Learn and develop in a cross-border cooperation between schools Erasmus Project

Project Title

Learn and develop in a cross-border cooperation between schools

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

The proximity of the Dutch-German border offers many opportunities for residents and businesses. In order to make optimal use of each other’s possibilities on both sides of the border, it is important that children become acquainted with each other’s language and culture at a young age, so that they are already familiar and have better skills to also cross the border, to study, live and work. In short, to become a world citizen. Although schools in the border region do want to work together, the lack of knowledge of each other’s language, culture and educational systems means that in practice cooperation is often difficult. In de coming years, it must become “logical” for schools in the border region to work together without hindrance. That is why the title of this project is LOGISCH (Logic). This is a Dutch and German word with the same meaning, and a symbol for the activities in this project: “Learning and Development in a Cross-border cooperation between Schools”.

In LOGISCH three Dutch and two German schools will work together to offer language education integrally in different curricula, to make use of new technologies common and to promote citizenship and intercultural competences among pupils (4-12 years). International exchange, which is an important part of the project, contributes to increasing the understanding of each other’s culture among both teachers and pupils. The number of participating pupils in the exchange activities is around 200 between the ages of 9 and 12 years old. The number of teachers participating in the exchange activities is around 30. The number achieved through other internationalization activities, but not in exchange activities, is even greater. Every school itself is leading in the methodology. Where one school chooses to do this with all pupils of all ages, another school chooses to offer this specifically to a certain group. There will be experiments with language education, but also with the integrative offering of the language with subjects such as science & technology, cultural education or cooperation with the business community or other partners in the Euregio. During the exchange activities, the pupils have a central position, but because teachers also work together, there is a strong and sustainable partnership between the schools. We work together on projects, learn about each other’s education systems, do joint activities (for example sports) and hopefully friendships will arise! The use of IT applications, such as social media and Twinspace, increases IT competencies. This project also increases intercultural dialogue and thus European citizenship among young children. The schools educate the children for professions that are not yet there and for professions that are more and more internationally oriented.

Goals:
– Pupils: pupils have a higher language level. They are more aware of cultural differences and they have better citizenship and intercultural competencies that enable them to work together internationally.
– Teachers: The professionalism of teachers is increased through a higher language level and higher cultural awareness. They show exemplary behavior when it comes to citizenship and cooperation in other cultures.
– Schools: The participating schools are experimenting with each other in the field of cross-border cooperation.
– Euregio: A network of Dutch and German schools has started in the Euregio that experiment together, learn from each other and exchange good examples and teachers. During the project, this network expands with other schools.

Results:
– A (digital) toolkit with teaching programs, materials, and joint activities to offer language and cultural education that have been tested in practice.
– Trained teachers who have followed customized training and professionalization.
– Changed school policy and curriculum at the participating schools in the area of internationalization and language and cultural policy of the neighboring country.
– A covenant between the schools regarding learning and development in a cross-border cooperation between schools.

For all primary schools in the border area, the results of this project can serve as an example and form building blocks for investing in getting to know each other’s language and culture. The impact of this project is that we are working on a cross-border Euregio, where we speak each other’s language, know about each other’s culture and respect each other, and where we work, live and live together. The border is no longer perceived as an obstacle. This project contributes to this ambition, because of this project;
– pupils have more understanding and insight into each other’s language and culture and that within Europe
– pupils have better access to the Euregional education system and Euregional labor market in the future.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 128240 Eur

Project Coordinator

Kbs De Troubadour & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Burgschule Ottenstein
• Kreuzschule – Sekundarschule der Gemeinde Heek
• Openbare Basisschool Prinseschool
• Al Ummah