Context/ Background of the project Erasmus+/ Action type ΚΑ1/ School education staff mobility Title: «Project management for cross-cultural exchange projects in Europe» Grant Agreement Number: 2014-1-EL01-KA101-000883 Beneficiary organisation: 14ο Gymnasio Athinas Project Total Duration: 24 months (18/7/2014-17/7/2016) Mobilities 19/10/14-24/10/14 Country: Portugal 10/07/14-17/07/16 Country: Italy Partner organisation: "Institut für europäische Lehrerfortbildung" Partner organisation: ''Associazione Artistica Culturale "A Rocca" Aims The contemporary school demands the development and upgrading of the quality of education, given that it plays a significant role in the formation of society, in which the local labour market has been replaced by the European labour market. To achieve internationalisation and the strengthening of the European dimension, it is required to support and integrate European programs into the curriculum study plan. The prerequisite objectives of the project, such as the improvement of cross-cultural, social, language, cooperation skills, the offer of professional tools for innovative teaching and learning methods, the knowledge about other educational systems, the improvement of planning, managing and implementing European projects were all effectively achieved. The project management training courses enabled the basic aim of implementing innovative European projects by transferring the European idea and the cross-cultural coexistence in the school community thus shaping active European citizens with broader horizons. Participants 1. Volika Maria, Science teacher, In charge of the School's Science Laboratory 2. Karapavlou-Giannoula Styliani, Teacher of Greek Language, Principal, 14. Gymnasio Athinas Activities Before each training course the participants came prepared according to the requirements. Each course lasted 6 days of working and was comprised of theoretical, practical and cultural activities. The training courses were in the field of project management for cross-cultural exchange projects in Europe and the cross-cultural education: planning, partner search strategies, keys to avoid or to solve problems, dissemination strategies, project financial management, evaluation, intercultural communication strategies, innovative educational teaching and learning methods. The methodology was based on the transfer of knowledge and sharing views, ideas and questions and analyzing case studies with the active participation and collaboration of all participants using the appropriate tools. The practical activities included discussions in groups, role-plays, workshops, interactive poster sessions, evaluation, participant's presentations concerning their countries, town, school, school activities, educational system. The cultural activities included an event in which the participants presented cross-cultural peculiarities of their country, visits to historical places and a visit to 2 refugee centers/ Sicily. Results, impact, long term benefits The perfect execution of the training courses, the cooperation between all the participants through fertile dialogue and sharing views and innovating ideas has resulted to the achievement of the aims causing a positive impact to the participants, to the partner organizations, the schools and especially to the students, who are the target group, giving them longer-term benefits for their future. Positive results are the improvement of the project management skills, social, language, cooperation skills, motivation of more teachers and students for the implementation of plans, the knowledge about other educational systems and the education of the refugees, the exchange of experiences and innovate ideas, the historical and cultural approach to other mediterranean countries, the strengthening of European dimension. The experience and the gained skills have already a positive impact in the implementation and management of the Erasmus project in that our school is involved in collaboration with 5 other European schools. The strengthening of the European dimension moulds students into active citizens with broader horizons and interests making them interesting people. The acquired experience and the improvement in skills will create a spark in cross-cultural education and cooperation between teachers and students for a more successful realisation of European projects. The cross-cultural, lingual and social expansion of the student's skills will be a key factor for an integrated response to the requirements of the European and international labour market. The integration of new experience, knowledge and skills in the educational process would contribute to improving quality in education and enhance progress, prosperity and cross-cultural coexistence of citizens with diverse backgrounds strengthening the feeling of belonging to a European family which shares common values, goals and activities and reflecting the European's Union motto "United in Europe".