REnewable Sustainable CUltural Enterprise in Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

REnewable Sustainable CUltural Enterprise in Europe

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

Context of Project
As a result of discussions during meetings with our partner schools, it was found that a common theme throughout all our schools was a need to develop opportunities for students to learn and practice skills in the areas of understanding and improving our local environment and creating sustainable enterprise. In a world where environmental concerns are increasingly important, it was felt that students needed opportunities to see how to incorporate sustainable practice into their enterprise. As our previous project focused heavily on industry and enterprise, students have gained a good understanding of this theme and therefore our new project was focused more heavily on themes of sustainability and responsible management of our environment, showing students how these issues can be tackled with enterprise.

Objectives of Project
To provide opportunities for students to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding that will shape them into responsible, eco-friendly members of society.
To provide opportunities for our students to develop entrepreneurial skills
To provide young people with the opportunity to travel to other countries to promote tolerance and understanding of their own and other countries cultures.
To provide teachers and other professionals with opportunities to work collaboratively, share best practice and improve their knowledge and understanding of employment issues and cultural diversity.
To provide parents and the local community with opportunities to become involved in the project.
To provide young people with the opportunity to develop their language and communication skills in a practical context.

Number and profile of Participants
The project included students and professionals from seven different partner schools:
England – Priory Woods School and Arts College. An all age community special school situated in east Middlesbrough.
Germany – Stephanus Schule. An all age special school situated to the west of Cologne.
Austria – Hans Radl Schule. An all age special school situated in north Vienna.
Slovakia – Zakladna skola s materskou skolou. A primary mainstream school situated in the village of Oravská Jasenica.
Lithuania – Zasliai. A secondary mainstream school located between the large cultural centres of Vilnius and Kaunas.
Spain – Escolapias. An all-age mainstream school situated in the centre of Valencia, run as a public-private partnership.
Italy – Istituto Comprensivo di Inverigo. A mainstream primary and secondary school situated to the south-east of Como.

Description of Activities:

Activity 1: Creation of Erasmus Gardens and Launch of Project
Activity 2: Logo competition
Activity 3: Establishing partnerships with local businesses
Activity 4: Creation of Erasmus e-Recipe Book
Activity 5: Development of Sustainable Enterprise
Activity 6: Launch ‘Europe In Bloom’ Competition
Activity 7: Creation of Eco-Sculptures
Activity 8: Online reporting of local wildlife
Activity 9: Creation of Bird Feeders
Activity 10: Creation of Up-Cycled Fashion items
Activity 11: Trade Fair and close of project
Activity 12: Dissemination of project results at Multiplier Events

Methodology Used:
Schools established Erasmus Teams within their own settings and nominated an ‘Erasmus Coordinator’ to liaise with other schools in the partnership.
Erasmus Coordinators communicated via ICT and evaluated activities against the project’s objectives.
Results were shared on the project website as well as in the termly newsletters and the reports made to stakeholders.

Results and Impact Achieved
Increased digital competencies in students and staff. this was shown by an increase in the use of ICT in lessons and indeed throughout partner schools. There were also a number of twinned classes that were communicating via e-mail, Skype and Youtube.
Development of language learning skills was achieved through family home placements for students where relevant and appropriate. They were given opportunities to speak coth in the host country’s language and in English to communicate with people who didn’t speak their language. Members of staff also had opportunities to practise foreign languages as they tried to communicate with each other in carrying out the project. lessons were carried out in schools that supported the language leaning and every school had evidence on displays etc. of the language learning that had been taking place during the project.
Increased enterprise activities in schools
Better knowledge and understanding of environmental issues
More cohesive approach to teaching and learning, involving expertise from community.

Impacts:
Increased employability in students
Better professional performance from staff
More environmentally aware members of society

Potential Long Term Benefits:
Teaching of enterprise in more schools
Integration of environmental issues into curricula
More integrated approach to education with businesses and schools.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 341089 Eur

Project Coordinator

Priory Woods School and Arts College & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Zakladna skola s materskou skolou Martina Hamuljaka Oravska Jasenica
• Istituto Comprensivo di Inverigo
• Fundació Escolàpies
• Kaisiadoriu r. Zasliu pagrindine mokykla
• Stephanus-Schule
• SKÖ Hans Radl Schule