The enhancement of a European awareness in an ever changing Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

The enhancement of a European awareness in an ever changing 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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

The project “The enhancement of a European awareness in an ever changing Europe” highlights the importance of European politics and integration/ solidarity, integrate European politics actively into everyday school life and facilitates a European awareness of the pupils. Additionally, social, intercultural, linguistic and digital competencies were be practiced.
The German teacher team consisted of Ms. Streichert (English/ Politics and Economics), Ms. Brodt (Chemistry/ Physics) and Ms. Nissen (Economics/ Ethics); the Bulgarian teacher team consisted of both English teachers Ms. Petrova and Ms. Evtimova.
Part of the project was the introduction and establishment of the elective subject “European Club” at Karl Kübel Schule based on the model of the Bulgarian partner school. The formation of the European Club at Karl Kübel Schule was innovative, as interested pupils were able to sign up for this course voluntarily and had the chance to exchange their thoughts and ideas with peers from another European country for the first time. A similar course had not existed before. Additionally, the mobility phases were integrated into the club’s programme, enabling the pupils to gain first-hand experiences abroad. In the first year, 18 pupils signed up for the club, of which 12 took part in the mobility phase. In the second year 11 pupils signed up, eight of those traveled to Bulgaria.
The visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the visit to the Bulgarian MP in Sofia were great opportunities for the pupils to direct their questions and concerns at politicians. They had the chance to receive an insight into the work of the Parliament and its members. All those meetings and conversations were held in English so the pupils could practice their language skills simultaneously.
The participants of the German club were in constant contact with the participants of the Bulgarian European Club. They exchanged learning products like videos or presentations and planned and organized activities for the mobility phases. Many events were open to the whole school community, for example German-Bulgarian evenings, so other members of the school could get involved too. At the school’s Vernissage, which takes place once a year and is mandatory for all pupils of the professional Gymnasium, the European Club presented their results and work with posters and photos. Additionally, the products were published on the school’s websites and in the school’s newspaper “KKS News”. With reference to the project’s topic, a role-play with a following discussion was carried out by both European clubs, demonstrating diverging views on European politics.
The project was problem-centred and oriented towards the pupils’ interests and skills. The pupils could contribute their own ideas and dealt with the ideas of other German and Bulgarian participants constructively. During the mobility phases in Germany, project-related excursions took place, for example a visit to the European Parliament including a plenary session and an excursion to Frankfurt/Main with a visit to the European Central Bank.
In the course of the project, a simulation game on the topic of asylum policy was executed by representatives of the European Parliament in February 2019. Overall, 50 pupils of the professional Gymnasium participated in this game, among others 11 members of the European Club.
During the planning meetings, the supervising teachers agreed upon activities. The teachers and pupils regularly exchanged and reflected on their experiences, process and the impact. At the end of each project year there was a discussion round in which the participants could share their impressions, expectations and suggested improvements.
Since the beginning of the project, the European Club has been a fixed part of the school’s programme and will continue its work. The curriculum was made available for all teachers.
The products that were created during the course of the project were digitalized and can be used by all colleagues. Several project results have been made available on the Erasmus project results platform.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 30270 Eur

Project Coordinator

Karl Kuebel Schule & Country: DE

Project Partners

• PROFESIONALNA TARGOVSKA GIMNAZIQ Burgas