United in Diversity Erasmus Project

Project Title

United in Diversity

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: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship

Project Summary

CONTEXT/BACKGROUND
The European Union faces several challenges these days, including the rise of euroscepticism and its implications for the future of the EU. We can overcome these challenges by promoting solidarity and multicultural dialogue among member states in times of crisis when national responses seem insufficient. Schools must become places where Europe and its common values are taught, diversity and tolerance promoted and students educated to active European citizenship. Young people must learn that being a European citizen means they can have their say and act accordingly in their communities.
Our project, including Hungarian, Croatian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Latvian secondary schools, wants to bring the EU closer participants and educate them to realize the responsibilities of being European citizens. They will be given an opportunity to express what kind of Europe they want and to outline their long term vision for the future of European integration.
OBJECTIVES
•to foster a sense of European citizenship – belonging to Europe, understanding the values and benefits of the EU and reinforcing social and political cohesion through creative & informative activities in multicultural groups,
•to enable participants to act as active European citizens, i.e. to challenge euroscepticism and to suggest possible actions for a future EU,
•to support students in acquiring cognitive, social & communication skills, understanding our common history and contributing to our future, including those with fewer opportunities,
•to build a European network of schools and teachers, to contribute to their long term development.
NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS
•6 European secondary schools, 4 of them experienced in school partnership projects and 2 of them newcomers;
•about 150 students (15-17 years old, with gender balance, 32 of them with fewer opportunities);
•15-20 teachers (of economics, geography, English, history, Social Sciences and Politics, Law, arts, etc.).
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES
The project starts with a joint staff training in Budapest, Hungary, in November 2020 to learn about eTwinning (TwinSpace), make a Teachers’ Manual for the student exchanges to be used as guidelines throughout the project and to experience the Europe Day of the host school.
It will be followed by 6 short term exchanges of pupils, one at each partner:
•Collaboration or Isolation? – How did it start? – February 2021 – Italy
•Free Move – May 2021 – Spain
•Euro and EU Funding Based on Solidarity – October 2021 – Latvia
•The More The Better? – February 2022 – Croatia
•Yes, we are EU Citizens! – April 2022 – Portugal
•Integration or National Sovereignty? – September 2022 – Hungary
METHODOLOGY
There will be activity based, non formal methods used – research, interactive & creative workshops, educational visits, surveys, campaigns, role plays, presentations, discussions, transnational group work, peer to peer teaching, learning by doing, Forum Theatre, Revolving Stage, World Café, Dilemma Café, etc.
•AT THE JOINT STAFF TRAINING: peer to peer teaching/learning: presentations, lectures, group work, team building, program analysis, discussions, intercultural learning, educational visit and active collaboration in Europe Day.
•AT PROJECT WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS: group and pair work, presenting to an audience, research about history, geography, partner schools & countries; tasks to be completed before and after exchanges (surveys, interviews, campaigns), collaborating on the TwinSpace, editing digital project journal, etc.
•AT STUDENT EXCHANGES: learning by doing – transnational group work, peer to peer learning; educational visits, interactive workshops, presenting to an audience, discussions, games, intercultural learning, working on TwinSpace, active collaboration in Europe Day, etc.
RESULTS
PRODUCTS
•Teachers’ Manual – created at the joint staff training, updated after exchanges and uploaded to TwinSpace with free access for the public,
•digital project journal (6 editions) – about project activities of student exchanges,
•project TwinSpace,
•Manifesto addressed to the President of the European Commission,
•surveys about single currency, euroscepticism, etc.,
•video films about interviews with locals,
•online and offline EU campaigns.
IMPACT ON PARTNER SCHOOLS
Their educational programs will be enhanced with Europe Days and lessons of English, history, geography and economics improved.
IMPACT ON PARTICIPATING TEACHERS
The project will contribute to the development of their motivation, attitude, professional skills and methods, English and ICT competences and help to prevent professional burnout.
IMPACT ON PARTICIPATING STUDENTS
•they will become active European citizens with improved social and communication skills;
•the inclusion of students with fewer opportunities in the project will help their social integration.
LONG TERM BENEFITS
Active democratic participation of young people will rise in partner schools and in the EU.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 195380 Eur

Project Coordinator

KOZGAZDASAGI POLITECHNIKUM ALTERNATIV GIMNAZIUM & Country: HU

Project Partners

• Srednja skola Metkovic
• ESCLAVES SCJ ALCOI
• Madonas Valsts gimnazija
• Agrupamento de Escolas Henrique Sommer
• I.I.S.S. Federico II Stupor Mundi