EDUCATION
MOST+ addresses the education sector on issues including non-formal education, lifelong learning and the non-academic sector. Students, academic and scientists are invited to contact other programmes (e.g. SALT, EHU) with which MOST+ does not overlap. MOST+ will also consider initiatives related to pedagogic research, transformation and change in education and society, democratization of education, reduction of educational inequality.
Apply to Mobility SchemeWe invite applicants working in additional and non-formal education for children and youth as well as for adults. It can be an NGO, private initiative providing extra-curriculum activities or informal community, club, home school, parent cooperation.
Applicants currently working in public schools are invited to participate in case their work is not limited to and goes beyond their regular teaching role at school.
Applicants working as individual entrepreneurs or tutors are invited to participate if their core professional activities are related to education.
Professionals who are currently unemployed are eligible to apply if they belong to the educational sector and can demonstrate the application of the mobility results for their communities.
Professionals working in higher education may consider applying if the goals of their mobility are non-academic (not involving actions on their research or teaching at the hosting organization) but are related to education in general, networking, experience exchange, etc.
HOW TO DESIGN YOUR MOBILITY TO THE EU IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR
First of all, think about your goal and interest, needs and plans of your initiative or organization. What is a topic you want to develop in? What are some of the practices or projects you want to incorporate into the work of your organization? With this in mind you can search for a suitable partner organization or an event you can learn from.
HERE ARE SOME HINTS ON HOW YOU CAN APPROACH THE SEARCH FOR A PARTNER ORGANIZATION:
Maybe you already know some organizations, schools, initiatives in the countries of the European Union, who are known for their expertise in the desired topic. Think about those you follow on social media, read articles about or heard at professional conferences.
There are a lot of professionals’ associations, clubs and societies across Europe. Search for one in your target field of interests or specialization and start browsing the opportunities and initiatives they write about.
For example, as a STEM-educator you can be interested to look at the following associations of professionals:
EASE- EuropeAn network of STEAM Educators
They organize a number of events across Europe as well as have partner organizations in different countries.
Visit
EU STEM Coalition is a network of national STEM platforms
There you can learn more about other national platforms and organizations working in the field.
Visit
Science on Stage is the European Network for Science Teachers
Visit
European Schoolnet's STEM Alliance
Visit
Montessori Europe hub
Or maybe you are interested in Montessory pedagogy, so you can browse the schools who are the members of this hub
Visit
Local associations of Montessori Schools by country
Visit
Don’t hesitate to write to organizations to ask for additional information or other requests. Consider addressing questions or requests for help to local NGO’s, municipalities, univerlities, libraries, educational centers.
Use your existing connections in the target country to make new ones. For example, you may have a friend or relative living in Europe, talk to them to ask for contacts of the schools where their children go, maybe they also can introduce you to some teachers or professionals from the organizations they know.
CASE-STUDY: DESIGNING A MOBILITY FOR STEM-TEACHERS TO VISIT THE NETHERLANDS.
A group of 4 colleagues (math teacher, robotics trainer, design tutor and administrator) working in the online school providing extra-curriculum activities related to STEM had an idea to introduce project-based learning for their students next year. To prepare and develop their skills on that topic they have decided to study best practices from other countries and make partners with other schools so that their students can work collaboratively on projects. They knew MOST+ was an option for them, so they have started to research opportunities and design their trip. Here are some of the steps they have performed:
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They have chosen the country of their visit - The Netherlands, as it’s known for being advanced in STEM education. Also the team speaks English and they knew it can be a common language with professionals there.
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They have asked their friends, family and former students for connections. It brought them contacts of 5 schools in the country, they have e-mailed all of them to ask if they practice project-based learning in STEM and if it’s possible to come with 1 day visit. They have got no answer from some, 1 reported that they don’t make visits and 2 more answered that they do and would be happy to invite the teachers. Schools were located in Rotterdam and Delft, so the team continued to plan the trip around this area.
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To collect some ideas and inspiration for future project, the team decided to visit a number of science museums and fablabs: https://rotterdam.sciencegallery.com/home-eng https://rotterdam.sciencegallery.com/home-eng https://ontdekhoek.nl/ https://maritiemmuseum.nl/en https://fablab.nl/fablabs-in-de-benelux/
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One of the former students of the teacher from the team is now a student at the TU Delft and he promised to make a tour to the university labs and to organize a meeting with 2 of the professors of the University, who are supervisors of the 1-year-student’s STEM projects.
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One of the teachers while researching the topic in the internet found out about the emerging form of schools they have in the Netherlands - Technasiums - and wrote to 5 more schools he saw on the map located in the area of their trip.
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Finally, they have agreed with 3 schools, discussed the dates and filled the other days of their 10-days trip with visiting relevant public places of interest and events. At the end of the visit they will spend 2 days separately: math and physics teachers will go to visit one more school and fablab in Groningen, while design tutor and administrator will go to Einghoven for Dutch Design Week.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE EU IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE
You may consider attending public events or learning activities as a main goal or a part of your mobility. Here are some types and examples of the events that are suitable for the sector of education.
International professional conferences, summits and fairs
You can visit such events with MOST+ if the topic of the event is relevant and you have a networking plan on the event and a plan for follow-up activities. Some of the conferences are listed below. If you have a chance not just to participate as a visitor but to be a speaker yourself it may be an advantage.
National level or local events, festivals, fairs, tematic weeks or weekends
In various locations in Europe there are such tematic, educational, science events, weeks, and festivals. Browse and explore the internet according to the field of your interest and your target location to find one. For example:
Short courses or summer schools may also be an option.
However, make sure you understand what opportunities for networking and making meaningful professional connection you will have during the course and don’t forget to reflect it in the application. You can search for short courses and summer schools in the Internet, there are some aggregators like this one https://www.shortcoursesportal.com. Examples of interesting short courses for teachers and educators of various backgrounds provided by Europass Teachers Academy:
