"CULTURE LAB - Innovative Training Programme of Cultural Educators is a project within the Erasmus+, Action 2 Strategic partnerships for adult education.The project was created in response to the diagnosed need and real problem identified by the partnership organizations - the lack of or insufficiently developed competences of educators in the field of cultural education and the use of modern technology. In order to solve this problem, an international team of experts was established who specialize in methodology, cultural events, media, production of audiovisual content, as well as representatives of cultural institutions and intercultural communication trainers. The experts have developed an innovative programme for educators working with adults in the field of cultural education. The project implemented an innovative method of ""Culture Lab"" combining the concept of work in the media lab system and intercultural coaching (using modern technologies and communication tools to identify and understand cultural differences).The main objective of the project was to implement and test the ""Culture Lab"" programme, which is aimed at raising competences of cultural educators working with adults. Other project objectives include developing international cooperation, promoting the idea of partnership, expanding knowledge in the field of cultural education and adult education, and exchanging experiences and good practices of partners through working in an international team.The project was implemented in a strategic partnership of organizations from 3 countries. The project leader was the association Lublin Regional Tourist Organization (LROT) based in Lublin, Poland. The main tasks of LROT include creating a positive image of the region, cultural education, raising qualifications and cultural competences in the tourist industry, strengthening the tourist and cultural information system in the Lublin Region and promoting the region in the country and abroad.The project partner from Germany was Burgerhaus Bennohaus Arbeitskreis Ostviertel e.V. (AKO) with headquarters in Münster. The main activities of the organization concern areas such as project management, quality management, media education, cultural education, audio-visual production, local community development and international cooperation.The project partner from Spain was the Asociacion Iniciativa Internacional Joven (AIIJ) operating in Malaga, whose mission is to work for social development, education and improving the quality of life of citizens. The activities of AIIJ are focused on understanding cultural differences, cultural education and developing international dialogue, tolerance and social integration.The results of the project include the e-book entitled ""CULTURE LAB - Innovative Training Program of Cultural Educators"" and a multimedia e-learning course available free of charge on the Moodle platform at www.culture-lab.pl in 4 language versions (English, German, Polish, Spanish). The e-book contains theoretical foundations of cultural education, an outline of adult education methodology, an overview of effective methods and examples of their application in practice, diagnosis of the impact of innovation and new technologies on education, culture and social communication, and ready-made proposals for educators: scenarios of workshops using modern technology, examples of exercises and activities improving cultural competences that can be used in work with adults, including people with low qualifications. The multimedia e-learning course is consistent with the subject of the e-book, being a development and visual illustration of the content of the book. The course includes multimedia workshop scenarios, educational films, instructional videos, podcasts, interactive exercises, quizzes, descriptions of good practices and a forum for users.As part of dissemination, 3 multiplier events (conferences) were organized in Lublin, Munster and Malaga for a total of 179 participants; the programme was made available on the project website www.culture-lab.pl, partner websites and free websites in the EU; information about the ""Culture Lab"" was sent to 312 institutions working with adults in 3 partner countries. The output of the project was promoted and disseminated during the activities organized by the partners (conferences, cultural events, fairs, trainings, and information meetings with educators and volunteers).The project developed the potential of partner organizations, contributed to the exchange of good practices, knowledge and experience related to work in the international environment, and the project results broadened the educational offer of the partners. Thanks to the implementation of the project, the quality and level of educational offer addressed to adults in the field of cultural competences and ICT has improved, and educators received a ready programme and tools to improve their own qualifications and to use at work with others."

The project “Show your skills” is a 24-month strategic partnership that aims at supporting adults looking for jobs to acquire, develop, recognize and value the skills and abilities obtained throughout their lives to improve their employability and contribute to its full development. In addition, it will allow the transition between unemployment and employment, facilitate professional reorientation, and improve the transition between different jobs. One of the products that we intend to create is a digital platform where beneficiaries can recognize, value and validate the skills acquired in different contexts and educational fields that are not only formal. This will make it possible to match between job offers and the demands of unemployed people in a way based on skills and not on professional experiences, which in the long term will lower the unemployment rate among job seekers, as well as help companies who struggle to recruit.This project is motivated by an observation and a concern shared between 3 Mediterranean countries with similar realities concerning the problems experienced by vulnerable populations, with regard to their legitimate needs for social and professional integration. Indeed, since the crisis began to hit the labor markets in 2008, 5.6M jobs have been destroyed in Europe. The so-called vulnerable populations are the groups, which have suffered the most severely from the effects of this crisis.However, 12 years later, the crisis continues to affect a large number of people. In 2019, even if the unemployment rate in Europe has fallen, that of the 3 partner countries, Spain 13.6%, Italy 9.7% and France 8.1%, remains among the highest in Europe; the euro area average is 7.9%.The objectives of the project are:- Identify, analyze and exchange good practices in terms of recognition and development of skills, for vulnerable groups- Create new tools to facilitate job search based on skills rather than formal experiences- Strengthen the capacities of actors in the fields of recruitment and support towards employment to define the different alternatives for the recognition of key skills.- Create a network of organizations working on the recognition of key skills, in order to promote a sustainable transnational approach to support beneficiaries from different countries.- Provide a digital platform to offer personalized, flexible, rewarding recruitment or training solutions that promote skills rather than formal experiences.The project “Show Your Skills” will work on three groups of participants.1. Learners who are at risk of social exclusion (unemployed, seniors, NEETs, people looking for a professional reorientation ...)2. Professionals responsible for supporting vulnerable groups (orientation counselors, advisers in skill assessments, professional coaches, social workers, etc.)3. Recruiters (recruitment agency, companies, etc.)These groups will carry out various activities, such as:-Work on a common method for skills assessment -3 transnational meetings and 1 training-Experiencing the common tools developed with the learners-Design, create and launch the digital platform and integration of the tools developed:oTraining tools for actors in the employment fields to define the different skills recognition alternativesoSupport tools for beneficiaries at risk of social exclusion to strengthen and enhance their skillsoHelp in writing CVs that highlight skills rather than formal experiencesoJob offers from recruiting firms involved in the project (June 2022)-Dissemination of results, visibility and sustainability of the projectThe project “Show Your Skills” will have an impact that goes beyond the participants and partner organizations, at a local, regional, national and European level.Our beneficiaries, will acquire new skills which they can exploit and use thereafter to improve the quality of their work, and launch activities where the key skills of adults are recognized, valued and validated and thus improve the socio-economic situation of their communities and lower the unemployment rate.The creation of a network of contacts, the analysis of needs, obtaining new knowledge, the exchange of good practices, the new tools created, will make it possible, thanks to a crossed look on different parameters, to enrich knowledge, understanding and capacity building of actors who work in favor of targeted vulnerable groups.

"<< Background >>Europe needs to transform its society into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy based on sustainability and turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities, making this transition fair and inclusive for all. The environment and climate action are key priorities for the European Union and, as underlined in the European Green Deal, ""the involvement and engagement of citizens and all stakeholders is crucial for success"". ""We must start taking responsibility for our actions and our impact on the lives of future generations. Being sustainable is not a choice, it is an obligation"". (EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027). In fact, ""achieving a society in which all young people are environmentally active, educated and able to make a difference in their everyday lives is the European Youth Goal number 10. For that, we need:-Young people are aware of the importance and impact of their actions on the environment;-Youth professionals are trained and have the necessary resources and tools to train young people and act as agents of change for environmental and sustainable development;-Young people take the lead and contribute, in the first person, to positive change in society.With percentages above 90%, young people say they are concerned about the environment (UNEP, GlobeScan Survey and INE), but this is not reflected in environmentally responsible behaviour (Alvarez and Vega) and 73% say they need more information to prevent climate change (UNEP). At the same time, many environmental education activities have been focused exclusively on environmental or ecological issues, without promoting the understanding of the causes of the problems, the reflection, the critical thinking, without encouraging the protagonism of the learner and his or her capacity for reflection-action.At this critical moment for our society, education and training opportunities, especially those focused on sense of initiative and entrepreneurship are, more than ever, essential to ensure a rapid recovery from the crisis resulting from Covid-19. Young people must be educated and empowered to create and implement their own projects, activities and/or initiatives based on sustainability and environmental awareness.Therefore, organisations from four European countries (Italy, Lithuania, Norway and Spain), we have decided to apply for this project, called ""Entrepreneurial Environmental Education"" (3xE).<< Objectives >>The main aim of this project is to strengthen environmental awareness and promote sustainability in the activities carried out by young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, in order to build a fairer, healthier and more environmentally friendly society.The main objectives of this project are:-To improve the key competences of participants and youth workers to develop actions that contribute to promote environmental education and sustainability;-To develop higher quality youth activities and/or projects with young people, especially those with fewer opportunities, in the fields of social entrepreneurship and environmental education;-To create new educational tools to strengthen sustainability and environmental awareness in young people who want to carry out their own initiatives, activities and/or projects;-To exchange experiences, good practices and methodologies on environmental education, sustainability and entrepreneurship in the youth field, between organisations and professionals from four European countries;-To create an international network of organisations, active in the youth field, working to promote environmental education and sustainability applied to youth entrepreneurship, in order to promote cooperation and innovation among Programme Countries.<< Implementation >>The project will last 24 months, starting on 15 January 2022 and ending on 15 January 2024. The set of activities of this project is intended as a ""methodological sequence"" and its extension and complexity requires work with adapted methods, tools and supports.The main activities that we consider important to mention here are:-Coordination meeting in Malaga (Spain);-Analysis of the situation of environmental education in each country;-Identification and selection of good practices and existing educational tools for environmental education;-Identification, selection and mapping of stakeholders;-Meeting between coordinators and experts in Trondheim (Norway);-Comparative analysis of environmental educational tools;-Meetings with relevant stakeholders and with young people in each country;-Assessment of learning needs adapted to the situation;-Study visit in Kaunas (Lithuania) for three youth professionals per partner organisation;-Study Visit in Malaga (Spain) for three youth professionals per partner organisation;-Meetings and exchange of experiences with stakeholders, young people and other professionals in the field of youth in each organisation;-Design and creation of a practical guide with tools for strengthening environmental education applied to youth entrepreneurship.-Workshops at local level with young people on environmental awareness and environmental education;-Design and creation of educational videos aimed at young people with tools, resources and things to take into account when starting up their own initiatives, activities and/or projects;-Creation of an eBook where the activities carried out, the experience of the organisations and participants and the visual resources will be compiled;-Editing and production of a summary video;-Four multiplier events (one in each country) to officially present the main products created in the framework of this project (guide and videos);-Final evaluation meeting between partner organisations in Marsciano (Italy).<< Results >>This project will have an impact on the participants (new competences acquired and/or improved, personal and professional development, etc.), on the organisations (use of the new competences and tools, exchange of good practices, creation of new products, better quality and efficiency of work, etc.), and on society in general (new tools to face the challenges of today's society, increased awareness of the importance of sustainability and the active role of each person, increased knowledge about environmental education, etc.).One of the main impacts will be on the direct participants, as we want to equip them with competences that will lead to their personal and professional development. On the one hand, we have young people with awareness and environmentally responsible and sustainable attitudes, who integrate them in their initiatives, activities and/or projects. Young people with a sense of initiative who can develop autonomously and proactively in a dynamic environment.On the other hand, we have professionals in the youth field who will be able to reinforce their knowledge and competences, investigating how similar topics are worked on in different contexts and how to work more effectively and successfully with young people and, above all, with those young people who are at risk in order to support, advise and follow them in their development and inclusion process, implementing projects, activities and/or initiatives with environmental awareness. Furthermore, they will improve their social and civic, cultural and linguistic competences, with special emphasis on European awareness, interculturality, tolerance, mutual respect, collaboration, active participation and inclusion.Regarding the main tangible results that will be created during the project and that we think it is important to mention here are:-Practical guide for youth professionals on environmental education applied to youth entrepreneurship;-Educational videos (pills) for young people;-Comparative analysis of environmental education programmes and tools for young people;-eBook where the activities carried out, the experience of the organisations and participants and the visual resources of the project will be compiled;-Video summary/documentary of the project;-Website;-Reports and other learning, training and informative materials created."

European Union is still facing lots of negative factors like unemployment, economic stagnation, demographic aging and the refugee crisis, seen as a threat, especially in European countries bordering the Mediterranean. Adults often suffer of a social and professional isolation, due to the possession of obsolete qualifications, not updated with skills required today (especially in ICT), as well as migrants or refugees, who are disadvantaged also because of cultural and linguistic gaps. After a SWOT analysis on Adult Education System in each partner country (Italy, Spain, Greece and France) and a reflection on similar geopolitical features that unite the four countries, although with different experiences in the reception of migrants, the partners decided to share and exchange good practices in adult learning, involving directly and indirectly 160 adult learners (OVER 50s with low level of qualification, adult migrants and refugees regularly residing in the participant countries) and the staff of the organizations involved in the project and those working in adult education. The project general objective is to develop key competences in adult population and to strengthen the network of actors in the field of education, training, and guidance in each participating territories to promote social and professional fulfillment and inclusion of adults. The specific objectives are: SO1.Raising the quality of adult learning, involving 160 participants (over 50s and migrants) in learning experiences to strengthen their skills and Key Competences (1,2,3,4,5,6) in a creative, innovative, non-formal learning environment. SO2. To promote the inclusion of people at risk of social exclusion, fostering their self-esteem and autonomy, strengthening the attitude to lifelong learning and social development to 160 adults through experiences exchange with those coming from different contexts. SO3. To develop a more integrated information system in continue education, guidance, training and job opportunities, offered to adult population and increase the knowledge of Eu Programmes for adults. SO4. Stimulate an open mind, intercultural exchange and intergenerational dialogue in at least 160 adults, fostering the development of their social skills and active participation to society. The main activities will include preparation activities, development of learning materials on Key Competences, mentoring activities for self-assessment of adult skills, 4 transnational project meetings, 2 blended mobilities of adult learners of 4 weeks (in Italy and Spain), the creation of an online interactive guide, the realization of Video CV with adult learners and monitoring, evaluation and dissemination activities. The methodology used for the project will be implemented in 4 phases: initiation, planning, axecution and control phase. The main project results will be: The online learning space to facilitate the adult autonomous learning of the key competences; the online interactive guide (e-Compass) which combines together different types of material delivering an innovative way of learning process; the Video Curricula, valorizing non formal and informal experiences of adult learners. The project will have an impact at local, regional and European level, raising awareness of the importance of lifelong learning for active aging and developing a proactive approach towards the integration needs of disadvantaged adult population.

"The situation generated by Covid-19 has had a strong impact on the population and, in addition to the health problems caused by the disease, it has dramatically changed the way we live, interact with others, do sport, work, etc.; we can say that it has affected ""almost all aspects of daily life in the European Union"" [European Agency for Fundamental Rights]. Different studies and research [Pinazo-Hernandis of the University of Valencia, the United Nations Report on the Impact of COVID-19 on older persons, the III Report on the Fundamental Rights Implications of the coronavirus pandemic by FRA, etc.] have evidenced these changes and highlighted the deterioration in the quality of life of adults and older people. In fact, in all our countries we have witnessed processes of digitalisation of the public administration and the work of companies that have highlighted the existing digital divide between the over-50s and the under-50s and made these people feel excluded from the system.Therefore, professionals and organisations from four countries, we have decided to present this project whose main aim is to develop digital skills and creative thinking in adult population so they can learn to learn in a changing and dynamic environment that requires the use of digital systems and online tools.This ""Carry ON-LINE"" project is a strategic partnership for the exchange of good practices in the field of adult education that will last 18 months and that, starting on May 15, 2021 and ending on November 14, 2022, is coordinated by Iniciativa Internacional Joven (Spain) and has partners from Greece, Portugal and Italy.The main objectives of the project are:-To facilitate access to resources and opportunities offered by public and private entities through digital and online systems, in order to reduce the digital divide;-To improve the digital skills and competences of adults and senior citizens in order to contribute to their employability;-To develop the creative thinking of adults and seniors to enable them to learn how to learn in a changing and dynamic environment;-To create educational tools that facilitate the development of creativity and adult learning and access to the digital world;-To strengthen the existing international network of four organisations working for the personal and professional development of the population through exchange and cooperation between Programme Countries.The main activities are:-Transnational coordination meeting in Arcos de Valdevez (Portugal) to specify strategies, working methodologies and details of the following activities-Local activities: analysis of adapted needs, meetings to present the project and identification of good practices; -Creation and development of educational tools for the online training which have the following modules: (1) Creative thinking and learning to learn; (2) Functional literacy in the framework of ICTs; (3) Digital competence for job searching. The organisations will support their participants in a process of accompaniment and mentoring.-International training in Malaga (Spain) of five days for four adults on creativity, learning to learn and digital skills; -Creation of motivational videos for other adults and senior citizens;-Activities for the presentation and dissemination of products and results: eBook and videos;-Final event in Marsciano (Italy) for the presentation of the project products and a final evaluation among the partner organisations.The general methodology of the project is based on the pedagogical principles of non-formal education, liberating pedagogy and emotional intelligence.During the project, adults and seniors will be provided with new tools to develop their digital skills, creative thinking and the competence to learn how to learn in a dynamic and changing environment that requires constant updating.This project will have an important impact both on participants (new and/or improved competences, personal and professional development, etc.), and on organisations (use of new competences and tools, exchange of good practices, better quality and efficiency of work, etc.), and on society in general (increased awareness of the importance of digital competences and creativity, increased knowledge about the participation of adults and seniors in European educational mobility programmes, increased interest in the digital world, etc.)."