Full Steam Ahead!

After a one-year delay on this project due to the Arab Spring, we are back on track and moving forward with the partnership. The Doncaster team recently returned from a full and productive one-week meeting with CSFT team in Tunisia, which included in-depth discussions surrounding multimedia curriculum development and restructuring, employer engagement, and a preliminary outline for the creation of trainings to upskill CSFT staff in English and key multimedia programs.

Doncaster College’s EFL tutor, Timothy Walker, worked individually with CSFT staff to gain a better understanding of their English levels and thus gauge the needs of the 3-D English resource, which will be geared toward multimedia-specific language training. Richard Child, Doncaster’s design expert, facilitated several discussions surrounding CSFT’s proposed multimedia curriculum, including sharing best practice following his own teaching experience. This proved very useful for the CSFT staff, who welcomed the advice and UK perspective.

An employer engagement forum was held with representation from 10 local enterprises. Input was given regarding the current local industry needs and possible ways for these needs to be incorporated in a new multimedia curriculum with the aim of enhancing CSFT students’ employability skills. The event was a huge success. Concrete suggestions by employers will be taken under advisement by CSFT regarding the modification of their multimedia curriculum.

Several video conference calls are arranged for the coming months, as well as a visit from CSFT staff to Doncaster College to observe classes and partake in trainings.

With renewed energy and passion for the project, both Doncaster and CSFT look forward to a productive continuation.

CSFT reopens Wednesday 26/01

The transitional government of Tunisia announced the re-opening of vocational schools on Wednesday 26/01. There will be a special time schedule from 8am to 4pm. CSFT welcomes all teachers and students back to school.

Le Gouvernement transitoire de la Tunisie a annoncé la reprise des cours dans les centres de formation professionnelle pour Mercredi, 26-01. Un plan d’horaire spécial va s’appliquer de 8h du matin à 16h de l’après-midi. L’administration du CSFT souhaite le bienvenu à tous les formateurs et apprenants.

One week after

Only one week ago the Tunisian people took their destiny in their own hands. Since the run of the former president and his entourage so many things have changed: Just one example: In the morning I buy the daily newspaper and can read good, actual and true information.

Yesterday, the transitional government announced the re-opening of schools and universities “during next week”. At CSFT we expect our teachers and students back around next Wednesday.

Tunisia is at the beginning of a long and difficult process to build democracy and to use the newly won freedom for the benefit and the prosperity of the country and its population. It will be a crucial point to offer a good education, qualification and thus a life perspective to the young people.

To be embedded in an international project will help CSFT on its way.

Come on, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.

A good day for Tunisia

One week ago (11/01) CSFT closed for security reasons, and we had to send home all teachers and students.

Today it’s day ONE of the new transitional government – and it’s a good day for Tunisia.

The Tunisian people earns deep respect for their courage to dismiss a government who restricted for 23 years basic principles of freedom.

Today there is a new spirit in our College and all over the country: To rebuild a new Tunisia based on democracy, freedom and human rights. Thus we are waiting for the re-opening of CSFT and spread this new spirit.

Actually our project is on hold. After a short period to re-establish the normal life, the aims of our project will become more important than we ever thought.

A small message for Christmas

Yesterday (20/12) a delegation from Iraq visited CSFT to catch up on the vocational education at our Centre.

At the farewell there was a small dialogue:

“I hope we will see us again”, said the Iraqi group leader.

“We surely will – sometime, somewhere. The world has become small”, I replied.

“Oh yes, we are all living in One World”, said the guest from Iraq.

His warmth, his desire for peace and to overcome barriers which he expressed with his words, I’d like to share with you.

Merry Christmas and peace and happiness for 2011!

Démarrage des activités sur « Compétences du Staff »

Des formateurs familiers avec les nouvelles technologies du multi média, des méthodes pédagogiques modernes et avec des connaissances sur les besoins des professionnels ont un impact positif sur la qualification des apprenants et leur employabilité. Cette logique est décrite dans le plan du projet et combinée avec une série d’activités au cours du partenariat avec le Collège de Doncaster.

Des connaissances de base en anglais technique et anglais de business sont indispensables pour participer aux activités suivantes.

Notre partenaire à Doncaster va développer un module d’enseignement de l’anglais adapté aux besoins et aux connaissances du staff du CSFT. Une méthodologie forte innovante (« 3-D visualisations et objets d’étude interactives ») sera appliquée.

Un test de placement pour détecter le niveau des connaissances en anglais a déjà eu lieu. L’enseignement commencera en mi-janvier 2011 avec une « Equipe de Quinze » du personnel du CSFT.

Bienvenu

Le Centre Sectoriel de Formation en Télécommunication (CSFT) à Tunis s’est engagé dans un partenariat avec Doncaster College, la plus grande institution éducative à South Yorkshire en Royaume Uni. Avec le support de British Council, CSFT et Doncaster College vont coopérer dans les domaines des nouvelles technologies informatiques et du multimédia dans le cadre d’un projet ambitieux et innovant.

Les partenaires du projet ont convenu quatre objectifs principaux :

• Développement de programmes de formation adaptés aux besoins de l’industrie
• Amélioration des compétences de professionnels et d’apprenants par des offres de formation continue
  
• Développement des compétences du staff du CSFT
• Echange d’expérience (« Best Practice ») entre les acteurs du projet

La durée du projet est prévue de Novembre 2010 à Octobre 2012.

Rafiaa Jaafoura, la Directrice du CSFT et responsable du projet est convaincue du succès :

« CSFT comme Centre d’Excellence offre la meilleure formation en informatique en Tunisie. Le partenariat avec Doncaster nous donne la chance d’améliorer nos compétences sur un vrai niveau international. Surtout l’orientation vers les besoins de l’industrie sera un grand bénéfice pour la qualification et employabilité de nos apprenants. »

Le projet débouchera sur une conférence internationale à Tunis en 2012.