Project Title: 2023-2-TR01-KA220-SCH-000170568
Empowering Middle School Teachers for Social Inclusion through Observation-based Professional Development
Project Acronym: EMstep
Project implementation period: 01.08.2024 - 31.07.2026
Project total duration: 24 months
Project lump sum: 250 000 €
Applicant organization: EGE UNIVERSITY, Izmir, Türkiye
Partner organizations:
1. Me We Istituto di ricerca innovativa srl, Florence, Tuscany, Italy
2. ACADEMIA, izobrazevanje in druge storitve d.o.o., Maribor, Slovenia
3. HOGSKOLEN I OSTFOLD, Halden, Norway
4. D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Bulgaria - ТАЕ
5. UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO, Porto, Portugal
Objectives:
Teachers’ social inclusion knowledge and skills are still problematic, especially concerning vulnerable students. Our project's objectives include improving educational practices through innovative tools, promoting inclusivity, enhancing professional development through peer observation, fostering collaboration, and ensuring a lasting positive impact on education.
In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives, the following work packages are defined by the project partners:
- Work package № 1: Project Management
- Work package № 2: Tools for Inclusive Education and Digital Learning
- Work package № 3: Training of Trainers (ToT) and Implementation of Classroom Observation
- Work package № 4: Professional Learning (PL) and International Conference (IC)
Activities:
- 15 observation tools will be developed in 7 languages;
- Digital Learning Platform will be created focused on social inclusion, school leadership, peer observation and professional development;
- Diagnostic observations at 18 schools will be conducted;
- 360 teacher and 75 leadership tools will be analyzed;
- 18 school-based Professional learning Plans (PLP) will be created, 54 PLP activities in 18 schools will be implemented;
- The project aims to host an international conference.
Outcomes:
- A comprehensive Digital Learning Platform (DLP) for social inclusion, leadership, observation, and development will be created;
- Multilingual access to materials will be provided;
- Educational videos will be developed;
- Teaching practices will be improved;
- Professional Learning Plans (PLP) will be implemented by schools;
- Transnational collaboration and research dissemination will be facilitated.
These outcomes promise long-term improvements in education.
More information can be found on the following links:
Website: https://emstep.eu/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565457176853
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emstep.erasmus/
X: https://x.com/emstep_erasmus
Project implementation:
First transnational meeting at D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics (03-05.09.2024) Here
Second transnational meeting in Oslo, Norway (01-03.04.2025) Here
The project No. 2023-1-PT01-KA220-HED-000154261 “A gamification model for community-based heritage work” is implemented within the framework of the Erasmus+ programmе, in partnership between Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (Portugal), D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics (Bulgaria), Valahia University of Targoviste (Romania), University of South Bohemia České Budějovice (Czech Republic), University of Trnava (Slovakia), University of Camerino (Italy), and Adana Science and Technology University (Turkiye). Its budget is 400,000 EUR. The length of the project is 36 months, starting on 01/10/2023, and ending on 30/09/2026.
The project partners have set to achieve the following objectives:
- To foster community and civic engagement and democratic participation in the sphere of cultural heritage in low-density territories,
- To create an operable framework and provide tools regarding gamification strategies and techniques for community-based/led heritage work,
- To foster partnerships and mutual practice-oriented learning between local communities, academics, and university students,
- To disseminate the benefits of gamification and community-based approaches in heritage.
To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the project partners have defined the following work packages:
WP 1: Project management
WP 2: Best practices
WP 3: Methodology (Model development)
WP 4: Implementation (Heritage community engagement)
WP 5: Dissemination
During the implementation of the project, the project partners have agreed to carry out the following activities:
- Identifying, selecting, and analysing examples of best practices in community-based gamification strategies for cultural heritage in low-density territories,
- Developing a replicable and scalable gamification model for similar contexts and purposes to the best practice examples,
- Developing an accessible gamification tool (app) for community-led/oriented heritage work,
- Establishing community coalitions in all 7 countries for the development of community-based gamification solutions.
Project website: https://www.heritagegame.eu/
Project e-newsletter: HERITAGE GAME
Social media: 
First in-person meeting in Svishtov (7-9 February 2024)
Second in-person meeting in Targoviste (11-13 September 2024)
Third in-person meeting in Trnava (28-30 January 2025)
International seminar in Trnava (28-29 January 2025)
Project No. 2020-1-BG01-KA203-079025 "Adaptation of strategies for corporate social responsibility to address the implications of the Industry 4.0" was implemented by the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in partnership with the National federation of the employers of disabled people (Bulgaria), University of Niš (Serbia), ACEEU GmbH (Germany) and Fundacion Iniversitaria San Antonio (Spain) within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme. Its implementation period was from 01.10.2020 to 30.09.2022. The project was focused on improving interdisciplinary connections and further developing the implementation of Industry 4.0 and filling the gaps in the preparation of students regarding the main challenges it creates.
The specific objectives of the project were:
- Identification of shortfalls in programmes regarding CSR in the Industry 4.0 era.
- Selection of training materials, pedagogical approaches and supporting tools;
- Creation of the training course and teacher's manual;
- Creation of supporting set.
The project achieved the following results:
- A solid base for understanding and coping with the reality of internationalization, globalization and digitalization trends in the national and world economy was created.
- A support by CSR specialists towards strengthening the perspectives of setting social aims to the enterprises and transferring these ideas to the graduates was provided.
- The attractiveness of dealing with social economy and social entrepreneurship in parallel to achievements of mainstream business goals was enhanced.
- A practical supporting tool for university professors working on economy of corporations in order to ameliorate their understanding of the needs for embedding newly appearing traits of the CSR and further development of students` knowledge in order to prepare them for the complexity of the globalizing economy was offered.
- A multilingual online platform for exchange of knowledge, advice and feedback was established.
- The understanding and skills of students in areas such as digitalization, successful employment, active citizenship, social inclusion, equal opportunities and managing of personal change was strengthened.
Project No. 2018-1-BG01-KA203-048016 “European Partnership for Social Inclusion and Creation of Skills for Women Entrepreneurship E-learning” will be implemented in the period from September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020 within the frame of the Erasmus+ programme for capacity building in the field of higher education. The project activities will be carried out in the period from September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020
The project is focused on the social inclusion of women wishing to develop their own business in the area of trade and logistics through integration into entrepreneurship in the underdeveloped regions of Bulgaria (the North Central and North Western region), Italy and Great Britain through training, acquiring practical skills and competencies in order to generate financial, cultural, and social value. One of the aims of the project is to design and build an innovative platform for exchanging experience and good practices to support the development of women entrepreneurship skills, which will ease the access to an engagement with digital technologies in formal and non-formal education of disadvantaged learners. It is expected that the development of woman entrepreneurship skills will ensure employment and economic growth in the regions of the partner organisations.
The project Y4B is targeted towards young people with low qualification who starts their business without any skills for starting and running a business, under-qualified young people who go into entrepreneurship without having the necessary skills for starting and running their own business, young people with insufficient work experience and without substantial specialised technical, managerial or entrepreneurial experience, as well as people who want to expand their entrepreneurial competences by acquiring new knowledge in management accounting.
Project No. 2016-1-BG01-KA203-023754 "OPEN MIND - gamified platform and open online course in Social Entrepreneurship for female learners and students from diverse fields of study” (OPEN MIND) aimed to enhance access to entrepreneurial education and create equal opportunities in the labour market for groups which are disadvantaged and under-represented in entrepreneurship. The project have promoted social entrepreneurship, specially addressing women and young people from non-business studies, through an innovative gamified open course in social entrepreneurship. The project have produced 3 main intellectual outputs:1. Massive online open course (MOOC) “Introduction in Social Entrepreneurship” for students from diverse fields of study. 2. Innovative gamified online platform, which facilitated the e-learning process and enabled experiential learning through individual and group assignments, trainer and peer assessment, coaching and feedback from practitioners (social entrepreneurs) and opportunities for further educational and startup support from investors and interested stakeholders. 3. Impact assessment report helped to outline the major outcomes of the project and attract strategic support for the initiative after the project lifetime. The impact was presented on final multiplier events in partners’ countries. 60 academic staff and trainers were be trained to provide ongoing support to learners.The partners attracted more than 120 participants in the piloting, who act as ambassadors of the initiative. Overall, 1008 students were enrolled in the course till October 2018 and the number continue to grow till now.The platform is operating in 5 languages (EN, BG, GR, PL, RO) and will be maintained at least until 2020. The MOOC is be based on a comprehensive methodology and includes 8 modules with overall course duration of 75 hours of study (3 ECTS credits), which were jointly elaborated by the partners and introduce students to the fundamentals of social entrepreneurship. The project especially addresses the gender gaps in entrepreneurship and promotes more gender-balanced career choices through attracting female students from different studies to social entrepreneurship. The course content includes 50 inspiring female start-ups and promotes successful role models through involvement of women entrepreneurs as mentors. The gamified platform, created within the prohect, is an attractive and engaging learning environment that puts students in the “shoes” of social entrepreneurs and give them the chance to experience the essence of being a social entrepreneur; Involve students in exploring business concepts and fundamentals of social entrepreneurship through real cases and challenges, thus allowing them to embark on an exciting and motivational learning journey; • Sensitize learners about the important social issues, and help learn how to identify needs and opportunities and turn them to shared value ventures; • Encourage collaboration and competitive dynamics among students, foster creativity and experimentation, enhance leadership and critical thinking, thus helping them to develop the specific soft skills & entrepreneurial mindset, while dealing with concrete situations in gaming environment. • The features of the game design (collaboration, sharing, feedback, awards, etc.) helped to provide a highly participative and friendly learning environment, so that female students and those from non-business studies obtain generic entrepreneurship skills and more specific business competences, while solving specific social problems in collaboration and competing for achieving better results. The gamified platform and the developed methodology allows to link learners' accomplishments with ECTS points, to enable better recognition of results for students. In order to build a more supportive and inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem, the e-learning platform brings together:• Leading education and training providers, who guides students in their learning pathways; • Experienced entrepreneurs and business mentors, who share practical tips and help students develop their ideas; • Stakeholders and prospective investors, to suggest opportunities, feedback and finance for viable social start-up ideas; • Senior students and graduates from business fields, who can provide peer coaching and improve their leadership skills; • Cross-disciplinary community of learners, which will foster collaboration and inspire ideas and development.Thus, the project undertakes a truly social entrepreneurship approach, offering win-win for all parties involved. As a result, OPEN MIND did improved the access to entrepreneurship training for a large number of students and have ensured that they have an opportunity to acquire entrepreneurial skills, start up and operate in business or self-employment, regardless of their gender and background.
The project was awarded a certificate for excellent implementation by the Bulgarian National Erasmus+ Agency during the Annual Valorisation Conference 2017. In 2020, the MOOC on Introduction in Social Entrepreneurship was included by the EC in a list of the most useful free online learning resource created with the financial support of the Erasmus+ programme.
