EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE NETWORK Erasmus Project

Project Title

EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE NETWORK

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 youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition (non-formal and informal learning/credits); Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

Context/background of the project:
EURN (European University Residence Network) is a two-year strategic partnership between six countries (Ireland, Finland, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria and Portugal) to work together and share entrepreneurial skills/methods and joblink possibilities for young people. Each country worked closely with young people and shared and exchanged their experiences and insights in three transnational meetings and online through the EURN website/blog (www.eurn.org) and social media platforms. The conclusions were published in the EURN guidelines.
The strategic partnership was created to encourage cooperation between University Residences. University Residences or Halls of Residences have a significant role for young people as a non-formal learning platform during their time in college. These Residences, apart from being places for accommodation, hold youth activities and support young people. All organisations in the strategic partnership are directly involved in managing University Residences.

Objectives:
1. Develop content and skills to promote entrepreneurship in young people. Support and involve young people in entrepreneurial actions.
2. Create links between the academic world and the job market. Devise methodology and platforms that strengthen this link.
3. Recognition and validation of the competencies acquired young people.
4. Professional development of the management team in the residences. Improve cooperation between management and the young people.
5. Share content and exchange experiences on an online platform.

Number and profile of participating organisations:
• Ireland: Brosna Educational Centres Ltd is a registered charity that operates educational initiatives around Ireland: university residences, youth clubs, and adult education centres. (www.brosna.ie)
• Austria. Studentinnenheim Währing, Verein für Bildungsinitiativen und Sozialhilfe is a non-profit association based in Vienna (www.waehring.or.at)
• Slovenia. Kulturni center Vintgar. Fundacija Sursum is an non-profit and non-governmental organization, which was founded in 2007 in Ljubljana
• Portugal. Residência Universitária dos Álamos is a youth association, non-profit, a university residence, a revitalizing cultural center promoting social solidarity activities (www.alamoslisboa.org)
• Finland. Kulttuurin ja Kehityksen Edistämisyhdistys Ry (KKE), founded in 2006 (www.kke-finland.org)
• Hungary. Budapesti Kulturális és Képzési Egyesület. A national NGO (www.fliget.hu)

Description of undertaken main activities:
Sep-Nov 2014: Preparatory Phase.
Dec 2014: Transnational meeting (Ireland)
Jan-Sep 2015: Implementation of objectives and plan of action. Evaluation.
Oct 2015: Transnational meeting (Austria)
Nov 2015-May 2016: Implementation of objectives. Dissemination. Evaluation.
June 2016: Transnational meeting (Finland)
July-Aug 2016: Final reflections. Evaluation.

Results and impact attained:
Direct impact: 163 young people and 20 youth workers benefited directly from the project. Indirectly through sporadic involvement of young people in the project: 302 other young people.
Dissemination: 25 University Residences (estimating 750 young people from 32 different universities in over 20 different cities across Europe).
Qualitative impact: higher standard in methodologies, improved strategies, greater involvement of young people, improved evaluative methods, professionalization of youth workers, stronger links between the young people and the job market.
Long term benefit: Continuation of access to virtual resources and online publication and Improvement in good practices of cooperation and setting goals.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 61866 Eur

Project Coordinator

Brosna Educational Centres CLG & Country: IE

Project Partners

• Álamos-Associação Juvenil
• Studentinnenheim Währing
• Budapesti Kulturális és Képzési Egyesület
• KULTTUURIN JA KEHITYKSEN EDISTAMISYHDISTYS RY
• FUNDACIJA SURSUM DRUSTVO ZA IZOBRAZEVANJE IN KULTURO