Thursday 17 January 2008

The Asia-Europe project Awards announced - an anticlimax

At long last we can put an end to all the speculations around last year's AEC-NET Award. An e-newsletter arrived today announcing the winners. Instead of rewarding the 3 most outstanding projects, as expected, the lame compromise this time was to give half of the award money to all the 6 finalists. I can understand why this decision was made - what else could they have done after all the protests during the ridiculous voting that I ranted about before Christmas.

Even though our project was one of the Award winners, I have no uplifting feeling of accomplishment as I had the previous times our project was recognized. Today I am only happy and relieved that it's all over... I hope some valuable lessons were learnt from this infuriating process and that it will never ever be repeated again!

3 comments:

BOFsensai said...

Hmm. Must be frustrating!
Would seem they got kerfuddled between democratic fairness(?)and competitive accomplishment (which always means there's a loser).
Of course so called win-win situations are supposed to be what we're all seeking in today's lovey dovey hermeneutic world....but then how does society/life progress without survival of the fittest?
More importantly, how will all those that made the effort to try and accomplish something, feel...
do you still feel it's worth all your investment?
'Thought you'd like to know' (again)!

sinikka said...

Thank you for your comment. I do feel it's still worth it, but my perspective has slightly changed. From now on, I will focus more on what he students get out it, the actual learning experience, rather than accomplishing a carefully constructed project to please the awards jury. As far as I'm concerned, the award has just lost all appeal to me. Probably just as well.

Anonymous said...

So, sounds like an attempt at international education co-operation has failed?
Do you think the organisers will take account of the loss of enthusaism that your comment implies? (Might they be aware of this blog, d'yu think?)
If so, it's a pity isn't it.
After all, as you further imply, it's the students -(the next generation of interantional co-opeartors) - that then really lose out?
Wishing you well with the next forays