Online Intercultural Meetings Erasmus Project

Project Title

Online Intercultural Meetings

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 : Partnerships for Creativity

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Open and distance learning; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

Most of the activities usually set up to facilitate meetings between local and international young people around intercultural, linguistic or European citizenship themes and the fight against prejudices happen most of the time face-to-face. In addition, they help to create social ties and promote meetings, which are eminently important given the topics discussed.

However, the COVID-19 crisis has risen new challenges on these activities. Not only has the international mobility of young people been greatly slowed down, while international mobility allows the best experience of interculturality and meeting with others. But also the youth and student associations carrying out this kind of activities are greatly weakened because they do not always have the technical, human and financial means to ensure continuity in their actions. The Online Intercultural Meetings project is a response to these two needs: to support youth and student associations in order to continue to carry out quality intercultural activities allowing exchange and meetings, even online.
The general objective of the project is therefore to adapt and develop linguistic and cultural learning practices in digital format through pedagogical and technical guides, to organize workshops and online meetings such as international dinners, language cafés, training in European citizenship and the promotion of cultural diversity. This facilitates exchanges between young people and the commitment of volunteers despite the difficult health context.

The first beneficiaries of the project are therefore the youth and student associations to support their transition to online activities. These structures benefit from tools to run workshops and choose the most appropriate digital platform according to the selected pedagogical framework. Thus, the structures are trained to use these tools and to implement these online activities. Thus, young people involved in 180 structures are trained and equipped in about 10 European countries. Through them, a minimum of 720 young people are thus reached by these workshops.
To achieve these objectives, the Online Intercultural Meetings project is developing three tools:
– a pedagogical animation guide with animation frames adapted to the digital format on the following themes: language learning, intercultural encounters, the fight against prejudices and awareness of European citizenship. This guide also proposes an animation framework to help participants identify the skills acquired at the end of these workshops.
– a technical guide to present the digital tools (videoconferencing platforms and their possibilities) best adapted to each animation frame. These digital tools will be carefully selected by the project partners thanks to numerous tests and feedback from project participants.
– a communication kit to enable the young organizers of the digital workshops to publicize this opportunity. Above all, this communication kit will include short video tutorials to explain in a simple way the use of the digital tools to the participants, so that they encounter as few problems as possible.

Methodology to carry out the project
The expected results of the project are the following: quality digital workshops are implemented through simple tools for non-formal education actors, especially youth and student associations. The young participants in these activities benefit from a meeting and exchange place adapted to the health context. Thus, they develop new skills, especially soft skills around interculturality. The activities of language learning, multicultural understanding and citizenship learning are accessible to a diversity of youth profiles, including those who are far from international mobility or traditional forms of socialization. These young people are supported in the use of these tools thanks to clear communication and tutorials. On average, 720 young people are reached through 180 youth and student actors in 10 European countries.
The impact is intended to be long term. The young people involved in youth and student associations develop digital workshops to complement their actions in the field and enrich the social bond through innovative practices. The participants know how to better interact in an intercultural context and adapt to a constantly changing international context. They also develop academic and professional skills, as well as a greater awareness of European values.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 94784 Eur

Project Coordinator

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK FRANCE & Country: FR

Project Partners

• FEDERACION ERASMUS STUDENT NETWORK ESPANA
• Bildungswerk für Schülervertretung und Schülerbeteiligung e.V.
• LES JEUNES EUROPEENS-FRANCE ASSOCIATION