DTP-EUSDR 6th Annual Forum

Several EDU-LAB stakeholders participated in the 6th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) from 18th-19th October in Budapest. This years forum was a joint conference of the EUSDR and the Danube Transnational Programme (DTP), which is not only the strategy’s financial instrument but also its policy driver. The joint nature allowed to make visible and discuss the linkages between the EU’s overall strategy, the corresponding programme and its related projects.

Capitalization workshop

Together with its partner Learning by Doing, EDU-LAB was proud to hold its own workshop. Both projects within DTP Thematic Pole 9 (Educational Governance) -  EDU-LAB and Learning by Doing - held workshop as part of their capitalization strategy. The workshop was the first joint event of the EUSDR Priority Areas 7 and 9 and the DTP Projects EDU-LAB and Learning by Doing and therefore largely and actively attended. DTP thematic poles are aimed at bringing together thematically connected projects which in the case of Thematic Pole 9 is working on a shift towards more demand-driven and labour relevant education schemes.

dtp - eusdr synergies

Under the title “Linking education to employment – best practices in the Danube Region” the goal of the capitalization workshop was to highlight synergies between the DTP Thematic Pole 9 and the EUSDR Priority Areas 7 (Knowledge Society) and 9 (People and Skills).

Both the representative for PA 7, Ulrike Sedlmay (Kultur Kontakt Austria) and for PA9, Jaroslava Szüdi (Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic), presented the scope of the PAs. Together wth PA 8 (Competetiveness of Enterprises) they aim at creating wealth in the Danube Region by focusing on different sectors and aspects of education. Their common ground is tackling brain-drain and increasing employability by fostering practically oriented education.

Best practice examples

Similar to the complementarity of the EUSDR’s PAs in the field of education, the examples presented during the workshop displayed different levels of systemic cooperation between education and business.

During the presentation of best practice examples by Maria Oancea (KeepCalling, RO), Anca Serban (Lucian Blaga University Sibiu, RO), Mirtill Megyeri (Nestlé Alliance for Youth, HU) and Prof. Dr. Károly Belina (John von Neumann University, HU) the need for and success of labour market relevant education schemes became clear. In total, Priority Areas 7,8 and 9 and DTP Thematic Pole 9 may generate synergies as their objectives and own or partner projects are complementary and mutually reinforcing. As emphasized at other points of the forum, the success of the EUSDR and DTP highly rely on these multiplying effects. In the case of educational governance, jonining ideas and endeavours could lead to a shift in how education is regarded and governed.

Farewell by IVY Volunteer Theodoros Plessas

From July  to September 2017 Theodoros from Athens has been an IVY volunteer for EDU-LAB at the European Foundation for Education in Stuttgart. In a video from the European Week of Regions and Cities, Theodoros is talking about his experience in Stuttgart and his vision of a future Europe:

"I do believe that it is very much possible to be able to work together while keeping our regional identities intact. There is no reason for homogenisation. That's the Europe I would like to live in. Something that enables us to work together and be stronger together, but at the same time a place where we are able to keep our regional colours.”

Find out more about his experience here.

Welcoming of new IVY Volunteer

Currently, Alina is enrolled in the M.A. Democracy and Governance in Europe at the University of Tübingen. In her thesis she will focus on the role of regions by exploring the rationale and implementation of EU Macroregional Strategies at the example of the EUSDR. Being involved in EDU-LAB as part of the Danube Transnational Programme, Alina will have the possibility to combine theoretical and practical knowledge when bringing her research to paper.