The Inter-European Education Department staff is responsible for the supervision, coordination, quality control, and planning for the branches of the Seventh day Adventist educational system in 10 European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland. On our territory there are 5,600 schools, academies, colleges and universities, with 51,000 teachers and 996,000 students. The departmental staff consists of a director, and one department assistant.

Clientele

With counsel from the GC Education Department, the Education Department staff serves and supervises two main clienteles.

• Directly: Union Education Department directors as well as boards, administrators, and the faculty of Adventist colleges and universities across the EUD territory.

• In cooperation with the Union Education Departments: Educational leaders at conference/mission levels and educators in Adventist elementary and secondary schools around the world.

Organizationally, the EUD Education Department works with the Union Education Departments in supervising Adventist colleges and universities, and ensuring that Union Education Departments achieve their objectives. In turn, the Union Education Departments work with the Conference Education Departments in supervising secondary schools, and ensuring that Conference/Mission Education Departments achieve their objectives. On their part, Union Education Departments work with Conference/Mission Education Departments in supervising elementary schools and in promoting the objectives of Adventist education in local congregations.

Objective 1

A strong educational system with schools, colleges, and universities offering programs of recognized quality that reflect and convey the beliefs, values, and mission of the Church. Evidence that this objective is being achieved:

• Each Adventist college and university, as well as its degree programs, have received denominational recognition by the International Board of Education and have current denominational accreditation by the Adventist Accrediting Association.

• Each Adventist college and university, as well as its degree programs, have obtained recognition from either government authorities or regional and/or professional accrediting associations.

• An increase in the number of Adventist secondary schools, colleges, and universities that have developed and are implementing a spiritual master plan, monitored by their governing board. Results of the plan are regularly shared with its constituency and are used to refine the plan.

• An increase in the number of Adventist schools, colleges, and universities with significant numbers of non- Adventist students that have developed and are implementing a plan, monitored by their governing boards, to effectively present the Adventist message to these students and their families.

This objective is pursued through the following activities and programs:

• The International Board of Education (IBE), of which the GC Department serves as staff, coordinates the world system of Adventist education. It reviews proposals for establishing new Adventist institutions of higher learning and for initiating new degree programs. These proposals, received through the Division Education Departments, are evaluated by IBE committees such as Health Professional Education and Theological Education. Once approved, these new institutions and programs are granted denominational recognition and recommended to the Adventist Accrediting Association for candidacy status.

• The Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA), of which the GC representatives and the EUD Director of Education??? Department serve as staff, is the denominational accrediting authority for all secondary, tertiary, and graduate educational programs and institutions operated by the Church. The AAA develops procedures and materials for institutional self- assessment, organizes evaluation visits to colleges/universities leading to recommendations pertaining to the denominational accreditation status of the institutions. It also grants accreditation to secondary schools upon recommendation from the Division commissions on accreditation. It publishes a Directory of Accredited Colleges and Universities with a listing of their denominationally recognized and accredited programs.

• Organization of international seminars and workshops designed to strengthen the leadership skills of educational administrators and leaders in Unions/Conferences and in Adventist institutions of higher learning.

• Collecting educational statistics and interpreting trends for informed administrative decision making and publishing them in the EUD Report.

• Other activities: supervision of Union wide educational surveys, advice to Unions/Conferences and institutional boards on educational matters, assistance in locating personnel to carry out the mission of Adventist education, and coordination of academic sessions and educational tours across Division boundaries.???

Objective 2

Competent educators in Adventist schools who are qualified in their fields, know how to integrate faith and learning, and effectively transmit Adventist beliefs and values to their students. Evidence that this objective is being achieved:

• An increase in the number of teachers in each Adventist secondary school, college, and university who have obtained terminal degrees appropriate for their teaching level and have secured teacher certification from governmental, professional, and denominational authorities.

• An increase in the number of Adventist colleges and universities whose students have a yearly opportunity to anonymously rate the quality of the instruction received from each teacher and also to rate the degree to which Adventist beliefs and values have been conveyed by each teacher.

• An increase in the number of teachers in each union who have access to the Journal of Adventist Education in either English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.

• An increase in the number of students in each Adventist secondary school, college, and university who have performed well in governmental and professional examinations.

• An increase in the number of Adventist college and universities that survey alumni ten or more years after completing their studies to determine the academic, professional, and spiritual effectiveness of their education and make appropriate institutional adjustments.???

This objective is pursued through the following activities and programs:

• Publication of the Journal of Adventist Éducation in English (now in its 60th year) and also in French, Portuguese, and Spanish, to foster the integration of faith and learning, and to provide continuing education to teachers.

• Operation of the Institute for Christian Teaching, a service of the Department, which organizes interdisciplinary seminars for teachers on the integration of faith and learning, publishes relevant essays in the Christ in the Classroom series and develops curricular materials for secondary schools.

• Coordination and support for the development of Bible and other textbooks, manuals, and materials for Adventist schools at various levels to enhance the transmission of Adventist beliefs and values.

Objective 3

Church members, pastors, and church administrators who value, plan for, and support Adventist education. Evidence that this objective is being achieved:

• An increase in the number of unions that conduct regular demographic surveys to determine the number of qualified Adventist school age children, youth, and young adults in their territories. This allows educational leaders and administrators to know the percentage of Adventist students attending and not attending denominational schools, colleges, and universities, and to make appropriate plans.

• An increase in the number of pastors and church administrators who have been exposed to reports on percentage enrollment trends in our schools, colleges, and universities, as well as on the academic quality and the spiritual benefits of Adventist education.

• An increase in the number of parents who send their children and youth to Adventist schools, academies, and colleges/universities.

• An increase in the number of baptisms of non-Adventist students and their families.

• An increase in the number of schools, academies, and colleges/universities established in response to membership growth, demonstrated needs, and solid plans.

This objective is pursued through the following activities and programs:

• Providing technical support to unions that conduct demographic surveys of school age children, youth, and young adults in their territories.

• Coordinating and guiding the development of spiritual master plans for Adventist schools and holding seminars and workshops to intentionally transmit Adventist beliefs and values.???

• Preparation of articles, sermons, and presentations promoting the philosophy, objectives, and achievements of Adventist education.

• Increased utilization of Adventist schools and programs to establish an Adventist presence in unentered areas of the world in support of the Global Mission.???

Objective 4

Adventist students in public colleges and universities who are committed to the Church's beliefs and values, share their faith on the secular campus, and upon graduation support Adventist mission as professionals.

Evidence that this objective is being achieved:

• An increase in the number of unions that provide an effective ministry for Adventist students attending non-Adventist colleges and universities, and that distribute Dialogue for free among them.

• An increase in the number of Adventist students in secular campuses who live and share their faith with their colleagues and teachers.

• An increase in the number of Adventist students in secular campuses who, upon graduation, make their services available to Adventist organizations and support the Church with their talents and resources.

This objective is pursued through the following activities and programs:

• Involvement in an inter departmental program (AMiCUS), with Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries and Youth Ministries, to support initiatives and activities at the union levels on behalf of the young adults whose schools and degrees are needed in Adventist colleges and universities, as well as in other facets of Adventist mission.