Michael Sweetman Education Trust - European Movement Ireland

The Michael Sweetman Educational Trust

The Michael Sweetman Educational Trust was established in 1975 in memory of economist Michael Sweetman, one of 118 people who died in an airplane accident on 18 June 1972. An advocate of Ireland’s entry into the then-European Economic Community, Mr Sweetman was a former Director of the Irish Council of the European Movement (now European Movement Ireland).

Following his death, his friends and associates established an Education Trust in his memory. From 1976, this Trust took the form of an essay competition. The format now embraces the Contemporary Issues Task (with a European dimension) of the Leaving Certificate Applied course for students of Education and Training Board schools, colleges or centres.If you would like more information on the Michael Sweetman Educational Trust, or on the requirements of the competition, please email Loman Conway, on lomanconway@gmail.com.

2020 ENTRY FORM

How to enter

Please complete the application below and return it to your social education teacher. Completed forms should be sent to ETBI, Piper’s Hill, Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co. Kildare, or by e-mail to competitions@etbi.ie

→ ENTRY FORM

Euroscola 2019

Each year, the Michael Sweetman Educational Trust, with the generous assistance of Education and Training Boards and the support of the European Parliament, assisted by EM Ireland and the Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), awards a trip to Euroscola in Strasbourg, France to 24 Leaving Certificate Applied students, attending an ETB School, College or Centre.

At Euroscola, these students have the opportunity to spend a day in the shoes of an MEP, learning about the workings of the European Institutions from the inside, discussing democracy and fundamental rights with other teenagers from all over the EU and expressing their personal opinions on Europe in the chamber of the European Parliament.

Requirements
The competition is open to Leaving Certificate Applied students of ETB Schools, Colleges or Centres. It is based on the Leaving Certificate Applied Contemporary Social Issues Task, as chosen by the student. The student will be required to make an oral presentation to the Sweetman Assessor(s) on their chosen task. The task must either incorporate a European dimension or have a European dimension relevant to the topic added to it. The presentation of the task (as a work in progress) will take place in or around the month of December.

The selected student will represent their School/College/Centre, their ETB, the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme and Ireland. Those judged successful will be required to prepare for the EUROSCOLA events in Strasbourg.

The 24 winning entries will receive all expenses paid trip to Strasbourg, France to attend the pan-European Youth Forum, Euroscola, at the European Parliament. This includes return flights to Strasbourg, a sightseeing trip of the city, accommodation for the winners and participation in Euroscola.

This is a great opportunity for students to meet, work and socialise with other students representing each EU country, and also to get a closer look at how decisions are made in the EU.

Each winning student will commit to taking an active part in the EUROSCOLA forum in the European Parliament with their peers, to prepare diligently for it and to forward a report (written and/or photographic) to ETBI after the trip.

From the Spring edition of the Education and Training Board magazine, read all about how the 2018 cohort of Leaving Cert Applied students got on in the European Parliament in Strasbourg for #Euroscola.

[Pages 49-50]