Challenges of generation Z Erasmus Project

Project Title

Challenges of generation Z

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

“Generation Z” refers to young people currently involved in classical education process. Of course, this generation is also closely connected to the generations before and after them (parents, teachers, the environment), who also face the challenges of the modern “digitized” world. The reality of modern society is reflected in both, positive and negative influences. By raising awareness of the latter, we believe that we can turn these effects into positive ones and make small steps towards significant changes that will lead to positive results for our and future generations.

The project focuses on issues that, in all points, relate to modern ICT, which fits the definition of the “Z” generation, which is growing up with smart devices and is extremely skilful in communicating on social networks,. However, teachers are experiencing leaks in basic digital education skills with this population. The intense use of modern ICT also often has a negative impact on healthy lifestyle (addiction, lack of movement, unhealthy eating habits, etc.) And furthermore, the problem of digitized lifestyle, is also reflected in reckless consumerism, which, in many points, deals with adverse environmental impacts.
This facts have lead students and teachers to the challenges of “Generation Z”, which represent the goals of our project. These are:
– meaningful, useful and secure integration of modern ICT into education;
– movement as a part of everyday life;
– promotion of European culinary heritage in school nutrition, focusing on healthy, locally produced products;
– individual contribution to alleviate climate change.

Schools with diverse backgrounds, weaknesses and strengths but with similar vision of a quality learning process cooperate in this project. Each school has thus taken the lead on one of four challenges, where it feels the greatest potential to maximize results and disseminate good practice. Thus, mutual effects between partners are assured. The project is based on “phenomenon-based learning” approach. Some teachers came across it on structural courses in Finland. We find this student-oriented method very adequate for our project, since the goals are achieved multidisciplinary through the content that is attractive to the target group. Therefore, including students in the selection of contents at project preparation stage was crucial.

“Challenges of generation Z” is a two-year project of four European schools (Croatian, Spanish, Portuguese and Slovenian). It focuses on students, aged 12-16. The goals of the project will be implemented in each school’s annual curriculum, so the activities will be included in regular schoolwork. The project will strengthen the cooperation and networking of partner schools, providing sharing, testing and implementation of innovative practices in the field of education and local coexistence.

Since these challenges are global issue we provide a “bigger picture” by approaching internationally. All pupils will participate in activities at the national level of each school, while 12-16 year olds will take part in international mobilities. Teachers, principals, counsellors and technical staff will be actively involved in all types of activities as the project’s objectives contribute to the professional and personal development in several fields. Four international meetings will be carried out in the sense of LTT activities, wich will be goal-oriented for all profiles of participants. Four students and three employees from each school will participate in each mobility. Such mobilities represent added value of projects, since they offer a realistic perspective of the world outside students’ home country. All participants learn through experience and by that they strenghten their multilingual, intercultural, social competencies that make a major contribution to tolerance, breaking stereotypes. The project is also focused on the aspect of social inclusion, as it proposes active inclusion of socially underprivileged students and often forgotten profiles of employees in such projects.

During the project, students and employees will acquire many new skills within the outlined contents and primary goals. We will disseminate the results through various media (i. e. booklets, manuals, digital and classical articles, posts, short movies, role plays, didactic games, promotions, workshops).

Within the partner organizations, we expect the strengthening of quality teamwork, awareness of the contribution to high quality teaching and opportunities to connect with the local environment. We want to link lifelong skills to the goals in the curriculum and thus bring them closer to students in order to accept education (formal and non-formal) as a key competency for achieving life goals, focusing on sustainable outcomes of newly acquired skills and lifelong learning. In doing so, the project offers all the potential for long-term benefits; both on individual and community level.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 93750 Eur

Project Coordinator

Osnovna sola Kozje & Country: SI

Project Partners

• Osnovna skola Lucac
• Agrupamento de Escolas de Montemor-o-Novo
• IES Port d’Alcúdia