The cultural heritage of Austria and Finland_Learning by getting to know Erasmus Project

Project Title

The cultural heritage of Austria and Finland_Learning by getting to know

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: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

As a very successful 3-year long school partnership with the Karleby svenska gymnasium in Finnland (2016-1-Fr01-KA219-024249_2) ended in May 2019, this school exchange program was aimed at continuing this international cooperation.

The concrete goals were two project weeks in Finland and Austria: one took place for 14 students and 2 teachers of the Karleby svenska gymnasium, Kokkola between January 25 and February 1, 2020 in Lienz, the other one for 14 students and 2 teachers of the BG/BRG Lienz that was planned for May 2020 could unfortunately not be held due to the Covid 19 restrictions.

The main purpose of this exchange program was the passing on of knowledge about European cultural heritage in geographical and economic peripheral regions like East Tyrol and the West coast of Finland by getting to know local customs, traditional work methods and successful companies in niche positions in order to teach the Austrian and Finnish students the value of agricultural work, regional business as well as the social aspects of traditions and landscape conservation.The project week in Lienz was therefore mainly based on excursions to local companies and nature reserves such as the area of the South Tyrolean Dolomites, which is classified as Unesco World Heritage Site, and interviews with local farmers, artisans and artists. In addition to that workshops at the school intensified the aspect of practical experience first, theoretical experience second. The project week therefore had the motto “learning by getting to know and seeing”.

For the teachers of both school this project week also strengthened management and organization skills. In addition to that it led again to a stronger cooperation between the schools but also a stronger one between the schools and the public in their area. Furthermore this project made it again possible to enhance the international aspect and philosophy of the schools in the two regions. Presentations of the project on the digital Day of the Open Door at the BG/BRG Lienz (33 Tage Gym) also guaranteed the dissemination of the project within a larger group of teachers. students, parents etc.

To sum it up, the project firstly aimed at intercultural learning which focused on the cultural heritage of the the regions of East Tyrol and Western Finland. Secondly it strengthened the cooperation between the BG/BRG Lienz and the Karleby svenska gymnasium in Kokkola, including an exchange of teaching contents, didactics, methods and models. Thirdly it guaranteed the dissemination of international school projects and their possibilities in East Tyrol and Kokkola and last but not least it served again as a role model for another vocational school in Lienz, the FW /ALW Lienz, which is still planning to start with Erasmus projects, especially school exchange programs as soon as possible.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 20568 Eur

Project Coordinator

Bundesgymnasium 9900 Lienz & Country: AT

Project Partners

• Karleby svenska gymnasium