The Czech Republic participates in thematic monitoring

Since 2002 Leonardo countries have participated in the thematic monitoring of projects. This activity is focused on identifying the best practice projects with the strongest impact on the VET system and on supporting the largest utilization/mainstreaming of these projects. All 20 pilot projects and language competences projects submitted by Czech organisations in 2000, 2001 and 2002 have also been involved in thematic monitoring activities.

The staff of the Czech National Agency of the Leonardo da Vinci Programme participates in three of the five thematic monitoring work groups. Silvia Petrová participates in the 1st thematic monitoring group led by the Austrian NA. This group is focused on the projects dealing with Integration into the Labour Market. This theme was also the main topic of a joint Czech-Austrian two day seminar organised in October 2002 by the Czech and Austrian NAs. The first day of this seminar took place in Český Krumlov in South Bohemia and the second day in Gműnd in Upper Austria. Iva Tatarková is a member of the 2nd thematic monitoring group Development of Skills within Companies, Particularly SME´s led by the Dutch NA. Jaromír Coufalík participates in the 3rd thematic monitoring group – Adaptation of Training Supply and New Training Methods – Quality of Training – led by the NA in the UK.

Information on thematic monitoring is regularly disseminated in the Czech Republic. Several tools and mechanisms are used for this purpose: the newsletter of the Czech National Agency and seminars at both the national and regional level. The list of 150 relevant institutions and experts was also developed in order to send them information on thematic monitoring. In September 2003 the meeting of the 3rd thematic monitoring group will take place in Prague. In December 2003 the Czech NA will organise the national conference on thematic monitoring and on ways of leveraging the best practice Leonardo projects in the Czech Republic.