AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
4 ERASMUS+ program
Erasmus+ program is an example of activity of the European
Union in terms of education, professional preparation of young
people and sport in the years 2014-2020. All previous programs
of the EU including lifelong learning programs (Erasmus,
Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius, Grundtvig), the program The
Youth in Action and five programs of international cooperation
(Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Alfa, Edulink and program for
cooperation with industrialized countries) are joined together.
Erasmus+ allow more than four million European citizens to
apply for studying abroad, for professional internship or
volunteering abroad. It is a program supporting global
partnerships between institutions aimed at education, and sport
in order to improve cooperation and link education with the
needs of job market to reduce lack of skills so common in
Europe. Within the program, domestic measures to update
education systems are supported.
Education of adults and improving its quality all around Europe
is also in the center of attention of ERASMUS+ program.
Professionals, employees associated with the adult education
have a chance to build strategic partnerships aimed at
exchanging the teaching experience. Participants deal with
common issues such as accepting the skills gained away from
formal education system. Adult education and its availability can
help European citizens improve their professional skills through
Erasmus+ program. Strategic partnerships provide the
opportunity for institutions operating in the education,
professional preparation, as well as companies, public bodies,
social facilities to cooperate in the process of introducing
innovations. Improvement in the quality of education, trainings,
internships, work with young generation and modernization as
well as social innovation can be considered the result of them.
Due to the goals and composition of the strategic partnership,
project can be divided into two types:
strategic partnership supporting innovations focused on
developing innovative ideas and/or taking part in activities
dealing with spreading and using products and ideas which
have already existed or are new. They can be applied in all
areas of education, professional preparation.
strategic partnership supporting changes in proved
processes in order to enable organizations to develop and
strengthen networks, increase their capacity. Moreover,
they are aimed at operating globally, sharing ideas and
comparing thoughts. methods and procedures.
At least three institutions from three different countries must
participate in the project of strategic partnership. Institutions
from so-called partner countries can take part in the project only
under specific conditions, their participation must lead to special
added value. The number of organizations is not limited, but the
budget for managing the project fit for the number of ten
participants. Goals, as well as project activities are the most
significant factor for selecting the partners.
The world changes very quickly, therefore education system
must be updated and new methods of teaching using new
opportunities must be implemented. Education, professional
preparation and informal learning are key steps in enhancing the
competitiveness of Europe. Erasmus+ program can contribute to
deal with these challenges significantly.
4.1 International project My Passion, Happiness – Add to
Favorites
The University of the Third Age at the Technical University in
Zvolen is an institution which besides providing education is
looking for other opportunities how to use the acquired
knowledge in practical situations. Active participation in the
projects within the Erasmus+ program make the environment for
exchanging the experience in the international cooperation.
International activity My Passion, Happiness – Add to Favorites
is an example of cooperation of six institutions focusing their
activities on seniors in Poland, Portugal, Lithuania, Turkey,
Romania and Slovakia. The main aim of the project was mutual
inspiration of participants through creative activities, meetings
and arising the interest in individual countries, making friends
and fun also at the older age. Development of language and
computer skills using innovative methods was one of the large
number of activities including in the international meetings
within the project. Knowledge of English language, the most
often used language in projects, make communication and
making friends easier, as well as meeting the project goals.
Computer skills and modern technologies shorten the distances,
remove the borders and subsequently, provide the chances to
create social connections helping seniors stop feeling alone. An
effort to join as many participants as it was possible from all
partner countries was a positive aspect of the project.
International meetings taking 5 days during two years from
September 2013 to June 2015 were held in all partner countries.
Cultural, sport and social activities were done during meetings in
order to introduce the country, customs, traditions, cuisine as
well as language of each country.
The project My Passion, Happiness – Add to Favorites showed
that intercultural competences must and can be developed at
each age. Organizations participating in the project were from
countries with different cultures. This was the chance for all
participants to familiarize with features typical for each partner
country and specially to visit places which the country and its
citizens are proud of and which are not mentioned in any tourist
guidebooks. Enthusiasm, happiness, and natural curiosity were
observed during all activities prepared for participants. In terms
of communication, the goal of the project was to encourage
seniors to use English language in mutual communication
without hesitation. Perfect knowledge of English does not play a
significant role in understanding and making friends especially
at the older age. Respect for cultural values and cultural identity
of individual countries could be seen during the project meeting.
The projects focused on the target group at the older age are of
great importance not only for seniors but also for society. Like a
prototype of a new person that is aware of their possibilities
trying to live the fullest is created.
5 Conclusion
Social and economic reality especially in the European Union is
connected with the higher intensity of international relationships
in all areas of social life. Changes are reflected in education at all
levels. Senior education is in the center of attention at all
Universities of the Third A. At the present time, their activity
started to orient to international cooperation with institutions
focused on education of the older generation. In the paper, the
possibility of the U3A to participate in the international projects
– strategic partnerships funded by the European Union within
the Erasmus+ program are presented. Mentioned projects create
the environment for exchanging experience and knowledge
between institutions resulting in more effective way with this
age group. Moreover, the main impact of these projects can be
seen in the chance for seniors to familiarize with new nations,
cultures and history and this way, they can improve their
intercultural competence and can become a part of multicultural
society. They can improve the ability to perceive, tolerate and
accept diversity and otherness which is around us and become
the part of our everyday life. Meeting people at the same age
from other countries allow them to make new friends,
international contacts which, on one hand, are important in terms
of social life and, on the other hand, can help seniors to improve
the speaking competence and they can communicate in English
better.
Literature:
1. BALOGOVÁ, B.:
Seniori v spektre súčasného sveta. Prešov:
Akcent print, 2009. 105 p. ISBN 978-80-89295-19- 7
2. BARTÁK, J.:
Profesní vzdělávaní dospělých. Praha:
Univerzita Jana Amose Komenského, 2007. 264 p. ISBN 978-
80-86723-34-1
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