Ocean Citizens of the Future Erasmus Project

Project Title

Ocean Citizens 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 : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship)

Project Summary

The cities of Plymouth and Brest have been twinned successfully for over 50 years with a strong background of successful joint initiatives.

This project aimed to strengthen understanding of the importance of the maritime culture in the lives of our young people and what their responsibilities will be, growing up as Ocean Citizens of the Future. Activities have directly addressed targets set out in the Europe 2020 strategy to promote youth, employability of young people, lifelong learning, the countering of social exclusion and the promotion of active citizenship.

The theme “Ocean Citizens of the Future, has been selected because Plymouth and Brest are both experts in the maritime field through their economical and research activities. The project focused on the integration of this environment into the social and economic well-being of both cities. It was targetting the awareness of the participants to qualified jobs and recruitment opportunities within the maritime sector. This fits in well with current major developments to reinvigorate the regions’ blue economy and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The partnership has been coordinated by the two local authorities, working closely with eight schools, including six primary schools and two colleges. It covered a range of social and demographic profiles from socially deprived to more economically-advantaged mainly children from 8 to 10 and youngs from 16 to 18.

The schools and education authorities have worked together with other key organisations with international reach, including Brest’Aim -Océanopolis in Brest and the UK’s National Maritime Aquarium (NMA) in Plymouth. Both have major roles in research and educational provision and have played a strategic part in project support, multiplier events and dissemination of results. Other more local groups and small scale organisations with entrepreneurial approaches likely to appeal to young people have also been involved.

The partners, by the shared and collaborative activities, have seen their competences raise, particularly through meeting the needs of young people. Therefore their support capacities towards the pupils have led those ones to develop the skills needed to succeed in the environment of today’s Europe.

Ecological, economic and social challenges for the regions have been explored in ways designed to generate real impact and meaning for students, teachers and the wider communities. Ocean Citizens of the Future has encouraged the young people involved to question and interact on ecological and environmental issues, within a European environment, by joint international activities. Proactive citizens, they have developed their initiative and increased their language skills.

Project results include:
– Productions linked to the call for projects Young Reporters of Arts, Sciences and Environnement coordinated by Océanopolis.
– Exhibition and Compendium of Good Practices. Developed as a continuing resource throughout the project, to include pedagogical approaches and successful professional practice.
– Works realised on Enhancing the Cities. Comparison of maritime worlds of Brest and Plymouth and discovery of the cities throught pedestrian rallys.
– Panel of Maritime Jobs through interviews of professionnals and visits.
– Experimentation of the approach of Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics coordinated by the NMA.

This work has also provided significant opportunities for the professional development of teachers engaged in creating and delivering the programme. They have gained experience from different pedagogical approaches and created bonds with their pupils and other colleagues by working together in a different environment. The partners have acquired a better practice of networking and have strengthened international collaboration.
The mixing of social classes and cultural origins of this project, as well as fighting prejudice, have enhanced bonds between the pupils, the teachers and other professionals. A consciousness of the european citizenship and of an european culture has thus been raised.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 438269,75 Eur

Project Coordinator

Ville de Brest & Country: FR

Project Partners

• National Marine Aquarium Ltd
• EEPuVAUBAN
• BREST’AIM SA
• LYCEE DE L’IROISE
• High View School
• Leigham Primary School
• Plymstock School