  Contact info: Erik.Lindboe@rogfk.no   /   mobile phone +47 952 00 361.  

---

2.  Partner Search - North Sea Schools' Environment and Sustainability Network

A Comenius project is being planned which will run from September 2007 to June 2010. This proposal has already secured approval of the British Council (the UK Comenius Agency). The lead school for this project is Saxmundham Middle School in Suffolk.

Four North Sea schools are being sought, from regions bordering the North Sea, to participate in this project.  The project will involve pupils in the first years of secondary schooling (11-14 years old) and aims:

•        To share best practice in the use of School Councils and Eco committees in the design and implementation of environmental action plans.

•        To show how sustainability results from people’s own life choices

A preparatory meeting will be held in Suffolk, England on 30 November and 1 December 2006.  Funding for a teacher's travel and accommodation to attend this meeting is available by applying to the Comenius Agency of the country of origin. For further information contact Ann Brown ann.brown@northsea.org

---

3.  The NSC Food Event 2006

This was held on 31 August and 1 September at Dundee College, Dundee Scotland, study tours arranged by Angus Council, Dundee Council, Fife Council and Perth & Kinross Council

Delegates to this event have now been sent all of the workshop outcomes.  Presentations and workshop reports will be available on the NSC website early in November.

---

Minutes of the last ERG meeting (13 June 2006)

Current ERG Work Plan 2006

ERG Annual Report 2006

Education & Research Group

Secretariat

Contact details:

Tel:  +44 1473 327 530
Fax: +44 1473 327 528

Co-ordinator and contact person

Ann Brown
E-mail: ann.brown@northsea.org

Chair
Mr Alec Thomson, Fife Council
E-mail: cllr.alexander.thomson@fife.gov.uk

Vice-Chair
Mr. Bernard Calliau, Region Nord-Pas de Calais 
E-mail: b.cailliau@nordpasdecalais.fr

Mr. Christian Bach Iversen, Nordjylland Amt
E-mail: amt.chrbi@nja.dk

Bernard Cailliau of Nord Pas de Calais, France, was elected as vice chairman of the Education & Research Group at the NSC Executive Committee meeting of 1 March 2005.

Christian Bach Iversen of Nordjylland, Denmark, was elected as second vice chairman of the Education & Research Group at the NSC Executive Committee meeting of 15 June 2005.

Message from the ERG Co-ordinator:

I shall be leaving the post of NSC ERG Co-ordinator with effect from the NSC Executive Meeting on 20 October 2006. Since the group began in 2001 I have had great pleasure in working with ERG group members and the co-ordinators of the other thematic groups, particularly in recent events such as the ERG Aalborg conference "Lifelong Learning - from Strategy to Reality" in 2004, the Lisbon Seminar in Trollhättan in 2005 and the recent NSC Food Event in Dundee at the end of August 2006. I should like to thank the NSC Secretariat and all NSC colleagues for their support. There has now been a good procedure to ensure that the work of the ERG continues through into the work of the IEG and I encourage existing ERG members to take advantage of the new group in their continued relationship with the North Sea Commission. Please accept my very best wishes for the future, and perhaps I shall see you again in projects to come.  Ann Brown