Mastering European Project Management and Design for Educators

The landscape of European funding is filled with possibilities for education staff to make the difference in instruction. The Erasmus+ program, a beacon for Education, Training, Youth, and Sport, is offering a plethora of options to elevate the quality and inclusion of education by supporting various activities and organizations. 

The new edition of the course “European project management and design for teachers, headmasters and educators ​” took place in Bologna from 17/11/2024 to 23/11/2024. The participants came from all across Europe with Susanne Hellberg and Elina Jarho from Mäkelänrinteen lukio, Helsingin kaupunki in Finland, Franziska from KanisCarl-Friedrich-von-Weizsäcker-Gymnasium Barmstedt in Deutschland.

The course started with a comprehensive exploration of the European funding landscape. Participants engaged in team-building exercises, evaluated their needs and expectations, and got a glimpse of funding opportunities, with a specific focus on Erasmus+ and other programs relevant for the participants as emerged during the needs and expectations evaluation phase.

Participants then began a collaborative project endeavor, intended to evolve and refine over the course of the training week with the guidance of trainers. Initially, they engaged in discussions about their overarching project concepts, evaluating potential funding programs and corresponding actions, before forming groups accordingly. 

The course continued with the presentation of the Project Cycle Management and the Logical Framework Approach, essential theoretical foundation in European Project Design. As the project progressed participants focused on crafting problems and objective trees. 

The group also explored practical insights from EU-funded projects, with the objective of estimating the impact of a good Work Breakdown Structure in project design and management. Various tools for time management and project design were introduced and deliberated upon, aimed at formulating a fresh focus for project endeavors: crafting the project framework and activity blueprint. 

The following session aimed to bolster the technical proficiency of course participants by delving into budgeting, eligible costs, expenditure planning, and monitoring.

Towards the end of the course, participants and the course trainers shared relevant insights, best practices, tips and trick about good project management, event organization, sharing and promotion and community engagement.

Participants were guided through the process of pitching their final project idea, simulating a presentation to a funding body. This exercise underscored the significance of effective communication in project design and management, while also consolidating the key learning points, knowledge, and skills acquired during the training week.

Wishing them that this learning experience and networking opportunity will be beneficial for their future project applications !

​Discover more about this course here