The workshop ‘From School Challenges to Erasmus+ Cooperation Projects’ was held on October 21 on the University of Dubrovnik campus for primary and secondary school teachers as part of the HI EU project (Croatian Initiative for the European Union in Schools).

The workshop was part of the second training cycle aimed at connecting schools with the European Education Area. Both cycles are intended for teachers from different parts of Croatia, with particular emphasis on making professional development accessible to teachers from island and rural communities.

In a practical, participatory workshop focused on developing ideas for Erasmus+ cooperation projects in the school education sector, the teachers worked through the project development process. Starting from concrete challenges their schools face, they developed and presented project ideas in groups, defining needs, partnerships, objectives, activities, and expected results.

During the training, the teachers learned a methodology for identifying school challenges and needs that could be addressed through European cooperation. They also gained a practical framework they can use independently when preparing future Erasmus+ projects at their schools. As the project continues, the teachers will attend further training sessions and will have the opportunity to travel to Brussels and visit the European institutions.

The University of Dubrovnik’s CREDO – Centre for Research of Digital Transformation is implementing the HI EU project from 2024 to 2027 with support from the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Teacher Training program, and the project recently received recognition. The project aims to strengthen teachers’ competencies in teaching about Europe, encourage cooperation between schools and universities, and empower young people to become active citizens in a European context.

More information is available on the project website.