Events

In an ever-evolving and rapidly changing world, education is a necessary compass – essential to navigate the challenges of an uncertain future. Schools are challenged to design their educational approaches with a forward-looking perspective to equip their students with necessary adaptable skills, critical thinking and lifelong learning habits.

But how to do that? While school development may often be perceived as cumbersome this conference invites participants to approach it from a European perspective – putting Erasmus+ at the heart of the process.

This conference intends to present the broad range of possibilities within the Erasmus+ programme that can help to create an environment that invites to learn, discover and participate – hence, to acquire and explore new skills. It will highlight successful school development projects carried out within the programme and aims to provide practical tools to facilitate skills-based learning.

The event »Skills for Future - Schools for Future« targets school leaders, teachers, and educational staff involved in school development across the European Union member states and wants to contribute to building the »Union of Skills«.

Participants are encouraged to contribute actively to the event by sharing their ideas and experiences. There will be opportunities to network and plan new projects. A good command of English is essential.

Conference programme

• Scientific perspectives and innovative Erasmus+ projects will be presented to demonstrate how schools can benefit from Erasmus+.
• An emphasis will be placed on the benefits of eTwinning – the online community in Erasmus+. Especially with view to its potential for project-based learning and its concept of eTwinning Schools, it offers innovative opportunities to explore the digital dimension in education whilst building school partnerships across Europe.
• The event provides a platform for sharing examples of good practice and developing new approaches to transform schools into future-oriented learning environments.
• Workshops matching various skill areas of the Union of Skills will allow participants to dive into the topics, set the start for fruitful discussions and provide the starting point for the development of own projects.
• The conference will showcase a set of tools and helpful materials to support participants when addressing future skills areas in their school development mission.
• There will be a dedicated hands-on part in which participants can start drafting Erasmus+ projects (mobility, cooperation and eTwinning projects), test tools and materials and transfer conference input to take home.

Guiding Questions

• How can Erasmus+ be used as a driving force to innovation and democratic participation at school and to establish a school climate that invites to learn, discover and participate?
• How can Erasmus+ be used to upskill the school community and support the shift towards a more inclusive and sustainable learning environment?
• How can collaborative work and blended learning succeed and how can successful project work be upscaled to school level? Special attention will be given to the use of eTwinning both in classroom and in blended or online settings and to the eTwinning School concept.
• How can Erasmus+ support the development of knowledge, skills, and values needed to thrive with integrity and resilience in an increasingly complex world?

• School leaders, teachers, and educational staff (from primary school to upper secondary level) involved in school development and experienced with or interested in starting Erasmus+ projects (focus on Key action 1 and 2 and eTwinning) on the conference topic
• Representatives from teacher training institutions, school authorities and Ministries of Education (mobility consortium coordinators) as well as representatives of Erasmus+ Teacher Academies and Jean Monnet activities working on the conference topic
• Representatives of Erasmus+ projects (Key action 1 and 2 and eTwinning) who have carried out or are implementing projects on the conference topic and who are willing to share their knowledge

Please note the following:

• This conference will concentrate on school education only. Pre-school and VET related topics will not be covered. 
• We particularly welcome applications from schools in remote or rural areas, areas with limited public transport or poor facilities, and urban suburbs where many families rely on social security benefits or live in relative poverty.
• In Germany, primary schools cover the age range from 6 to 10, lower secondary schools ages 11-16, and pupils are between 17 and 19 in upper secondary education.
• We aim to host equal shares of participants from all of the above mentioned pupil age ranges.