Digital Danube
Start date: Jul 1, 2014,
End date: Jun 30, 2016
PROJECT
FINISHED
CONTEXT/BACKGROUND.
The Danube is the only large river in Europe running from West to East. With its 2857 kms its is also an axis between Central and South-Eastern Europe. 115 million people live in the countries along the Danube, united by millenniums of common history and great cultural wealth. In 2010, the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission initiated a mission to strengthen cooperation of the Danube countries. In this context a statement titled „Lifelong learning programmes for older adults as a societal necessity in the Danube Region“ was agreed, written and signed by 60 institutions for cultural and adult education as well as other organisations from the Danube countries.
Lifelong learning is one of the important areas of work at universities, in educational institutions and NGOs. Adult education and education in later life are a crucial tool needed to bring institutions/ organisations closer to real individual and societal demands. If education is required by older citizens and society needs older citizens as its effective contributors, universities, educational institutions and NGOs have to adapt to this challenge and continue ameliorating older people's digital literacy as well as their use new of media in their every day life, cultural activities and silver economy. Thus the position and role of older people in society will be strengthened as well.
OBJECTIVES
The long term aim of the partners involved in the "Digital Danube" ERASMUS+ MOBILITY PROJECT has been fostering social participation of adult educators and older adults in the Danube Region in line with the Danube Strategy, through designing and implementing educational programs and structures in the areas of learning in later life, active ageing/social participation, digital literacy. With regard to this education of older people is to be used as a drive towards the development of social participation and active ageing as well as social bonds and ties to make society more cohesive.
ACTIVITIES
After carrying out the feasibility study on Older Adults’ Learning and ICT Use in the Danube Region, the Mobility project "Digital Danube" was a subsequent step in the provision of a basis for future projects and for sustainable work on a structural level. The objective of the project was to improve the expertise of adult education providers' staff in the Danube countries through an exchange of good practices and different methodological approaches in general and through an increase in knowledge about local conditions. Three-day on-site courses were designed and delivered with this objective in mind by single partner organisations (Slovenian Third Age University, Open University, Zagreb, SULSIT, Sofia and finally LLL Platform, the organiser of an international conference in Bratislava). Slovenian Third Age University participated in all educational events, Open University Zagreb participated in two courses (Ljubljana, Sofia). Single silent partners (ZaWiv, University of ULM) took part in the course in Ljubljana and Sofia. On each locality there were also local participants present. On the mobility teams were also staff responsible for subsequent European (Danube) project proposals (CUME, MYF, Train of the memories) and those who now use the acquired knowledge in their programme designing and every day teaching activities, as well as those who are responsible for the organisational tasks and support.
PROJECT RESULTS, IMPACT AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS
New Erasmus +K2 projects( CUME) and Europe for citizens projects (MYF, Train of Memories) were drafted and proposed by partners. New educational initiatives were implemented in the area of digital literacy (advanced computer courses), new methods applied and transposed from single subject areas (language education to architecture courses, from ICT courses to other subjects). New media are better used in educational processes.
A shift has been operated from usual computer skills to programming skills for older adults and the accepted Silver code project since digital agenda is one of the EU pillars and a need in every day life of alll genereations. A round table was organised and new links with the embassy ofwere established. Cultural knowledge and knowledge of local conditions have been improved. Continued cross institutional ties and co-operation have been established.
Consolidated coorporation between project partners centered on the Danube regions will take place within Danube Neetworkers, DANET based in Ulm.
PARTICIPANTS
There were all together 16 mobilities. The age span of the participants was from 25-68 years. There were 3 male and 13 female mobilities. The participants were project managers, researchers, teachers, educational event organisers, managers present.