First-time international project realisers support network Erasmus Project

Project Title

First-time international project realisers support 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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

The main problem the project addressed was low level of innovativeness of the 3rd sector adult education organisations. This lowers the effectiveness and efficiency of adult education, being a barrier for effective outreach to the adult learners. One of the reasons for this is low level of international, partnership cooperation and networking of the adult education organisations. European cooperation brings innovations in the methods of work to better fit the needs and expectations of the adult learners, including low-skilled and low-qualified ones. It also brings development of professional skills of the organisations staff – adult non-vocational, liberal education professionals. Low level of cooperation in international environment results in low level of trust, low level of intercultural competences and often even consent to discrimination. Lack of cooperation on the European level may be the basis for questioning the united Europe existence.

AIM
The overall aim was to support increasing innovativeness of the adult education organisations, in terms of education methodology, outreach to adult learners and managing adult education organisations, through supporting them at undertaking new ways and areas of activities.

PARTICIPANTS
The two primary, specific direct target groups were:
1. Staff members/volunteers/experts of the adult education 3rd sector organisations who would like to undertake initiating and realizing international, partnership cooperation for the benefit of their organisations – as the first-time international project managers;
2. The managers and management bodies members (the boards, auditing commissions, councils etc.) in the 3rd sector adult education organisations that would like to initiate and run international cooperation – with the first step to be to appoint a person responsible for international cooperation management.
The indirect target group included wide range of education – related organisations, institutions and decision makers.
Direct project participants were 1620 persons. The dissemination activities reached, in total, over 80.000 recipients.

PARTNERSHIP CYCLE
Project partners were six 3rd sector, civil society organisations, working in the field of lifelong learning adult education from Poland, Italy, Hungary (2 Partners; partner change), Denmark and Austria. Even though all the organisations involved were 3rd sector and working in the field of lifelong learning, they had various profiles and experience – which made the Partnership composition somehow representative for the adult liberal education sector in Europe.

METHODOLOGY & ACTIVITIES
The design of the work programme was chronological, divided into 3 main phases. Project activities were divided into 17 Work Packages, including transversal activities of management, evaluation and dissemination. The project delivered: 6 Intellectual Outputs, 5 Transnational Project Meetings, 10 Multiplier Events and 2 Training Events. The Intellectual Outputs include:
IO1. Multilateral Survey Report on good practices & success stories at supporting international projects managers in the adult education civil society organisations.
IO2. Multilateral Research Report on key competences of international project managers in the adult education civil society
IO3. ‘SUPPORT PORTAL’ for the first time international projects realisers, www.first-network.eu
IO4. Mentoring and e-mentoring system for the first-time international project realisers.
IO5. Training course curricula and open educational resources for the first time international projects realisers.
IO6. Established and working International Support Network: FIRST Network.

RESULTS & IMPACT
The results of the project are tangible and intangible (material and immaterial). The direct tangible results were reached during the work packages, while the intangible were illustrated in the field of increase of knowledge, skills and awareness, change of attitudes etc. The indirect, third level results are those long-term ones, clearly connected with the varied project impact.
The direct intangible results were seen both on individual and organizational levels, referring to change of attitudes and values related to international cooperation realizing, introducing innovations, professionalization of the adult education staff and developing long-term development strategies of the 3rd sector adult learning organisations.

SUSTAINABILITY
Project results are be sustainable, among others, through:
– Delivered and sustaining SUPPORT PORTAL gathering all the basic information essential for 1st time international project managers and the 3rd sector adult learning organisations planning to include international cooperation into their mid- and long-term development strategies. The SUPPORT PORTAL promotes the European cooperation idea underlining European common values and solidarity.
– Founding International Support Network assisting first-time international projects realisers.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 160335,46 Eur

Project Coordinator

FUNDACJA ALTERNATYWNYCH INICJATYW EDUKACYJNYCH & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Interfolk, Institut for Civilsamfund
• MAGYAR NEPFOISKOLAI TARSAGAG
• EDUCULT – DENKEN UND HANDELN IN KULTUR UND BILDUNG
• COOPERATIVA SOCIALE COOSS MARCHE ONLUS SOCIETA COOPERATIVA PER AZIONI
• Folk High School Association Surrounding Budapest