The History and Structure of the Network, 2005-2006

The aim of the Network is to stimulate and support more effective measures against school bullying and violence.

 

20 countries have so far agreed to participate: 

 

 

This web site will be developed during the first year. The purpose is to organise information on school bullying and violence (SBV) on the web site and to arrange communication between countries about important issues within the area of school bullying and violence.

 

Our ambition is that this site will earn a reputation as a main reference for policy, local initiatives/approaches and research for national and local authorities, schools and researchers at an international level.

 

Objectives of the Network
The network aims to support countries seeking to combat school bullying and violence by:
- Sharing and disseminating information on experience, research and good practice   in the field;
- Providing a platform for co-operation on particular issues, for example on the problems of implementation or evaluation;
- Facilitating contacts – for example among practitioners in different countries, or between researchers on the one hand and policy-makers and practitioners on the other;
- Providing a point of linkage with other international networks working in related fields

- Research
- Practice - Initiatives and Programs
- Policy (national, regional, local)

Besides offering the opportunity for discussions and an exchange of knowledge and experiences the network is intended to– as we see it - provide information that is of current interest for the target groups and that will support and stimulate effective measures to prevent and deal with school bullying and violence. 

The structure of the network
Strategic management will be undertaken by an international steering group. This will include the OECD Secretariat, Norway as the international coordinator, and national co-ordinators from 2-3 participant countries (elected by all participant countries). UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the European Union will be invited to take part in Steering Group meetings which will take place according to a timetable to be determined by the Group.

 

The OECD Secretariat  will:
- Advise on the design of the initiative;
- Provide continued advice to the international co-ordinator and the Steering Group on the development of the network
- Maintain links between this and other OECD activities, and report back to the Education Committee on the progress of the work and the evaluation at the end of 2006;
- Advise on arrangements for the Steering Group
- Resource this work through 5 % of one A4 during 2005 -6

 

The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research:
- Is responsible for Norway’s  policy and strategy on the international network
- Will provide resources for these activities to one full-time international co-ordinator and a modest additional budget for expenses
- Acts as a member of the Steering Group

The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training will:
- Undertake the day-to-day management of international co-ordination through the Directorate
-  Take the lead in developing a longer term work programme for the network in liaison with participant countries

 

The task of the international co-ordinator is to:
- Actively encourage, sustain and develop communication among a network of national co-ordinators
- Develop a website to share information among participants;
- Maintain links with international bodies and networks engaged in complementary activities
- In close consultation with national co-ordinators, make proposals to the steering group on the scope of activity beyond the pilot phase
- Provide a secretariat for the steering group in consultation with the OECD secretariat;
- Maintain contact with OECD countries not initially involved in the activity and explore the scope for their involvement

 

The national co-ordinators will:
- Provide a national point of contact with the international network
- Feed information about national developments to the international network
- Within their countries feed back information from the network about international developments
- Provide input and advice to the steering group managing the international network

To fulfil these responsibilities the national co-ordinators should:
- Communicate readily with the international co-ordinator
- Distil and communicate in his or her country the complex information available through the network
- Contribute to the development of the network as a tool for his or her own country and others
- Create initiatives, motivation and interest in the topic

National co-ordinators need to be supported by effective liaison with Ministries of Education as well as local initiatives and independent researchers.