Sustainable Technologies: Engineering the European Town of the Future Erasmus Project

Project Title

Sustainable Technologies: Engineering the European Town 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 Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Research and innovation; Energy and resources; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

“Engineering the European Town of the Future“. This aim was the backbone of an ambitious and far-reaching project to develop potential solutions to some 21st century problems in sustainable development. According to the WHO, by 2030 about 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. As citizens of the future our young people need to consider the impact of this statement on town and city planning and attempt to prevent problems such as energy consumption, sustainability of traffic congestion and lack of green space.In order to approach common European challenges of tomorrow, the international scientific community is working together, and so must our schools to develop their approaches to sustainability. Thus, using a variety of research and design methods networks of students from Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany created working prototypes in the key areas of Energy, Transport and Architecture as potential solutions to the problems posed and in order to engineer the “European Town of the Future”. Our multinational project among three European countries, involving about 65 secondary school students, up to 15 teachers as well as relevant local businesses such as practising architects, energy providers, transport companies and relevant university departments developed:1. An enhanced awareness of sustainable technologies, i.e. an understanding of sustainable technologies in both the students’ own and other countries2. The creation of artefacts, ( green car, smart house) 3. An increase in the students’ public speaking and communication skills 4. A greater intensity of cooperation in national and international student teams and an enhanced cultural learning 5. The students’ knowledge of ICT and technical terminology as well as everyday English 6. An enhanced level of staff co-operation both within each school as well as transnationally. Over the course of two years, one term of five months each, the schools has worked on three key areas – Energy, Traffic and Architecture. With reference to its individual competences each school took the lead in one key area, which means e.g. supplying the partners with research tasks, language support and also organising one of three transnational learning activities. The remaining fourth term was dedicated to organising a final conference (with students and staff) in 2018, including the exhibition of all artefacts and a presentation of the resulting ideas on the “Town of the Future, as well as compiling all results and materials in form of a digital archive by all schools together. The target group for the project was 13-15 year old girls and boys as was it anticipated that their participation could inspire them to explore career opportunities within this field.
A project specific website was developed throughout the duration of the project and linked to the individual schools’ websites. Research was an integral aspect of the project and as such students used qualitative and quantitative research techniques such as surveys and observations to design a methodology for data collection.By sharing the curricula and sample projects in each school, the students and staff have developed an in-depth understanding of the sustainability issues and approaches to green technologies in each country. By developing this sophisticated level of understanding we were able to to foster community cohesion across the schools within the European Consortium.To develop the project, staff shared expertise and resources. This has enhanced levels of staff co-operation, mutual understanding and has built strong teams for the future. This in turn has impacted on levels of student co-operation through the positive role modelling of the teaching staff. This two year project has enabled students to acquire specialist skills in STEM subjects and ICT to provide the competencies needed to improve their chances of future employment. In addition all students have developed a working knowledge of the application of a variety of research methodologies which will support the possibility of lifelong learning.The project has also provided a vocational experience of STEM subjects and has encouraged students, including those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue one or more of these subjects as a career.Potential longer term benefits will include the further development of a European teachers’ network, the creation of the sustainable technologies curricula to be used and developed in our and other schools across the European community and the fostering of closer links with industry partners in the fields of STEM subjects and sustainable technologies.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 60010 Eur

Project Coordinator

Graf-Anton-Guenther Schule & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Valley Invicta Academies’ Trust trading as Valley Park School
• Praedinius Gymnasium