Highway to Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Highway to Europe

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 : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

The context of our Erasmus+ project “Highway to Europe” has been a fortunate one. On the basis of a long-lasting partnership two schools with one other partner school each joined for two successive Comenius projects, which allowed them to profoundly deepen their cooperation and expand the range of topics. In the Erasmus+ project “Highway to Europe” the Spanish team joined Estonia, Finland, Germany and Sweden. They share enough characteristics – such as international exchanges, languages, liberal arts and vocational training – to fit together, but also have aspects that makes it challenging and promising to profit from those differences. We have students of slightly different age groups, contacts and co-operations with different local businesses, universities, cultural institutions and authorities, and of course our mentalities and cultural background. Furthermore there is a shared interest in school development and bringing new scientific approaches into the classroom.
The major objective of our Erasmus+ project “Highway to Europe” is to further our students’ chances to access the international labour market and / or higher education after graduating from our schools. Students need to be well-educated, skilled in communication and motivated to contribute their uniqueness to benefit from the opportunities of a shared European job market.
While our students quickly made contact, the first part of our project addressed the question of how to deal with disturbances, such as stereotypes in the labour market, populism endangering democracy, the role of the English language in Europe after a Brexit and dealing with the feeling of being disconnected due to different mentalities. Using English as lingua franca to communicate in international teams has been an integral part for the entire project. Also the use of different methods for presenting, not only with PowerPoint but also in form of a Parliamentary debate or a self-written mini play, at the conference and later at home, showed the relevance of individual learning in this project.
Knowing individual sensory styles, learning techniques, how to avoid distractions, maintain motivation and organizing your desk, which was content of the second part, can improve your performance and achievements. Teaching their native language to younger peers gave our participants the chance to understand learning processes better. Despite the challenges, such as stage fright, the positive impact of working with enthusiastic children made them consider becoming a teacher themselves.
Working in international teams, using English or working at a different pace, might lead to frictions. Free-time activities usually support social learning and bonding, creating cultural awareness and recognizing shared values. A sense of belonging to a joined Europe has been furthered by visiting the Herzog-Anton-Ulrich-Museum in Brunswick, where European art has been publicly displayed since 1754. The memorials between the Reichstag and Check Point Charlie in Berlin, on the other hand, remind us of the devastating consequences of ignorance, contempt, nationalism and discrimination, and Germany taking responsibility for the grief they have caused all over Europe.
The focus in the third part was on higher education and requirements of the labour market. Representatives from university, employees of the job agency and self-employed business people gave insights from their professional point of view, highlighted the need for motivation, qualification and networking. Furthermore each student was given the chance to have a job interview with one of the business professionals. When working with the Europass, the students saw managers in local businesses. Learning that excellent degrees cannot guarantee good wages and job security has been an eye-opener for the students, warning as well as encouragement.
The last step included summarizing, gathering of results and outcomes and discussing the development of OER. For the students, learning techniques, networking and being motivated to pursue their ideas for their prospective careers, are sustainable outcomes of the project. The teachers’ positive experience of bringing business professionals into school and sharing best practice of teaching methods, is also a benefit for the institution, because teachers will be able to use those insights for many generation of students to come.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 110533 Eur

Project Coordinator

Ratsgymnasium Wolfsburg & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Institut Joan Coromines
• Läänemaa Ühisgümnaasium
• Tampereen yhteiskoulun lukio
• Carlforsska gymnasiet