Hungary and Germany in a common Europe – Strategies for a housing project of the future Erasmus Project

Project Title

Hungary and Germany in a common Europe – Strategies for a housing project of the future

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: Natural sciences; Environment and climate change; Energy and resources

Project Summary

Application Erasmus +
School exchange Marienschule Lippstadt – János Neumann-Gimnazium Eger

Project Erasmus +
Hungary and Germany in a united Europe
Strategies for a future way of living

Summary:
The transboundary school cooperation of the Marienschule Lippstadt and the János-Neumann-Gimnazium in Eger in Hungary has already been in existence since 1994.
In getting to know each other’s exchange partners and their families, it is a central concern to gain an insight into the personal circumstances of life in the two countries. The project focuses not only on the experience of differences and similarities of everyday and school life but also on the economic, social and political conditions. Therefore, life in unknown families in an unknown country is supposed to foster the students‘ personal development (personal responsibility, tolerance and self-reflection). Common experiences should support the feeling and importance of living together in Europe.
The Marienschule engages to a high extent with the STEM subjects (MINT). It is honoured with the two certificates “MINT – friendly” and “MINT – Excellence Centre”. They are both conferred by a nationwide association, which works closely together with the German ministry of education and research. Likewise, the Hungarian exchange school not only focuses on the enhancement of language skills but especially on applied sciences.
Additionally, the examination of causes and problems of climate change, also regarding the protection of the climate and sustainability, has a high priority in both schools’ concepts. They deal with it in different school projects, which are taught interdisciplinarily and in the lessons. To underline the importance of the school as means of education in environmental and climate protection matters, the Marienschule has joined an alliance with the city council of Lippstadt focusing on the climate.
Because of the 26-year-old cooperation between the two high schools, the idea of the Erasmus + – project “Hungary and Germany in a united Europe” has arisen. Furthermore, the leading role of the EU in worldwide environmental protection offers the opportunity to look into the subject of environmental and climate problems in Germany and Hungary. Therefore, the model project of an “energy self-sufficient future way of living” contributes to the idea of sustainability in Lippstadt and Eger. 12 students of years 9 and 10 of each school are supposed to work in the project.
During the project, students are expected to express objectives for the improvement of the carbon footprint and should examine them with specific projects and arrangements. The basis of these examinations is the study of the influence of the world climate in both countries due to social, economic and political determining factors. Thereby aspects of the environment and scientific basics like fuel cells, photovoltaics, energy storage, robotics and nanotechnology are used to plan the building project (an energy self-sufficient solar house).
In the course of the school year, the assignment is carried out in a project group, which is part of the schedule. A constant communication between the two exchange schools is realized by the platform e-Twinning and video chats.
The project group’s work during the visits in Germany and Hungary is complemented by field trips to, e.g. universities (HSHL (Germany), Esterhazy Karoly University (Hungary), a solar house in Kamen (Germany) and a biocomposting plant in Anröchte (Germany).
Moreover, the students document the project’s development and its results in a digital portfolio. Posters, studies, illustrations and models are presented to the public in a (multimedia) exhibition at each school. The local press is going to be invited as well.
In conclusion, the project is created to make the students aware of the overall problem of climate change. Therefore, every single student is called upon to act in a responsible way and should realize that an international cooperation is inalienable. By gaining insights, their personal actions should be influenced in a long-term matter. Besides, the project supports students to arouse interest in different job possibilities finding technical solutions for questions of the future.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 58824 Eur

Project Coordinator

Marienschule Lippstadt Gymnasium & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Neumann János Gimnázium, Szakgimnázium és Kollégium