International e-Participation and Local Democracy Symposium - Promoting Social Inclusion via e-Participation

The Symposium is now closed. Please click on the link above to see webcasts of some of the sessions at the event.

To discuss the Symposium find us on the Facebook group: Citizen Empowerment Symposium '08

Who should attend?

Senior Managers
Civil Servants
Heads of Service
Policy Makers
Politicians
Community & Civic Leaders
Practitioners
Academics
Students
Business
Electoral Officers

Background

The Conference Organising Committee has taken on board feedback from last year's Symposium in order to tailor the forthcoming event to better meet your needs and expectations.

Last year's Symposium saw over 500 delegates from over 50 countries meet in Budapest, Hungary and Baltimore, USA to discuss Social Inclusion initiatives and learn first hand about tools and products that can help Public Administrations better communicate with their citizens

The 2006 event delivered:

Launch of the International Centre of Excellence for Local eDemocracy (ICELE)
Sharing of international best practice across Europe
Creation of new partnerships for the delivery of eParticipation projects
Publication of CLG and Council of Europe conference journal

98% of participants said they would attend the 2006 event again or recommend others to attend

Bigger and better than before, the 2008 Citizen Empowerment Symposium promises to deliver:

Key themes with structured objectives
Further best practice sharing by people who have actually delivered
Achievement Awards
Networks of like minded people

You asked for: "More passion to drive us forward, to encourage local politicians and officers to take risks"

We'll deliver: More presenters who actually practice eDemocracy

You asked for: "A set of questions to be answered"

We'll deliver: Report on achievement of three pre-determined objectives by conference end

You asked for: "More time for questions and answers"

We'll deliver: Fewer speakers and more disciplined sessions to ensure time for discussion

You asked for: "Hold the event in the UK"

We'll deliver: This year's event is to be held at the Congress Centre in London, which provides great transport links both nationally and internationally

You asked for: "Presentation of best practice and bad practice"

We'll deliver: A unique agenda focussing both on what has and has not worked well

You asked for: "More interactive sessions"

We'll deliver: An agenda with both plenary sessions and interactive workshops

You asked for: "More practical case studies rather than academic-type discussions"

We'll deliver: A range of speakers and topics to ensure that the practical as well as the theoretical is discussed