The world's largest campaign to showcase the use of the Internet and new media for learning, teaching and discovery

For the third time thousands of schools, museums, cinemas, operas, businesses, youth and training associations as well as other learning organisations will show how new media can improve learning, teaching and discovery in the Information Society. On the initiative of the European Commission, Netd@ys Europe 99 will take place during the week of 13 to 21 November 1999.

Netd@ys Europe aims at familiarising with the possibilities of online technology for spreading and exchanging knowledge and culture. Priority is given to pedagogical content rather than to technology. Netd@ys Europe 99 is supported by Ministries of Education, local authorities, a large number of enterprises and an impressive press coverage. Netd@ys goes far beyond European borders and links continents in using new media for educational purposes.

Focussing on the changing role of teachers, trainers and youth workers, a kaleidoscope of fascinating and interactive projects is being set up by schools, vocational training institutes, companies and learning organisations in a wider sense (museum, cinema, opera house, library, youth organisation etc). Netd@ys Europe is hence a sum of numerous projects which will be performed during the week of 13 to 21 November 1999. The initiative culminates in a series of online activities and open-door events all over Europe and in many other countries. Enjoy tastes, colours and gastronomy of Europe, see islands and countries differently, go to the opera, the cinema or to a museum, make circus, escape from jail, timetravel in the galaxy and in the past, explore Y2K, follow the flight of the black storks ! All these projects and themes, and many others, are the core of Netd@ys Europe 99. Netd@ys Europe is an open platform for all individuals and organisations, willing to showcase their experiences of educational networking and to develop international links. They are welcome to register their projects anytime on the web site www.netdays99.org

For further information feel free to contact:
European Commission:
Alain Dumort or Maria Kokkonen     tel. +32-2-299 2783, fax +32-2-2966 297
e-mail: netdays@dg22.cec.be

Helsinki City Education Department, Finland:
Riitta Karvinen or Heikki Karjalainen    tel. +358-9-3108 6416, fax +358-9-3108 6415 e-mail: riitta.karvinen@edu.hel.fi