We would like to remind you about the early registration discount for the 4th International scil congress on the 7-8 October 2010 in St.Gallen, Switzerland:The Congress will focus on creating values (strategic, economic, leadership, pedagogic and cultural) through Professional Learning.

Get your reduced congress fee until next Wednesday, June 30!

Follow the link for further information with updated speakers page and registration: http://www.scil.ch/congress

We are looking forward to welcoming you in St.Gallen this autumn!

Kind Regards

Your scil-team

The 3rd International scil Congress will take place at the University of St.Gallen in Switzerland on 22 and 23 May 2008.

The 3rd International scil Congress offers a great opportunity for both educational managers and researchers to learn from good practices, reflect on own experiences and become familiar with new trends in learning and educational management. Early registration discounts are available until 29 February 2008.

The congress will revolve around the central theme: "the changing face of learning" and will focus on creating value through the right balance.

- New Learners? Balancing the needs of different generations and types of learners- New Learning Models? Balancing the right learning mix- New Learning Content and Systems? Balanced Learning Infrastructure- New Learning Business Models? Balanced Governance Scorecard- New Learning Issues? Balancing strategic priorities for learning

Detailed information and congress registration on http://www.scil.ch/congress

Best regards,your scil-team

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed workers fell in January to the lowest levels since 2009. The U.S. economy added 243,000 jobs in January, beating economists’ expectations and continuing the trend of positive economic data that began in the fourth quarter of 2011. The unemployment rate dropped from 8.5 percent to 8.3 percent. “All in all, a solid jobs report that is supportive of ongoing income and spending growth and improvement in business and consumer sentiment,” said Robert Dye, a Comerica Bank economist...

Tempe City Architect Mark Vinson has received one of the highest honors bestowed by the American Institute of Architects. Vinson will receive the Fellowship medal at the AIA 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition May 17 in Washington. The medal is given to AIA members who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society. Vinson is the only architect in Arizona to receive the honor this year and one of three in the Western Mountain Region. Some 105 members will be inducted into the College of Fellows this year...

Salt River Project will be part of a research effort with the Electric Power Research Institute to test electric vehicles and how they use power. The utility will use a single Chevrolet Volt as part of its fleet to test driving distances, charging times and user habits. Information will be collected through the car’s OnStar system and transmitted back to EPRI. SRP will not have direct access to the information but will share in the analysis of the vehicle, said spokesman Scott Harleson. “We are hoping to understand how the cars are used, develop an understanding of charging behavior, state of charge, length of trips and reliance on gas back up,” he said...

Planned Parenthood’s political arm in Arizona will hold a fundraising event next month with Planned Parenthood Federation of America CEO Cecile Richards. The event comes on the heels of the abortion-fueled national controversy involving Planned Parenthood and whether it will receive funding from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The March 15 annual luncheon and fundraiser will benefit Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, the political advocacy arm of the women’s health group and abortion provider...

Scottsdale-based MC Companies and Phoenix-based Clark-Wayland have merged to create a joint venture called MC Clark-Wayland. The venture will focus mainly on development and construction of new multifamily projects in Phoenix and Tucson. The combined company has about 175 full-time employees. It currently has two projects under construction in Tucson. “Together, the company is a full-spectrum real estate company with a depth that investors will appreciate,” said Jere Clark, principal of Clark-Wayland...

“Make us laugh” and “remember who you are” are the themes advertising experts say Super Bowl ads need to adhere to this Sunday. The Super Bowl isn't just a game, it's also the Super Bowl of American advertising with ads running on NBC this year for $3.5 million for a 30-second spot. That means big risk and reward companies and brands advertising during the big football game. Scottsdale-based Go Daddy Inc., Anheuser-Busch InBev, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Toyota, Honda, Kia, Acura, Cars.com and General Motors are among those slated to have Super Bowl ads this Sunday...

Arizona is following a growing trend among states looking to real in money from online sales by sending Amazon.com a bill for $53 million for back taxes it claims the company owes. While the Arizona Department of Revenue won’t comment on the bill citing taxpayer confidentiality, documents Amazon filed with the SEC show the bill covers 2006 through 2010 for purchases made by Arizona residents through the online retailer and includes sales taxes for the state and cities. DOR has said in the past that Amazon should have been collecting in-state sales taxes...

Scottsdale-based ABN Mobile Inc. is getting a big boost this week thanks to the PGA and the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open, which selected the company as the tournament’s mobile app provider. The PGA tournament is under way at the TPC Scottsdale through Feb. 5. ABN Mofile developed a free app for both iPhone and Android devices that features descriptions of each golf course hole, daily event information, updates and on-the-ground navigation to points of interest on the course. Chip Tolleson, ABN Mobile’s business development director, said the app is bringing good exposure for the business, which also hopes to use the underlying program as a platform to create new products...

Avnet Inc. is adding another business to its list of acquisitions as it agreed this week to buy Canvas Systems, a move aimed at boosting its technology sector and dealing with electronics recycling and refurbishment. Financial details were not disclosed. Phoenix-based Avnet (NYSE: AVT) said the Norcross, Ga.-based Canvas will be added to its Technology Solutions business unit and provide an array of services to the company. “The addition of Canvas Systems enhances Avnet Technology Solutions’ ability to deliver a seamless solution at any phase in the IT lifecycle and provides its suppliers an additional channel for capturing brand loyalty in the secondary market,” said Jeff Bawol, president of Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas...

It’s been a rough few years for home builders, but Tempe-based Fulton Homes thinks it has scored a touchdown with a commercial that will run during the Super Bowl Sunday. The 30-second spot will air on KPNX Channel 12 during the final break in the game. I bet they’re hoping for a close contest that goes down to the wire. Fulton will tout its home trade-in program. The commercial was created by knoodle, a Valley advertising and PR firm. “The trade-in program has been very successful for us...

Fluor Corp. will build a 125-megawatt photovoltaic solar facility in western Maricopa County in an area near other power plants, including Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. LS Power Group, through its subsidiary Arlington Valley Solar Energy II LLC, issued the contract, and financial details were not released. Fluor, based in Irving, Texas, is building the facility on 1,160 acres near the 577-megawatt Arlington Valley combined cycle natural gas power plant owned by Star West. The project is a mirror image of another 125-megawatt power plant dubbed Arlington Valley Solar Energy a few miles from the site...

Economic activity in non-manufacturing sectors is looking up as a monthly survey say businesses across a broad swath of industries are reporting better results. The Tempe-based Institute for Supply Management reported the overall index rose to 56.8 in January on a 100-point scale, a 3.8-point change from December, indicating a growing economic sector. The index looks at 12 industry sectors including real estate, construction, transportation and finance and found the numbers for the beginning the year indicating a quickening pace of economic activity...

Viad Corp. reported a 5.6 percent increase in revenue during its fourth quarter, but widened its loss during the same time. The Phoenix-based Viad (NYSE: VVI) did well for the full year, however, seeing an 11.6 percent increase in revenue along with a large boost in profit. For the fourth quarter that ended Dec. 31, Viad had a loss of $6.3 million, or 32 cents per share, on revenue of $197 million. That compared to the $4.4 million fourth-quarter loss in 2010 the company posted along with revenue of $197 million...

This week’s edition of the Phoenix Business Journal, due out today, is ranking Arizona’s largest dental insurance companies by number of Arizona enrollees. First on the list is Delta Dental of Arizona with 753,604 enrollees. For a sneak peek at the rest of the top five, click here. The dental insurance companies list, along with the list of Arizona hospices, is available to subscribers. Check out pages 15 and 18 of today’s paper. If you don’t subscribe, click here. For a full year’s worth of Phoenix Business Journal research, check out our 2012 Book of Lists...

Education, technology and energy-related businesses represent a growing employment base for Arizona, and specifically the West Valley. That’s according to a national site selector from Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle who was in town this week to meet with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and take in a little of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Michael Bennett, senior associate in strategic consulting at JLL, also gave a presentation this morning to members of Westmarc as part of the West Valley economic development group’s annual meeting and economic forecast breakfast...

To submit networking meeting or event information, or to update these listings, email phoenixcalendars@bizjournals.com. MONDAYS Arizona International Growth Group, first Monday of the month, 7:30 a.m., SkySong, 1475 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 200, Scottsdale. $20. www.azigg.com. EcoMonday, first Monday of the month, 7:30 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 1940 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix. $10. Registration required: www.ecomonday.com or Gail, 602-524-3836. Entrepreneurial Mothers Association, first Monday of the month, 6:15 p...

Scottsdale investor and technology entrepreneur Mike Mueller has purchased CallSource Inc., a multifamily technology company based in Westlake Village, Calif. Mueller will move the company to Scottsdale, creating about 40 jobs. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. CallSource’s technology platform tracks marketing spending, employee performance and lead generation at apartment communities. “The CallSource Multifamily business aligns perfectly to my history of innovating consumer-centric marketing and leasing solutions,” said Mueller, who will serve as president and CEO of the company.

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama sent a legislative package to Congress that aims to boost entrepreneurship through tax breaks and improved access to capital. The package was sent Jan. 31 -- the first anniversary of the White House’s “Startup America” initiative, which was designed to encourage the growth of new companies with high potential. It also coincided with the first meeting of the president’s cabinet that included Karen Mills, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, as an official member...