FIRST Network
First-time international project realisers support network
The project addresses the low level of innovativeness within civil society organisations active in the field of lifelong learning. One of the reasons for this is the low degree of international partnership cooperation and networking by the adult education organisations. European cooperation integrates innovation into work methods in order to better fit the needs and expectations of the participants, including low-skilled and underqualified ones. It also encourages the development of professional skills in the organisational staff.
Therefore, two primary, direct target groups are addressed:
- Staff members/volunteers/experts of the lifelong learning civil society organisations who would like to initiate and realise international partnership cooperation for the benefit of their organisations – as the first-time international project managers;
- Managers and management bodies’ members (boards, auditing commissions, councils, etc.) in this sector that would like to initiate and run international cooperation – with the first step being the appointment of a person responsible for international cooperation management.
Methods
1. Researching the field by surveying organisations, associations and initiatives as well as by interviewing stakeholders to identify the skills needed for international collaboration.
2. Developing a curriculum that will be tested in national courses as well as in a joint European pilot course in Hungary.
3. Five national conferences to discuss and disseminate the results.
4. Creating an international support network which would be active beyond the duration of the project.
The network website can be accessed here.
EDUCULT is also involved in the ERASMUS+ follow-up project AER-V, which aims to support the recognition and validation of knowledge, skills and competences of international project managers* working in civil society organisations in the field of adult education.