O S E A S * E U R O P E

New Partners, Strong Ethics: Striking a Balance Towards the Year 2000

The 6th OSEAS-Europe Regional Conference for Overseas Educational Advisers in Western, Eastern, and Central Europe and the New Independent States

August 5-10, 1998, Budapest, Hungary

Conference Announcement

OSEAS-Europe is pleased to announce the 6th OSEAS-Europe Regional Conference for Overseas Educational Advisers in Western, Eastern and Central Europe and the NIS.

This message provides initial information on the Conference for those interested in attending, and contact details for organisations interested in Conference sponsorship opportunities.

The Conference will take place in the wonderful setting of Budapest, Hungary 5-10 August, at the Kerepesi Residence of the Central European University. In keeping with the changes occurring at many overseas advising centers in the region, the theme of the Conference will be 'New Partners, Strong Ethics: Striking a Balance Towards the Year 2000.'

The last OSEAS-Europe Conference was held in Athens in 1995 and attracted over 200 educational advisers, plus colleagues from US universities and educational organisations. OSEAS-Europe conferences are only held once every few years and offer important pr ofessional development and networking opportunities for advisers from across regions and all types of advising centers. All European and NIS Advisers are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in this productive and exciting event.

International educators in the United States, educational advisers from other regions, and other staff at Fulbright Commissions, USIS Posts and related organisations are warmly invited to join European and NIS Advisers at what promises to be an extremely successful and enjoyable Conference. Proposals for sessions are also most welcome (see below).


**** Instructions for Educational Advisers in Europe and the NIS ****


Educational advisers within the European and NIS regions should contact their local USIS post as soon as possible for further information. Please refer to cable USIA WASHDC 2603. The cable details USIA sponsorship of the Conference, and requires USIS posts to nominate advisers to attend and to indicate whether an adviser will be applying for a USIA grant by 18th March. The cable will also be distributed on listserves within the next two days.

To apply for a grant advisers must complete a separate Grant Application Form which will be made available with full instructions on all listserves and the OSEAS-Europe Web site shortly. The deadline for applying for a grant is 18th March, 1998. A grant application may be submitted before a post nomination. Advisers with further questions about the conference or the grant application process should contact their Regional Educational Advising Consultant (REAC): for Western, Eastern and Central Europe contact Lydia Shevchik (shevchik@easynet.co.uk), for NIS contact Henry Scott (hscott@glas.apc.org), fax 7 (095) 280-35-16.

Advisers are also requested to assist in publicising the conference within their own countries, and in ensuring all advising centres and relevant individuals are aware of the USIA-funded grants available. The OSEAS-Europe Conference Planning Committee thanks USIA for its generous support of this Conference.


**** Conference Sessions and Workshops ****

A formal call for conference session proposals will follow within the next few days.

Conference sessions will cover a wide range of topics relevant to educational advising and reflecting the goals of the conference, which include:

- updating advisers' knowledge of the US education system, including admissions, standardized testing and developments in specific subject areas
- developing advisers' ability to work effectively with new partners in educational advising, including fund-raising, educational testing and other such initiatives
- upgrading advisers' skills in using new technologies such as Internet, e-mail and US educational advising software
- providing advisers with tools to function more effectively under budget limitations, and with a strong professional support network throughout the OSEAS-Europe region.

Conference sessions will be offered at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels to meet the different needs of advisers attending.

Three pre-conference workshops will run the day before the Conference, and will cover:

- Professional Development Program (PDP): Foundations of International Education (1 day)
- Fund-raising and Financial Management (.5 day)
- New Directions in Advising Center Management (.5 day)

The OSEAS-Europe Conference is adviser generated: it is being organised by overseas advisers for overseas advisers. Advisers hoping to attend are therefore encouraged to present at a conference session or workshop, either alone or with colleagues, on any topic on which they have had experience.

Proposals from individuals at US educational institutions and organisations relevant to the above goals are also invited.

**** Conference Registration ****


Registration materials for the Conference will be posted on Inter-L, OSEAS-Europe and EAC-L listserves and on the OSEAS-Europe Web site at the end of February.

Conference accommodation will include rooms at the Kerepesi Residence Hall at very economic rates, and hotels in downtown Budapest.

The Conference registration fee is $100. Pre-conference workshop fees are $40 for a one-day workshop and $20 for a half-day workshop.

**** Conference Sponsorship Opportunities ****

The OSEAS-Europe Conference offers the opportunity to reach educational advisers from 186 US-government supported advising centers in Western, Eastern and Central Europe and the New Independent States, and through them the European public. Advisers in the region handle over 800,000 enquiries annually from individuals interested in United States study - that's over 3,300 enquiries every working day!

The Conference Planning Committee have already received several commitments for sponsorship, but a number of high profile conference events and facilities remain available. Any organisation interested in sponsorship opportunities at the Conference should contact one of the following members of the conference planning committee for further information:

Louise Cook, The US-UK Fulbright Commission: lcook@fulbright.co.uk Evelyn Levinson, US-Israel Fulbright Foundation: elevinson@fulbright.org.il Joan Yamada Dawson, The US-UK Fulbright Commission: education@fulbright.co.uk


**** We look forward to seeing you in Budapest! ****

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The OSEAS-Europe Conference Planning Committee:

Louise Cook, Conference Chair, The Fulbright Commission, UK, Zara Oganessian, OSEAS-Europe Chair, IREX, Armenia, Judit Ambro, The Fulbright Commission, Hungrary, George Dariotis, The Fulbright Commission, Greece, Ildiko Ficzko, University of Szeged, Hungary, Olga Kniazeva, ACTR, Russia, Evelyn Levinson, NAFSA OSEAS Coordinator, The Fulbright Foundation, Israel, Henry Scott, REAC for NIS, Moscow, Lydia Shevchik, REAC for ECE and Special Projects Coordinator for WEU, London, Joan Yamada Dawson, The Fulbright Commission, UK

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OSEAS is the professional association for overseas educational advisers and a Professional Educator Group within NAFSA.

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