Methods that help developing key competences such as critical thinking or self-reflection will be analyzed.

Within the framework of the workshop, the participants first have the opportunity to reflect on their own European identity or European awareness. The following key questions will be dealt with in small groups:

– How can European awareness be developed through activities?  What is important?

– Which methods can help?

– Do you know of any projects that contribute to European identity? What is their core idea?

These results will be reflected in a final round.

The term European consciousness or European identities will be operationalized in four aspects: (1) fundamental values, (2) key competences, (3) identification patterns and symbols of cultural heritage and (4) emotions and attributions of meaning:

(1) Fundamental Values

mindfulness, agility, altruism, recognition, enthusiasm, discipline, empathy, efficiency, effectiveness, diligence, flexibility, freedom, justice, money, humor, idealism, integration, sustainability, charity, respect, democracy, self-responsibility, solidarity, tolerance, dignity, Prosperity, education

(2) Key Competences

Ability to communicate and discuss, critical thinking, self-reflection, understanding technology, assessing and judging, cooperation and teamwork, decision-making, creativity, imagination, ability to learn, assertiveness, organizational skills, empowerment, learning competence, foreign language competence, social skills, social competence, entrepreneurial competence

(3) Identification Patterns and Symbols of Cultural Heritage

Home, Symbols for Europe, Eiffel Tower, Danube, Atomium, European Parliament, Euro, verbal handed down Traditions, such as stories or proverbs, dialects and special expressions, music, dances, plays, social usages, rituals and festivals, specific social practices, handicrafts technologies, Monuments, and others cultural heritage

(4) Emotion and Attributions of Meaning

Pride, familiarity, joy, motivation, feeling strong / empowerment, fear, anxiety, confusion, nostalgia, reverence, luckiness, admiration, adoration, amusement, grief

The results were presented in a photo exhibition at the University of Ulm as part of the Spring Academy. The pupils led the participants of the Spring Academy through the exhibition and explained their photos. The pupils were able to talk about the professional and role models of men and women with the participants of the Spring Academy, who were all about the same age as their grandparents. In this way, young and old were able to learn more about the perspectives of other generations.

This method is based on an artproject of Cindy Sherman.

To provoke a conversation in which to present different points of view.

To boost European identity, to develop and apply key competences and to evaluate the different aspects of active social inclusion.

To establish cooperation with other organisations on local level (NGOs providing education for seniors, decision-makers of municipalities, associations representing older citizens, experts, national EU representatives and representatives of the European Commission).

The subject areas:

• Active ageing in Europe / Solidarity between the generations.
• Migration as a challenge / Minorities as a chance.
• Sustainability of cultural heritage / National and European Identity.
• Ecology / Environment.

Stages:

Stage/Step 1: Preparatory activities (forming own questions, preparing pictures, presentations and questionnaires)

Stage/Step 2: Conducting the discussion (questions and answers session, delivery of participants’ presentations)

Stage/Step 3: Recapitulation of the questions discussed and drawing of conclusions

Stage/Step 4:  Publishing the discussion results

Outputs:

Two surveys, developed by the pensioners-participants on:

• Active Ageing;
• Migration.

Two scientific surveys, developed by pensioners-researchers on:

• Migration, Family and Names,
• The employment of relatives of the Union of Pensioners-Ruse.

Five essays, developed by pensioners and publishing in local newsletters and websites.

Developing statistical analysis of every survey and presentations, and present the results to an appropriate audience. 

Publishing:

• Two books (in English and in Bulgarian languages) with the project’s results, developed by the project researcher;
• A scientific paper, developed by the project researcher. 

Results:

One of the main results was a new society created by the participating seniors for exchanging organizational information, presentations, music, etc. such kind of society did not previously exist in Ruse Region, Bulgaria.

The University of Ruse established cooperation with many local and international organizations on the base of adult training.

Target group: older citizens,multiplicators

Age group: all ages

Gender: mixed

To empower older citizens for active participation in the civil society on EU-matters and in actively shaping the environment they live in.

To present the project’s thematic areas on national and international levels as impulses for the national citizens’ panel sessions.

The subject areas are:

• Active ageing in Europe / Solidarity between the generations
• Migration as a challenge / Minorities as a chance
• Sustainability of cultural heritage / National and European Identity
• Ecology / Environment

Stages:

Stage/Step 1: Selection of teachers and acquaintance with the project’s goals, subject areas, target groups and expected results

Stage/Step 2: Deciding on the main lecture topics

Stage/Step 3: Introducing the manager and the members of the Union of Pensioners to the main topics of the lecture

Stage/Step 4:  Selection of senior participants from different clubs

Stage/Step 5: Project logistics

Stage/Step 6: Delivering the lecture

Stage/Step 7: Getting feedback

Outputs:

Project website in partners’ languages – English, German, Croatian, Bulgarian, Slovenian, Romanian  languages.

University website in Bulgarian.

Many reports and presentations, developed by the project manager. 

Results:

Older citizens actively participated in: the developing of the final project statements concerning the role of older people in the civil society in EU-matters;

• the developing of the final project statements concerning the role of older people in the civil society in EU-matters;
• national citizens’ panel sessions.

Target group: older citizens, multiplicators

Age group: 55+

Gender: mixed

-Spreading of the project among partners

-Discussion and ideation of the questionnaire

-Questionnaire diffusion

-Data analysis and evaluation

-Drafting of the final text

-Publication

-Diffusion

Step 2: topic choice

Step 3: role assignment

Step 4: dialogue

Step 5: comparison among the groups

Step 6: general discussion with the participation of all the groups.

It is important because it is an opportunity for discussion, decision making and reporting. It is not, therefore, an end in itself communication, but it is born from the desire to communicate something interesting that is worth reasoning about. During a conference, in fact, the debate between rapporteurs and with the public is often appreciated.

– step 2: Spreading of the project among learners (adults and young people)

– step 3: Discussing the questionnaire

– step 4: Questionnaire diffusion

-step 5:  Compilation

-step 6. Collecting

-Spreading of the project among partners

-Discussion and ideation of the questionnaire

-Questionnaire diffusion

-Data analysis and evaluation

-Drafting of the final text

-Publication

-Diffusion

 2: Online discussion group

 3: Working groups on regional, national and European level

 4: Research about volunteering in all partner countries

 5: Workshop

 6: Set of good practices concerning volunteering

 7: Guidelines for volunteers and voluntary organizations

 8: Publication  9: Translation and diffusions in all the countries –members of the project