|
|
|
School outreach
As part of the Centre's mission, it promotes knowledge of and interest in Europe and the European Union (EU) to Australian school students. In doing so it hopes to forge links between Monash University, students from primary and secondary schools, and communities of European origin in Australia.
September 2008
Participation of Katrina Murray in "EUrope in Bendigo", 25 September 2008
Following on from the highly successful school presentations, on 25 September, Katrina travelled to Bendigo with Amanda Crichton, administrator of the Monash European and EU Centre, to participate in "EUrope in Bendigo," a three day event representing the European Commission Delegation in Canberra, seven Member States embassies, the Innovative Universities European Union Centre, La Trobe University and the Monash European and EU Centre at Monash University. The three days included a presentation from Katrina outlining the importance of Europe in Australia, as well as study opportunities both here and in Europe for Australian students.
August 2008
Presentations by Monash European and EU Centre interns, Katrina Murray and Lillian Goldsmith, at Glen Waverley Secondary School and Fintona Girls Grammar, 26 August and 12 September 2008, Melbourne
Monash European and EU Centre interns, Katrina Murray and Lillian Goldsmith, carried on the school initiative in Semester 2, 2008. Katrina and Lillian visited two schools – Glen Waverley Secondary School and Fintona Girls Grammar – on the 26th August and 12th September respectively. Both talks were very well received, with school students displaying an enthusiastic interest in the European Union. Of special interest to the students was information regarding Erasmus Mundus and student exchanges in the European Union.
June 2008
Presentation by Monash European and EU Centre intern Aurélien Mazuy, Canberra College, Woden campus, 16 June 2008, Canberra
On 16 June 2008, thanks to the support of the Commonwealth government, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (Richard Wade and Julie Demicoli) and the Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New-Zealand, Aurélien Mazuy from the Monash European and EU Centre delivered a second powerpoint presentation to about 30 VCE students in Canberra at the Canberra College, Woden campus.
The audience was a little older than those attending the Wesley College presentation, but the quiz on the Euro and the location of the 27 member states on the map was appreciated just as much.
The presentation was more detailed, particularly about the economic aspects of the EU. It also dealt with the future EU agenda and provided some information about the “no” vote on the Lisbon Treaty by Irish citizens.
Again this was a very positive experience and the Monash European and EU Centre looks forward to continue to collaborate with the Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand, the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and to coordinate with other EU Centres in Australia in further developing this exciting project.
Presentation by Monash European and EU Centre intern Aurélien Mazuy, Wesley College, Elsternwick campus, 5 June 2008, Melbourne
 |
| Aurélien Mazuy presenting to students at Wesley College, Elsternwick campus in Melbourne |
On 5 June 2008, Aurélien Mazuy, an intern at the Monash European and EU Centre at Monash University, gave a power point presentation on the European Union to a group of Year 9 students studying French at Wesley College’s Elsternwick campus in Melbourne.
Over the one and a half hour presentation, thirty students had the opportunity to gain a clearer idea of what the European Union is or, for those who had never heard of it, to learn about its existence. The presentation highlighted links between Europe, the EU and Australia by looking at history and by focusing on key contemporary issues.
Students were involved in the presentation through activities such as placing the 27 EU member states on the map and by answering a quiz on prices of everyday commodities in Euro. They demonstrated a high level of interest in the EU and all of its different aspects: economy, foreign policy, institutions etc. and asked many and varied questions such as “Why is Switzerland not a member?”; “Why does the UK not have the Euro?”; “Does Turkey really have a chance of joining the EU? What are the main issues linked to its accession?”
Lisa Gheller, Head of the French Department at the Elsternwick campus was very pleased to see the active participation of the students commenting that she considered the presentation would be very helpful to them when the time came to select topics for their French exam at the end of the VCE when students have to focus on a specific aspect of France for the oral component of the exam.
Aurélien’s presentation ended with the distribution of promotional materials supplied by the Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand.
This is the first time the Monash European and EU Centre has delivered such a presentation in a secondary school and the positive outcome has encouraged the Centre to undertake further outreach activities in this area.
|
