Finding good flight deals just got much easier in Europe

(Cross-posted on ITA Software by Google blog)

Travelers searching for a good flight deal in Europe may have needed to check multiple online sites to be sure they found the lowest airfare and best flight options. Now with the addition of Ryanair flight information in Google’s Flight Search, it is much easier to find the lowest fare -- at lightning speed.

We are delighted that Ryanair, which is Europe’s largest airline and the largest airline in the world in terms of flown international passengers and which is known for its low fares, has joined the Google Flight Search family. 

Using Google’s Flight Search, travelers in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain (as well as Canada and the USA) can quickly find, filter and compare flights, view prices in their local currency, save the results for later, or book directly with any of our booking partners.

Since we launched Flight Search in 2011, we've worked hard to add new features that make it fun, fast and easy to shop and book airfares

• Best Flights and Tips - Quickly get the best answers with suggestions for alternate dates, airports, and trade-off between price and convenience 
• Interactive Maps - users are able to explore possible destinations and view live ticket prices by surfing an interactive map 
• Saved Flights - Results can be saved to track price changes, helping users make smart booking decisions 

Google Flight Search is fast, easy to use and interactive so business people, parents and star crossed lovers can quickly book their travel and get back to their work, parenting or pining. We want to give users as many flight options as possible, so introducing Ryanair is very exciting. We are working to expand our relationships with other airlines and travel partners to bring Flight Search to more countries in Europe and around the world.

Posted by David Robles Fosg, Partner Development, Travel

International Youth Leadership Academy 2013

The 4th international training programme of IYLA will take place on 31 August- 4 September 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey. The training will be conducted based on the experience and knowledge of experts and trainers from UNICEF and Habitat. The main aim of this programme is to provide young people with equal opportunities for leadership and develop their capacity to actively contribute to their own communities.

The training aims to develop the knowledge, skills and experience of the participants on human rights, youth and child rights and participation as well as more specifically on Intercultural Dialogue, Gender Equality, and Conflict Resolution. During this process, the participants will be followed by the experts and supported with various materials that will enable them to get prepared for their own leadership role in their communities.

Aims and Objectives:

The International Training Program on Youth Empowerment for Equity including a focus on the Post 2015 Agenda will have the following aims and objectives:

• To provide an equal opportunity for young people from Turkey, the Balkans, CIS and the Caucasus to exchange information and experiences on participating in civil society work and establish a network for further collaboration,
• To empower young people to take an active and effective role in advocating the rights of children and youth within their ethnic, sexual, socioeconomic or other minority/marginalized group perspective,
• To raise awareness and knowledge about social responsiblity towards children and youth,
• To equip young people with the relevant information and skills, enabling them to contribute to the post-2015 Regional Consultation,
• To share good practices and tools in the area of democracy, intercultural dialogue, gender equality, conflict resolution,
• To provide young people with negotiation skills for their effective participation
• To empower young people with the necessary leadership skills for them to outreach to other young people/children in their own communities after the training

Methodology

The training includes the following non-formal education methods:

-          Introductory sessions

-          Workshops

-          Small group discussions

-          Verbal and visual presentations

-          Role play games/simulations

-          Participation to Youth Forum

-          Feedback and evaluation sessions

Participants:

30 participants (15 international, 15 national) will be selected from countries in the Balkans, CIS and the Caucasus. Priority will be given to applications from youth belonging to or identifying with ethnic, sexual, socioeconomic or other minority/marginalized groups.

Applicants should:

• be between 15 and 30 years of age,
• represent marginalized/minority youth groups or NGO and/or be experienced in minority youth and/or child work,
• work with marginalized and disadvantageous youth and/or children,
• be willing to play an active role in the sessions,
• be able to and willing to follow the process and actively implement the activities required by the programme,
• be able to participate in training and regional consultation on post 2015
• have the opportunity to share their new knowledge, skills and contacts within their own organizations following the program,
• be committed to carrying out follow-up activities and be active in localising the knowledge,

Working Language: The language of the program will be English, with simultaneous interpretation provided in Russian and Serbo-Croatian.

Accommodation:

Travel costs, accommodation, and meals will be provided by IYLA. Full details will be sent to selected participants later.

Insurance:

Participants are requested to have their own accident, civil liability and health insurance for the duration of the seminar. Health insurance is not provided and any costs incurred will not be reimbursed by the organizers. All participants are also strongly advised to purchase private travel insurance.

Application Process:

Young people interested in participating in the International Training Program must apply online: http://uglakademi.org/IYLA_FORM.html

Candidates will be informed by 2 August, 2013 (the earliest date) whether they have been accepted, put on the waiting list or refused. Accepted candidates will receive the program documentation directly.

The 30 participants will be selected on the basis of the profile outlined above.  During the selection process, criteria will be applied to ensure a balance between genders, geographical regions, and the diversity of religions, cultures, organizations and experiences. Disabled young people are encouraged to apply.

The participant selection process will be based on a detailed application form, and letter of recommendation from the organization(s) whom the young people may be involved with. Please send your recommendation letter to ugla@habitatkalkinma.org by 26 July, 2013 17.00 (GMT+2)

Letter of Recommendation:

Your reference letter should explain how important your participation is for your community and how your NGO/ community will support you in conducting further activities or similar training in your own communities, after the IYLA summer school. 

Language of application:

You are requested to write your application in English.

Contact information:

Please feel free to contact us if you need help, have questions or need further information.

ugla@habitatkalkinma.org

11th International Youth Conference in Krusevo

Youth Alliance from Krusevo with many partners has promoted European Values for 11 years, particularly by supporting the mobility of young people, their encouragement to be leaders and creators of the future as well as civil society and youth leaders cooperation across Europe and South East Europe. Youth work and youth policy are more crucial than ever for South East Europe and Europe. We, the young people, need European solutions that are translated into practice at the national level.

The International Youth Conference “European Values for the Future of SEE Countries” is response to the challenge. 60 participants from South East Europe and Europe will come to Krusevo for the eleventh time to discuss current issues and explore new approaches in youth policy and youth work across South East Europe and Europe in general. Aim is to encourage young people to be facilitators of broad policy dialog and to be multipliers of the European values in their societies. Young People, as representatives of the potential for the future of SEE and Europe in general, are the key forces in the process of strengthening the efforts of the countries of South Eastern Europe in fostering peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity. The International Youth Conference is taking place in Krusevo, Macedonia between 19 and 23 of September 2013.

Conference will cover the following topics of interest:

• European Integration of Western Balkans: From Reconciliation To European Future;
• Youth Unemployment – a View from Within;
• Young People and Political (In)Activism;
• e-Participation & Youth;
• Structured Dialogue as a Bridge between Young People and Decision Makers;
• Young People‘s Participation in Politics and Society – New instruments of democracy

Participants

Eligible to apply are youth leaders, workers and activists between the ages of 18-30 from Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Germany, Kosovo, Montenegro, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey; in particular participants that are experienced in the youth field and familiar with the Conference topic. They should be open to enrich their knowledge and awareness regarding the European values, Youth work and EU integration of SEE, and are willing to prepare themselves for the conference subjects, previous to their arrival and to do the remote work requested by the team in case of selection. The conference working language is English.

Costs

Participation is free of charge. All the other costs during the conference including accommodation, main meals and coffee breaks will be covered by the project grants. Participants will have to cover 20% of travel cost to reach the conference venue.

Application Procedure 

The applicants are requested to fill in the online application .The call for participants will be open till 10 September 2013. Selection of the participants will be based on “first come – first serve” if fulfilling minimum requirements and sending organization.

In case of any questions regarding the application and conference in general, please contact conference@youthalliance.org.mk.

For more information visit the official website

Hayek Fund for Future Scholars

Increase your chances of being accepted and funded in a graduate program through the Hayek Fund for Future Scholars (HFFS). HFFS funding is dedicated to offsetting application costs so that you can afford to increase the number of applications you submit.

Who is eligible?

Undergraduates and recent graduates applying for full-time doctorate program to start in the 2013-14 academic year; demonstrated interest in individual and economic freedom, and strong academic potential are also essential. (See the frequently asked questions for a list of eligible degree programs).

Please note: At this time only individuals applying for PhD programs in the U.S. will be eligible for application fee reimbursement.

How it works:

1. Complete the Hayek Fund for Future Scholars application, including an indication of the schools that you intend to apply to, prior to submitting applications for admission. 
2. You will be notified of your application status within 3 weeks (including whether or not you have been chosen for an award, and the award amount).
3. Complete and submit your graduate school applications, including payment.
4. Submit proof of application and receipts for application fees to the HFFS coordinator to receive reimbursement.

More on: http://www.theihs.org/hayek-fund-future-scholars

MA Programme in Human Rights and Democratization

The Regional Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratization is a two-year interdisciplinary programme established with the financial support of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) in 2010.  The programme is one of 6 Regional Master’s Programmes in Human Rights and Democratization worldwide, established with the financial support of the European Commission.

This unique programme is offered by four leading universities in Eastern Partnership Region: Yerevan State University (coordinator), Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Belarusian State University, University of European Political and Economic Studies (USPEE) in Moldova and in cooperation with the European Interuniversity Center (Venice).

MA in Human Rights and Democratization Eastern Partnership Regional Programme has the pleasure to announce that since the academic year of 2013-2015 the Programme will run in three semesters. According to the changes the first semester will be held at Yerevan State University. The Second Semester will run in one of the partner countries ( Belarusian State University; Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv; University of European Political and Economic Studies) and the third semester will cover the completion of thesis and internship. The 3 semester MA will provide flexibility and possibility for the students to study and gain first hand knowledge by studying in the Eastern Partnership region. The Master's Programme provides the students with the knowledge of human rights, issues and problems existing in the region, at the same time it provides the international experience of human rights protection. 

Eligibility

Candidates holding Bachelors’ degree in any undergraduate programme (or an equivalent qualification from a recognized higher education institution) and are interested in majoring in human rights, democracy building and democratization may apply for the Human Rights and Democratization Master Program. In case of ongoing studies applicants should provide documentation indicating that they will receive their first degree from such an institution by the time of enrolling in the programme. Candidates should be also equally fluent in English and Russian. The program has no age limitations. International students are most welcome to study at the Center for European Studies.

Please also note that applicants with academic and/or professional experience in above mentioned fields will have advantage.

Scholarships 

The Programme foresees certain amount of scholarships, which will cover travel expenses (up to Euro 600) and monthly stipend equal to Euro 250  for living expenses and accommodation. Scholarships will be provided only to non- resident students, studying in countries other than their country of residency. There is no tuition fee as such.

APPLICATION PACKAGE:

• Completed Application Form
• Curriculum Vitae in European Format
• Motivation Letters (1500-2000 characters) both in English and Russian  
• Essay (1500-2000 words) on Human Rights and Democratization related topics (more detailed information concerning the essay topics and requirements can be found in the section “Essay”) 
• Contact details for two nominees to provide Reference Letters (one from academia, and one from a current or former employer, if the applicant has work experience) 
• Scanned University Diploma or Diplomas 
• Academic Transcripts

Additionally, those who have taken English language proficiency tests may indicate their score and include Certificate(s) 

• English Proficiency Test Score- TOEFL (PBT 513-547; IBT 65-80) or IELTS (5.5-6)*

*The consortium reserves the right to request evidence of English language proficiency

HOW TO APPLY

The applicant needs to:

• Fill in the online application form: Parts A and B;
• Fill in Part C uploading CV, Motivation Letters, Essay, 2 reference letters, scanned university diploma/diplomas, university transcripts and English Language Proficiency Test Score (Optional)

Upon successful submission of the application, a confirmation letter will be sent to an e-mail address indicated in the application.

ADMISSION TIMETABLE

The Enrollment shall be undertaken in 3 stages:

• Stage 1- Submission of Application and Required Documents -May 15, 2013 - June 30, 2013
• Stage 2- Evaluation of applications and interviews with shortlisted candidates - July 1-20, 2013*
• Stage 3- Official Invitation - end of July - August 10, 2013

We encourage all applicants to apply as early as possible.

* Please note that inteviews with applicants from partner counties (Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine) will take place in their countries. In case if applicant is unable to participate in an interview, a phone call can be arranged.  If a shortlisted applicant is outside of the partner countries, they will also be interviewed via phone call.

SELECTION CRITERIA

A selection panel will review all applications and evaluate them against the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit (Educational background, CV)
• Motivation: Interest in human rights and democratization issues
• Provided written paper
• Commitment to idea of voluntarism and social involvement
• Experience in relevant fields.

All successful candidates will be shortlisted and invited for interviews.

More information HERE.  

On The Beach Improves Their Attribution Modeling and Increases ROI by 25%

Attribution modeling is the process of distributing credit between different marketing channels that a consumer interacts with, prior to completing a purchase. As online reporting becomes increasingly sophisticated, attribution modeling helps advertisers to understand the purchase journey of their users and find the most effective ways of targeting new customer segments.

Online travel specialist On the Beach used Multi Channel Funnels and the Attribution Modeling Tool in Google Analytics to understand which marketing campaigns were driving their sales. They analysed all of their online marketing channels and search campaigns to uncover their true performance. On the Beach compared different attribution models to assess the relative contribution of each of their campaigns to their online sales. They found that generic (non-brand) campaigns for travel destinations and holiday terms were driving more sales than were being reported via traditional “last click” methods.

By understanding the true value driven by their generics campaigns, On the Beach were able to reach more potential customers when they searched with generic keywords, by increasing their investment. As a result, they have seen significant growth in sales and revenue, with a 25% increase in return on investment. The full On the Beach case study can be found here.

These findings were also supported in a recent case study with lastminute.com, where they found that generics were driving 43% more sales than were reported through their online analytics. The lastminute.com case study can be found here.

For advertisers who want to get started with attribution, there are great resources available:

* The Customer Journey to Online Purchase
* The Multi-Screen World
* Marketing Attribution Playbook .

You can also catch up with our entire attribution webinar series:

*An overview of our research on how the industry approaches attribution (watch here),
*The foundational steps for attribution using Google’s tools (watch here),
*Intra-channel attribution with Search Funnels in Google AdWords (watch here),
*Cross-channel measurement with Multi-Channel Funnels (watch here),
*Strategies for the Attribution Modeling Tool (watch here).

Find out more about the updated attribution modeler in Google Analytics on the Google Analytics blog.

Posted by Paola Lopez, Industry Manager, UK and Edwina Keyes, Account Manager, Dublin.

International Summer University "Public Choice: The Economic Analysis of Government Failure"

New Economic School – Georgia in  partnership with Freedom Works (USA) and Institute for Economic Affairs (UK) are pleased to announce the call for participants for the International Summer University “Public Choice: The Economic Analysis of Government Failure”. The event will take place on 11th - 17th of August 2013 in Bakuriani, Hotel “Tbilisi”, Mountain Resort in Georgia.

Lecturers:
- Dr. Randal Holcombe, Professor of Economics, Florida State University, USA
- Dr. Pierre Garello, Professor of Economics, Paul Cezanne University, Aix en Provence, director of IES-Europe, France
- Dr. Roland Voubel, Professor of Economics, University of Mannheim, Germany
- Paata Sheshelidze, President, New Economic School – Georgia
- Gia Jandieri, Vice-president, New Economic School - Georgia

Requirements for Participants:
Participants of the Summer School can be from: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, USA, Germany, Israel, Turkey and Georgia.

Application Requirements:
- Candidates must sent CV and motivation letter to: university@nesgeorgia.org
- Participation fee: 100 USD (includes accommodation, meals, seminar materials and transportation from and to Tbilisi)
- Travel grants for foreign participants are limited. Applicants should note about their need of travel grant.
- The travel grant doesn't include the participation fee.
- There is no visa requirement for the citizens of listed above countries.

Financial Support:
 

NESG covers:
1. Accommodation expenditures for all participants;
2. Three times meals for all participants;
3. Transportation of all participants to and from the venue in Bakuriani, Georgia;
4. Travel expenditures of selected participants from following countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, USA, Germany, Israel, Turkey and Georgia;

All participants pay fee of USD 100.

NESG is responsible for purchasing of flight tickets for the selected participants;
NESG is responsible for accommodation reservation;
NESG is responsible for transportation of all participants from Tbilisi and Tbilisi Airport to Bakuriani and back;

NESG is not responsible for:
- Health insurance and services;
- Tickets for not-selected participants;
- Other additional expenses;  

Special Offer for Donors: 
- An organization or person who is willing to support summer camp could nominate candidates for participation or create scholarship for applicants.
- Amount for one scholarship: 380 USD + international travel expenses.

Deadline: 
a) for international applications: July 1st, 2013,
b) for foreign participants applying for travel grant, application deadline is June 15th, 2013
c) for Georgian participants: July 15th, 2013

- Selected participants from foreign countries will be contacted before July 5.
- Selected Participants from Georgia will be announced at: July 28
- Every selected participant will receive reading materials by email and then a complimentary book: Public Choice – A Premier, 

Contacts 

Phone: + 995 322 399 375; Cellphone:+ 995 593 280 433
Email: university@nesgeorgia.org