Folk high school and a civil society – from cultural education to increased level of literacy Erasmus Project

Project Title

Folk high school and a civil society – from cultural education to increased level of literacy

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

“Folk high school and a civil society – from cultural education to increased level of literacy” – is the title of the project, which on the one hand perfectly fits in the interest and work of our association and partners, whom we invited to implement this project, and may also be very helpful in enriching the work of teachers of partner organizations in developing the civil society.
The year 2018 was declared the Year of Cultural Heritage by the European Commission (EYCH -European Year of Cultural Heritage). In the Culture Development Strategy (Strategia Rozwoju Kultury) 2004-2020 it is noted that the participation in culture is one of the aspects of socio-economic development. During talks with our foreign partners, we decided, considering those two aspects, this is a great moment to present our project. The more so because in each country our partners come from, there are similar problems with participation in culture and with a low level of basic skills (according to PIAAC, over 16% of European adults have problems with basic skills).

While preparing this project, all partner organizations carried out quite detailed internal analyses to identify the following problems:
1. Very few students interested in the offer – problems of the institution
2. Non-attractive courses for adults – the reluctance of educators to the novelty resulting from the fear of the unknown
3. Low basic skills of the local community
4. Lack of educational offer promoting the language and culture of the region among expatriates (foreigners)
5. A large percentage of people with low basic skills.

The main goals of our project, on which we and our partners particularly care are:
1. An increase in the number of participants in courses improving basic skills
2. Expanding the educational offer taking into account the needs of the local community
3. Inspiring the staff to introduce new educational solutions (cultural education with education for the improvement of basic competences)
4. Organization of pilot courses on basic skills through cultural education

The international dimension of this project will allow participants to verify their skills and learn new methods of working with students. Thanks to trips to international project meetings to Spain, Italy, Germany and Poland related to culture and local traditions, teachers from all partner institutions will raise their own cultural awareness of partner countries / regions and enrich their own “workshop”. The increase in the competences of educators will correspond directly into the increase of the level of basic skills amongst adults living in the local communities. In the opinion of the authors of the project, such selected priorities are consistent with the idea of the entire project, with its goals and with accordance to the Europe 2020 . At the same time, those priorities are a response to the needs of society across Europe
Due to the fact that the project laguage will be English, we expect our teacher to improve their language skills. Taking into account the fact of different locations of partners in various cultural areas, the participants of these meetings will gain knowledge about the culture of partner countries. During meetings they will have the opportunity to exchange experiences with other educators related to cultural education in different countries. Such meetings will certainly contribute to improving interpersonal competences and team work skills.
After the completion of the project “Folk high school and a civil society – from cultural education to increased level of literacy” , we are confident that by using the knowledge and skills, teachers of our schools will be much better prepared to help increase the percentage of people participating in adult education. Enriched – with new methods and forms of educational activities acquired from partners – will allow to reduce the percentage of adults with low basic skills, for example by increasing the number of participants in cultural education courses at each partner’s organisation.
The project’s innovation is based on using cultural education to improve the level of basic skills (something that has not been widely tested yet). Our research shows that adults are ashamed to come to classes directly addressed to people with low basic competences, especially basic skills in the field of writing, reading and ICT. It is much easier to encourage them to take part in activities related to cultural education, very broadly understood. During singing, learning about tradition and cooking, you can also practice and improve basic skills, and at the same time enrich your knowledge about culture. This makes people more creative and active, which relates directly into the civil society.

Project Website

https://www.facebook.com/Folk-High-School-and-civil-society-Erasmus-103726908165422

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 66225 Eur

Project Coordinator

Polskie Uniwersytety Ludowe & Country: PL

Project Partners

• CEPA LA BALANGUERA
• Volkshochschule Krempe e.V.
• SEND