Exchange Ede-Nontron 2021; sustainability and strengthening the regional economy Erasmus Project

Project Title

Exchange Ede-Nontron 2021; sustainability and strengthening the regional economy

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: Agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Environment and climate change; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

For 5 years, Marnix College from Ede has been organizing an exchange with the Cité Scolaire Alcide Dusolier from Nontron. Internationalization is one of the pillars of the school. Marnix is ​​convinced that it is important to make a valuable contribution to the world of tomorrow by sharing your qualities with – and using them for – others. Our education ensures that you become a global citizen of the future. You will also be prepared for a society with different cultures, views and perspectives, an international slant.

Marnix has already organized several exchanges with schools in Europe in the past, which is why Marnix takes the lead in organizing this exchange. Marnix has also been participating in Erasmus + projects for years, which means that it has the expertise in-house. 3 teachers from the Marnix and 3 teachers from the Cité Scolaire Alcide Dusolier are responsible for the implementation and supervision of the exchange and of course also responsible for the students who participate in this exchange. They know what is expected of them and also what to do because they have been participating in these trips for years. The knowledge is therefore sufficient to ensure that exchanges run smoothly. The programs of recent years are well documented and are also known in the schools.
Dutch and French students from both schools participate in this exchange. The students fall in the age category of 14-16 years. The students come from Mavo, Havo and VWO. The levels of the French students are mixed, but they all participate in the language class.
Pupils work in mixed groups on assignments at school, as well as outside school.

This exchange will be devoted to sustainability. Sustainability is an objective of the EU, which is enshrined in, inter alia, Article 3 TFEU. That fits in well with current events. We are curious about the similarities and differences in the way in which another EU country with an agricultural / tourist background deals with a change to a sustainable society. Does this increase equality in opportunities among the population (mainly young people) in both regions, and why? How does this strengthen the local and ultimately the rural economy?

We want to ensure that students see themselves as real world citizens of the 21st century, who care about the conservation of the earth, also for future generations, and that they see a role in this for an agricultural / tourist environment. When these environments can adapt and adapt to sustainable economic developments, opportunities arise for these regions. We also want to ensure that students are strong and that they want a sustainable future to live in. That in this way they become acquainted with sustainability and that they will also propagate this in their environment in the future.

Pupils will visit national parks (sustainable nature management), visit companies that already work in a sustainable manner and are engaged in corporate social responsibility. They are informed by specialists who explain what the changes have been in recent years and what their view of sustainability in their environment / company is. They will also promote sustainable regional products in the center of the nearest city in order to engage with shoppers to make them aware of regional products and to promote sustainability. Sustainability in the vicinity of the schools will also be examined. Local entrepreneurs will be interviewed about what sustainability means to them and how they adjust their production accordingly. A large tourist company will also be visited to investigate what sustainability they do within their company.

It is also important that students get to know each other’s regions and that the problems in this project are not limited to their own country and that solutions within the European Union must be taken together. Pupils learn that they are part of a larger world and thus learn to look across borders for solutions and to be citizens of the European Union.

Students will present their findings on the last day of the exchange with a poster or PowerPoint to family, friends, fellow students and local residents. In the future, the results will also form part of the curriculum of the schools for various subjects. The results of this exchange will also be shared via the websites of the schools and via local newspapers (media) and it will also be made known via social media.
The results and all the actions that the students have had to take on this topic ensure that they have a broader view of the world. This helps them in their further school careers in various subjects, but also in their adult life.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 30780 Eur

Project Coordinator

Marnix College & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Lycée Alcide Dusolier