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How to apply for EASY-ECO events

Current Deadlines & Open Applications
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  • There are no open applications - the EASY-ECO series of conferences and trainings has ended!
31 October 2010 Deadline for registration for the EASY-ECO Conference "Sustainable Development Evaluations in Europe: From a Decade of Practices, Politics and Science to Emerging Demands" which will be held on 17-19 November 2010 in Brussels, Belgium.
30 June 2010
12 July 2010
Extended deadline for application for the EASY-ECO Training on Evaluation of Sustainability of Development Assistance Projects and Programs in Prague, Czech Republic (27 Sept - 1 Oct 2010). For further details on the application procedure, please click here!

 

How to apply for EASY-ECO Conferences

Please note that the conference language is English. Thus, all documents should be submitted in English.

  1. Abstracts (if you want to present a paper)
    Send your abstracts to the email-address(es) given in the deadlines-table and cc: this to application@easy-eco.eu by the respective date. For easier file handling, please use the format "your last name_abstract_event name.doc" for the file name. Abstracts not meeting these criteria cannot be processed.

  2. Apply via electronic application form for the desired EASY-ECO Conference.

  3. CV and motivational letter (if you want to apply for an EU-Grant)
    Send your curriculum vitae including a list of your most important publications and a motivational letter in which you explain in 300-400 words why you want to attend the EASY-ECO Conference. Please make sure that your name is included in both documents. For easier file handling, name your files in the format "your last name_cv_event name.doc" and "your last name_motivation_event name.doc" respectively. Documents not meeting these criteria cannot be processed. Send these documents in one email to the email-address given in the deadlines-table and cc this to application@easy-eco.eu by the respective date.

  4. Full papers (conference speakers)
    Send your full paper to the email-address given in the deadlines-table and cc this to application@easy-eco.eu by the respective date.

 

 

How to apply for EASY-ECO Training Courses

Step 1: Online application

Apply via electronic application form for the desired EASY-ECO Training. Please note that the e-learning phase and the on-site trainings are linked together: application for a specific on-site case training (such as October 2008 in Saarland, Germany) includes the application for the immediately preceding e-course. There are no separate application procedures foreseen!

Step 2: Send accompanying documents

Please note that the conference language is English. Thus, all documents should be submitted in English.

Please send all the following documents in one email to the email-address(es) given in the deadlines-table (and cc this to application@easy-eco.eu) by the respective date. In order for your application to be processed, it is essential that you send all the required documents and that you name the files according to the rules given in points (1), (2) and (4):

  1. Your CV
    Please send your curriculum vitae. This should be a maximum of two A4 pages in length and written entirely in English (12 pt text). Include your educational and professional background in the sustainable development and/or evaluation field(s). For easier file handling, name your file in the format "your last name_cv_event name.doc". Documents not meeting these criteria cannot be processed.

  2. Motivational letter
    Please include a motivation letter (maximum 1 A4 page, 12 pt text) explaining how this training course will be useful for your career. For easier file handling, name your file in the format "your last name_motivation_event name.doc". Documents not meeting these criteria cannot be processed.

  3. References (if you want to apply for an EU-Grant)
    You may include one to two reference letters (e.g. from a supervisor, employer, head of your institute). Hardcopies of reference letters can be posted or faxed to the training host on the address and number found here.

  4. Short essay on evaluation of sustainability (if you want to apply for an EU-Grant)
    Send an essay of 1200 – 1500 words, 12 pt text, in English, discussing the topic below and answering the given question. To help you, a list of thematic papers and other sources are provided at the end of this section. For easier file handling, name your file in the format "your last name_essay_event name.doc". Documents not meeting these criteria cannot be processed.

In order to consider your application for an EU-Grant, please send all above mentioned documents (CV, motivational letter, and essay; references are optional) to the email-address(es) given in the deadlines-table (and cc this to application@easy-eco.eu) by the respective date.

In case you are not applying for an EU-Grant (that is, you will participate in the training on you own expenses), please send your CV and a motivational letter (you may additionally send references and essay in order to increase your chances to participate in the training).

Theme of Essay/Task:

Explain and discuss the ways in which the seven core elements of Sustainable Development (outlined below) affect evaluation projects (e.g. in the conceptual phase of an evaluation, for the methodology selection, within the empirical work, in the data analysis and in the communication of the evaluation results). What is it that is exceptional about SD-Evaluations?

Input: The 7 core elements of sustainable development

a) Holistic approach
Most scientists agree that a key purpose of sustainable development is to integrate ecological, economic and social concerns in decision-making processes in a balanced way. These concerns are often referred to as the three dimensions or pillars of sustainable development.

b) Time scale of Sustainable Development
In the so-called “Brundtland Report” sustainable development is defined as “Development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations”. This definition points to the challenge of integrating a short- and a long-term time horizon in decision-making. It is often referred to as the principle of inter-generational equity.

c) Spatial scale of SD:
The concept of sustainable development cuts not only across the ministerial boundaries within governments. It moreover transcends the different tiers of policy-making, from the EU level to local communities. Climate change, for example, needs to be addressed at all levels of policy-making.

d) System dynamics, risk and uncertainties:
Since sustainable development is concerned about the well-being of future generations, the concept requires to avoiding irreversible developments and risks. By so doing, it incorporates the so-called “precautionary principle”, which goes back to the beginning of environmental policy-making.

e) Values:
Sustainable development refers to the needs of present and future generations. Since needs are highly subjective, so is the entire concept. Consequently, its normative content is highly controversial. Controversies between different sets of values become visible in the judgement of economic growth, technology, equity issues between North and South etc.

f) Participation:
According to Agenda 21 (an important policy document approved at the Rio World Summit in 1992), “One of the fundamental prerequisites for the achievement of sustainable development is broad public participation in decision-making”. Participation is expected to help define the actual meaning of SD, provide policy-makers with valuable information, and increase ownership among stakeholders.

g) Process aspects:
Sustainable development is a dynamic concept, which changes over time. It is a continuous process rather than a ready-made solution. Thus, it requires institutional innovations in various respects.

 

Materials:

On Sustainable Development:
Hardi, P.; Zdan, T (1997): “Assessing Sustainable Development: Principles in Practice”, IISD, 1997; especially Pages 1-4 and Pages 7-20 Free download
Hopwood, B.; Mellor, M., O'Brien, G. (2005): “Sustainable development: mapping different approaches”, in: Sustainable development (Wiley), 13: 38-52 Pay per view
Langer, M. E., Schön, A. (2002): “An integrated referential framework for sustainable development”, in: Proceedings of the EASY-ECO-1 Evaluation of Sustainability – European Conferences, Vienna 2002 Free download
 
On Evaluation:
Trochim, W. (2002): “Introduction to Evaluation” (05/03/05) Internet document
Newburn, T. (2001): “What do we mean by evaluation?”, in: Children & Society (Wiley) 15: 5-13 Pay per view
Yarbrough, D; Shulha, L; Caruthers, F. (2004): “Background and history of the Joint Committee's Program Evaluation Standards”, in: New Directions for Evaluation (Wiley), 104: 15-30. Pay per view
Widmer, T. (2004): “The Development and status of evaluation standards in Western Europe”, in: New Directions for Evaluation (Wiley), 104: 31-42 Pay per view
 
Additional materials:
European Evaluation Society - EES working group on standards: "Evaluation Standards" Internet document
Martinuzzi, A.: “EASY-ECO-2 – Guideline for Young Researchers, Part B: Definition of the scope of research” Free download
Martinuzzi, A.: “Sustainable Development Evaluations in Europe - Market Analysis, Meta Evaluation and Future Challenges”, in: Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management; Vol. 3, No. 4 (Dec 2004), pp 1-32 Pay per view
Knoflacher, M.; Gigler, U.; Tötzer, T.; Naefe, B.: “Assessment of Sustainability – Can it be standardised?”; in: in: Proceedings of the EASY-ECO-2 Evaluation of Sustainability – European Conferences, Vienna 2003 Free download
World Bank (2002): “Sustainable Development in a Dynamic World”, World Bank Development Report 2003 Free download

To obtain hardcopies of articles only available as pay per view, please register for EASY-ECO and fill in your mailing address. Send a copy of your confirmation email (which you will receive immediately after filling in step 1 of the online registration form) to easy-info@sustainability.at indicating which pay per view articles you need. Hardcopies of these articles will be sent to your mailing address.

EASY-ECO | EvAluation of SustainabilitY - European COnferences & Training Courses

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