University of Minnesota Morris Welcome Center / Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle -2009 - MORRIS - MINNESOTA – USA
Located on Minnesota’s western prairie, the University of Minnesota, Morris, is a national leader in campus sustainability—through sustainable development and the addition of its own wind power generator and biomass energy plant. This renovation of a two-story, 18,700 square-foot 1915 historic building serves two purposes: to act as a gateway for all visitors (including prospective students, parents, and alumni) and be a centerpiece for the campus’ commitment to sustainable design.
More information: http://www.archdaily.com/109494/university-of-minnesota-morris-welcome-center-meyer-scherer-rockcastle/

AD Classics: Getty Center / Richard Meier & Partners Architects - 1984-1997 - LOS ANGELES - CALIFORNIA – USA
The Getty Center occupies a narrow, hilly stretch high above the San Diego Freeway in Los Angeles California. Jutting southward from the Santa Monica Mountains, the museum’s acropolis-like stature affords spectacular views over the city, the mountains and the ocean.
Coined, “the commission of the century”, this $1 billion arts facility began in 1984 with the mandate to advance knowledge and nurture critical seeing through the growth and presentation of its collections and by advancing the understanding and preservation of the world’s artistic heritage. Today the Museum’s permanent collection contains Greek and Roman antiquities, 18th-century French furniture and European paintings, and is visited by more than 1.8 million people a year.
More information: http://www.archdaily.com/103964/ad-classics-getty-center-richard-meier-partners-architects/

Montan University Leoben / Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten- LEOBEN – AUSTRIA
The lecture hall building of the University for Mining and Metallurgy of Leoben was planned and constructed in the early 1970s altogether in line with modernistic and functionalistic architectural thinking. It is part of a building complex consisting of several faculty buildings, workshops and laboratories organised along an access tract and connected with existing buildings from the 19th century but otherwise insensitive to the urban context.
The question as how to design the façade was of particular interest. The smooth grey aluminium surface highlights the curvature of the enlarged first floor. The large window aperture indicates the foyer and the entrance of the Audi Max. Through this large glass surface the foyer communicates actively with its surroundings. Vertical, white-painted steel slats featuring high and low points according to a defined pattern cover the building with something like a landscape image. Depending on the point of view, changing lighting situations throughout the day and individual traffic in the street the façade will yield ever-changing impressions of the building.
More information: http://www.archdaily.com/104712/montan-university-leoben-gangoly-kristiner-architekten/

Sports Hall Of The Estonian University Of Life Sciences / Salto AB - TARTU – ESTONIA
The buildings of the Estonian University of Life Sciences are located at the North-Western edge of Tartu, bordering with Tähtvere forest park. The institution set out to integrate its campus and freshen its image with innovative architecture achieved with the help of open architectural competitions. In 2007, the competition for a new sports hall was held, followed by a competition for new auditorium annexes for the forestry building in 2008.
The chosen plot for the sports hall was an empty, flat field right at the roadside at the entrance to town, so in addition to functionality and ability to integrate and organize the surrounding campus area, the competition, in a way, expected a greater degree of representation than the building type would normally imply. At the same time, the spatial programme of a sports hall largely prescribes the possibilities of designing the main volume. We decided to stretch all corners of the cubic volume, and to integrate the building organically with landscape.
More information: http://www.archdaily.com/104586/sports-hall-of-the-estonian-university-of-life-sciences-salto-ab/

World Universities Congress - Declaration of the session in Canakkale, Turkey. 20 - 24 Octobre 2010
Working group including FOCUH prepared the declaration of the session titled “Protection of Cultural Heritage”. Ass. Prof. Turan Takaoglu, Head of Organization Committee, submitted the document to local and national press.
More information: http://www.kumid.eu/en/events.php?yil=2010&limit=25

Course offered by the University Laval: Sub-Saharan Africa: cultural diversity and globalization
An introduction to the historical and current African realities, that is, to the variety of geographical environments, marriage, economic, political and kinship systems; there is a relationship between these elements of the “traditional” Africa with the realities of these contemporary societies. Case studies.
More information in French: http://www.distance.ulaval.ca/fad/cours/ANT-1202.htm

The Indian Ocean Office (BOI) from the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), created in 1991, is moving to a new building from the University of Antananarivo in the neighbourhood of Faravohitra
The Indian Ocean Office from the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie opened its doors in September 1991 in Madagascar with its Centre Syfed-Refer (an old denomination of the ICT access centres). The regional device was completed in 1993 with the opening of the Centre Syfed-Refer Mauritius and in 1997 with the creation of the Institute of French-speaking countries for Entrepreneurship which has been hosting its 12th promotion since October 2009. The Indian Ocean Office covers 6 countries: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion (France), Seychelles and Djibouti.
More information in French: http://www.auf.org/communication-information/actualites/boi2010.html?var=lettre_AUF_67

Nineteen new institutions become partners of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)
Nineteen new higher education and research institutions have been accepted as members of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) by the Associative Council on the occasion of its meeting on 12 December 2010 held in Paris under the chairmanship of Mr. Yvon Fontaine, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moncton.
With these new nineteen partners in addition to the ten new associate partner institutions, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) counts a total of 774 members, of which 533 are full members and 241 associate members.
More information in French: http://www.auf.org/communication-information/actualites/auf-2010-5120.html?var=lettre_AUF_67

Inauguration of the French-speaking ICT campus of Fianarantsoa University, Madagascar
Mrs Marie Monique Rasoazananera, President of the University of Fianarantsoa, Mr. Franck Molinaro, Delegate Director of Science Policy at the Indian Ocean Office, Mrs Véronique de Rohan-Chabot, Representative of the Cooperation and Cultural Action Service at the French Embassy in Madagascar, Mr. Dominique Razafimhatratra, Director of Higher Education and Mr. Benjamin Raharison, Chief of the Upper Alta Matsiatra Region, inaugurated the CNF partner of the University of Fianarantsoa on 10 December 2010.
More information in French: http://www.auf.org/communication-information/actualites/boi-2010.html?var=lettre_AUF_67

Haiti, one year after- January 12th 2011 marks the sad anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti, one year ago
The University Agency for French-speaking countries cannot forget its own casualties, the teacher and his ten students who found death under the debris of the High School. On such a painful national day for remembrance and for grief as decreed by the Haitian government, the sympathy and the thoughts of the University Agency for French-speaking countries is with the people of Haiti, and particularly, with its university community which has shown a great resilicience for the nine months which followed the catastrophe; the AUF devotes its live admiration and profound respect to them.
More information in French: http://www.auf.org/communication-information/actualites/haiti-2010-5198.html?var=lettre_AUF_67

UNESCO Science Report 2010 shows Nepalese Government's focus on science research but stresses major challenges at universities
The Government of Nepal has enacted major plans to strengthen scientific research and development in order to bolster economic and social progress, but the country still faces significant challenges in science and technology, including improving science and technology education at universities, according to the UNESCO Science Report 2010.
More information: http://portal.unesco.org/geography/en/ev.php-URL_ID=13362&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

EUA launches new study on tracking Students and Graduates' Progression Paths: TRACKIT
EUA is pleased to announce the launch of TRACKIT! a two-year project which will undertake a comparative study that focuses on tracking procedures applied by institutions, national agencies and researchers regarding students’ and graduates’ progression paths during studies and in transition into the labour market. In particular, it will consider the impact and relevance of tracking on institutional strategic aims.

The study ultimately aims to:
• enhance institutional reflection on how to ensure high quality student-centred learning and training
• improve the understanding of the articulation between degrees and employability
• underpin ongoing educational reforms and deliver an important contribution to the realisation of a Europe of knowledge.

It will consist of background data and literature collection, qualitative research based on site visits to institutions and a final report containing a provisional impact assessment of tracking measures for institutional enhancement.
More information: http://www.eua.be/eua-work-and-policy-area/building-the-european-higher-education-area/projects/tracking-learners-and-graduates-progression-paths.aspx

EUA launches new project: Accountable Research Environments for Doctoral Education (ARDE)
EUA and its partners, University College Cork (UCC), Universities Austria (UNIKO) and the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP), have launched a new project, supported by the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme, which will examine procedures for assuring and enhancing quality in European doctoral programmes with a view to gathering information about the existing structures, good practice and areas of concern.
Over the last decade, European universities have carried out major reforms in the field of doctoral education, establishing structured programmes and doctoral schools in an effort to provide more transparency and better support for their doctoral candidates. Giving an overview and raising awareness of these issues will be central to the continued improvement of doctoral education. Establishing tools to enhance transparency and accountability is essential to the internal development of these programmes as well as to the implementation of universities’ research strategies. The outcomes of this project will therefore be of use to individual universities as well as to the research strategy of the EU as a whole.
More information: http://www.eua.be/eua-projects/current-projects/accountable-research-environments-for-doctoral-edu.aspx

The value of the Charter in identifying sustainable tourism destinations
EUROPARC is very pleased to announce that its project application to the German Federal Agency for Nature Protection has been successful. ‘The value of the “Charter” in identifying sustainable tourism destinations’ is now one of three projects that the Federation is involved in concerning the development and promotion of EUROPARC’s European Charter for Sustainable Tourism.
More information: http://www.european-charter.org/charter-network/charter-projects/the-value-of-the-charter-in-id2/

Bringing sustainable tourism to the Baltic Sea Region
Within the framework of Parks & Benefits the project partners have intensively discussed common standards for eco-labels in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Participants felt that the establishment of a new eco-label for the Baltic Sea Region was neither desirable nor possible, particularly given the profusion of initiatives that already exist. With this in mind project partners have decided to develop a methodology for the second part of the “European Charter for sustainable tourism in Protected Areas” working with tourism businesses and integrating them further into their tourism management. A working group has been established to develop this methodical framework for the region. Existing methodologies existing from Spain, France and the UK are being used as models. A draft has already been developed and is now being reviewed by the relevant EUROPARC sections.
More information: http://www.european-charter.org/charter-network/charter-projects/interreg-ivb-parks-and-benefits/news-from-parks-and-benefits/

Weekend Exodus - Record run on Rome museums
At the end of the holiday season, between Christmas, starting December 23 and Epifania (January 6), Airport Rome-Fiumicino registered a record number of over 1.2 million transit passengers – the highest number during the last few years.
Trademark, the Research Institute for Tourism analysis, said there have been many cancellations of flights to America over the holidays, due to bad weather conditions and heavy snowfalls in the USA. This, unfortunately, marks an 18% drop just over the Christmas period.
More information: http://www.eturbonews.com/20473/record-run-rome-museums

A Website That Will Change The Way The Industry Thinks
This Travel Impact Newswire website is designed to change the way the travel & tourism industry thinks.
It contains a treasure trove of information, insights and intelligence dating back to the 1990s, arguably the most tumultuous period in the history of travel and tourism. The content ranges from the impact of “war on terror” to the downside of globalisation, from the geopolitical consequences of regime change to the environmental consequences of climate change, from changes in information technology to the accessibility and travel rights of the physically-challenged.
More information: http://www.travel-impact-newswire.com/

Muziris project to be opened for tourists. Kerala, India
The Muziris Heritage Project, a unique initiative of Kerala Tourism, will soon be opened to the public. Kerala Tourism, which has so far highlighted mainly beaches, forests and backwaters, will now showcase the glory of the 3000-year-old Muziris port also. The Muziris Heritage Project, first of its kind in the country, is expected to turn into a major destination for cultural tourism in Kerala.
More information: http://www.keralatourism.org/news/209/opening-muziris-project.php?issueid=209

After the label of Grand Site de France ®, the Poitou Marsh has been awarded with the recognition of European Tourist Destination of Excellence! (France)
The territory has just been awarded with the recognition granted to European tourist destinations of excellence by Hervé Novelli, French Secretary of State for Trade, Crafts, Small and Medium Businesses, Tourism and Services. After having been awarded the label Grand Site de France by the State on 20 May 2010, the Poitou Marsh is again recognized for its exceptional heritage and the quality of its tourism interest.
More information in French: http://www.grandsitedefrance.com/document.php?pagendx=302

Bando per l’abilitazione alla professione di Guida Turistica
Organizers: Provincia di Milano
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 28 February 2011
Contact: operatoriturismo@provincia.milano.it
More info: http://www.tafter.it/2011/01/21/28-02-11-bando-per-labilitazione-alla-professione-di-guida-turistica/

Global experiment aims to break record for International Year of Chemistry (2011)
Primary and secondary school pupils are invited to take part in an attempt to break the record for the biggest scientific experiment ever conducted, as part of the celebration of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011. The Year will be officially launched by UNESCO and its partner, the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), at a conference on 27 and 28 January at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters.
The Global Chemistry Experiment, entitled “Water: A chemical solution”, asks primary and secondary school pupils to carry out experiments on water quality (testing its salinity and acidity, learning how to filter and distil it) so that children of all ages learn to appreciate the need to treat this vital resource. Once the tests have been completed, the children will be able to enter the results onto an interactive map on a specially created website. The experiment could become the largest chemistry experiment ever undertaken.
More information: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/

UNESCO commemorates the victims of the Holocaust. Paris (France) 26 January 2011
On the eve of the 66th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps (27 January 1945), UNESCO is organizing a commemoration ceremony in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, in cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of Israel to UNESCO and the Shoah Memorial (Room I on 26 January at 7.30 p.m.).
This ceremony will be marked by the personal account of Shlomo Venezia, an Italian writer and survivor of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, in which he was assigned to the “Sonderkommando”. There will also be a reading of a text by Hélène Berr, a student at La Sorbonne who kept a diary every day from April 1942 to February 1944, before she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz with her family.
More information: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/unesco_commemorates_the_victims_of_the_holocaust/

Tallinn and Turku - 2011 European capitals of culture
Festivities begin as the two historic harbour cities celebrate their cultural heritage with the world.
Taking over from Essen (Germany), Pécs (Hungary) and Istanbul (Turkey), as European Capitals of Culture, the Estonian capital Tallinn and Finland’s Turku both have a packed schedule of cultural events throughout the year that should attract millions of visitors.
Now in its 26th year, the culture capital programme has become one of the EU’s most important cultural initiatives. Cities compete for the title by planning cultural events during the year showcasing their European identity and directly involving citizens. The plans must also include large-scale public investments. The winning cities each receive €1.5m in EU funds.
More information: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/037-111412

FILM "Architects of Change II: Spreading Hope"
This film premiere is organized within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. The screening will be followed by a debate hosted by journalist and newscaster Jacques Legros on the theme Responsible Companies, Utopia or Reality?
Michèle Pappalardo, General Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Nicolas Hulot, President of the Foundation for Nature and Man will participate in the debate.
More information: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/no_cache/unesco/events/

Haiti: One Year after the Earthquake. UNESCO Headquarters, Paris (France) 20-21 January 2011
Round tables are organized on the occasion of the First anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti.
The objective is to present an assessment of the reconstruction process following the powerful earthquake that shook Haiti one year ago. Where are we after one year? Have promises been kept? Are we still waiting for results? What are the constraints and the obstacles encountered in realizing the plans of action? What are the viewpoints on the future of a sustainable reconstruction of Haiti: issues, challenges and proposals?
International figures will address these questions and documentary films will be screened.
More information: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/

Call for papers - IJEST (International Journal of Engineering, Science & Technology) Special Issue "Seismic Assessment and Retrofitting of Structures". Deadline: 30 September 2011
Recent earthquakes all over the world (Mexico 1985, Loma Prieta 1989, Northridge 1994, Kobe 1995, Taiwan 1999, Haiti, 2010 and Chile 2010) confirm the seismic vulnerability of existing structures. Many constructions (made of concrete, steel, wood or masonry) were designed and built before the introduction of modern seismic design codes. But, recent constructions, even if properly designed for earthquake demands, can have a non-adequate seismic performance as a result of a well-known construction practices and/or installation of its components, or due to the structure irregularities, change in its use, structure modifications, etc. Moreover, the global seismic safety of structures is affected also by degradation of its components. Periodical maintenance operations can play a crucial role in the preservation of the structures’ safety levels. Besides the human losses, damage and collapse of constructions usually result in an important social and economic impact. The available health monitoring techniques, numerical models, and assessment methodologies and strengthening solutions can help to reduce the existing structure’s vulnerability to acceptable levels.
The objective of this special issue is to invite contributions from researchers, academicians and practitioners from industries and research establishments in the area of Seismic Assessment and Retrofitting of Structures.
More information: http://ijest-ng.com/IJEST_Special%20Issue%20-%20Seismic%20Bridge%20Assessment%20Methodologies.pdf

"Volunteer! Make a Difference": European Commission launches the European Year of Volunteering 2011
If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever," Kofi Annan said. It is in this spirit that 100 million Europeans dedicate their time and expertise to help those in need and give back to their communities: A retired art teacher gives lectures on European masterpieces to foreign visitors at a museum. A high school student reads to sick children at a hospital. A former national football player coaches at a neighbourhood club. There are thousands of ways people make a difference. To highlight these efforts and encourage more citizens to join in, the European Commission today kicked off the 2011 European Year of Volunteering. Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, joined by Jean-Marc Delizée, Belgium's federal Secretary of State for Social Affairs, and European Parliament Member Marian Harkin, presented the year’s slogan: "Volunteer! Make a difference.
More information: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1640

EU and India launch policy dialogue on culture
José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, and Catherine Ashton, Vice President of the Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will join Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a ceremony today to mark the signing of a joint declaration to strengthen people-to-people contacts between India and the EU through a policy dialogue on culture.
More information: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1695

Architettura e ingegneria antisismica fra miti e realta
1 February 2011. Novedrate, Italy
Organizers: Universita Degli Studi ECampus - Facolta di Ingegneria
Contact: ufficio.placement@uniecampus.it
More info: http://www.esempidiarchitettura.it/ebcms2.lm.php

Global education digest 2010: comparing education statistics across the world
Corporate author: UNESCO Institut for Stadistics (UIS)
Publ Year: 2010
ISBN ISSN: 978-92-9189-088-0
The Global Education Digest reaffirms that the internationally agreed development goals will not be reached without empowering women with education. I strongly encourage all governments, the international community, civil society and other partners to take stock of the rich body of evidence presented in this publication to make gender equality the hallmark of all education policy. It is the most fundamental condition for making our world more just and peaceful.
http://www.unesco.org/ulis/cgi-bin/ulis.pl?catno=189433&set=4D6236C3_3_250&gp=1&lin=1&ll=s