"Excelling in European Project Management and Design for Educators"

The European funding landscape is rich with opportunities for educators to enhance instruction. The Erasmus+ program stands out as a key initiative in Education, Training, Youth, and Sport, providing numerous options to improve the quality and inclusivity of education by supporting a variety of activities and organizations. The recent edition of the course "Excelling in European Project Management and Design for Educators" was held in Tenerife from 10/11/2024 to 16/11/2024. Participants from various European countries joined, includingStergios, Ellinikakis and Ntanakas  from First High School of Peristeri Athens in Greece, Marie-Theres and Stephanie from BRG Pichelmayergasse in Austria, Lucia from Národné osvetové centrum in Slovakia, Jochen and Margot from Vzw Onderwijsinrichtingen Voorzienigheid in Belgium, Gábor from Batthyány Lajos Gimnázium in Hungary, Armanda from ISIS Mamoli in Italy. The course began with an in-depth examination of the European funding landscape. Participants took part in team-building activities, assessed their needs and expectations, and gained insights into funding opportunities, particularly emphasizing Erasmus+ and other relevant programs identified during the needs assessment phase. Participants then embarked on a collaborative project initiative, designed to develop and improve throughout the training week with the support of trainers. They began by discussing their main project ideas, assessing potential funding programs and related actions, before organizing themselves into groups accordingly. The course proceeded with an introduction to Project Cycle Management and the Logical Framework Approach, which serve as crucial theoretical foundations in European Project Design. As the project advanced, participants concentrated on developing problem and objective trees.

The group also examined practical insights from EU-funded projects, aiming to assess the impact of an effective Work Breakdown Structure in project design and management. Various tools for time management and project design were presented and discussed, with the goal of establishing a new focus for project initiatives: developing the project framework and activity plan. The next session sought to enhance the technical skills of course participants by exploring budgeting, eligible costs, expenditure planning, and monitoring. As the course came to a close, participants and trainers exchanged valuable insights, best practices, tips, and strategies related to effective project management, event organization, promotion, and community engagement. Participants were guided through the process of presenting their final project idea, simulating a pitch to a funding body. This exercise emphasized the value of effective communication in project design and management, while also consolidating the key insights, knowledge, and skills acquired during the training week. Hoping this learning experience and networking opportunity will be advantageous for their future project applications! Discover more about this course at https://www.erasmustrainingcourses.com/eu-project-design.html