"Europe for the Next Generation: Active Citizenship & Employability" (ACE) was a 2-week Youth exchange focused on a series of discussions, role plays and debates on two of the most challenging topics for the European Generation Y. In the context of lowering levels of participation in democratic life, apathy towards the complexity of EU institutions and transnational problems, disillusionment regarding politics and policies, at national, European and international levels, 17 students from 4 European countries (UK, Belgium, Italy and Hungary) gathered in Cambridge to answer in depth to questions that each generation has to face in order to stay united: What does it mean to be Europeans? Is sovereignty still the answer in a globalized world? What are our common roots ... if any? How do we react towards the rising tide of immigration? How can different religions coexist peacefully in our modern European society? How should we relate to Russia? What is the future of our freedoms? How do European institutions really work? With these questions in mind, ACE had 2 main objectives: 1. Strengthen European values and participation in European democratic life for young people. Through informal talks, guided and exploratory discussions with experts and facilitators, participants could develop informed opinions on key European issues (namely, the common European values, the future of the EU political project, inter cultural and inter-religious dialogue, EU rights and responsibilities, EU - Russia relations, future demographic challenges in Europe). By exposing the fundamental issues at stake for each theme, the stereotypes or the misconceptions, these highly participatory sessions were meant to encourage young people's analysis skills, responsible citizenship and active participation in Europe's public square. 2. Help students realize that they should start thinking their future in an European context and that the traditional path school-one job-retirement is no longer the norm. Thus, nowadays they have to develop a good set of soft skills in order to enhance their employability and ease their shift from school into the labour market. This objective was reached through workshops, role plays and simulations which improved the following soft skills: team working, communication, negotiation, time management, cultural adaptability, analysis skills, decision making, research and information management skills. At the end of the exchange students had an increased knowledge regarding the European dimension of their life, as young people, learners, citizens, and workers. In particular, participants had the opportunity to develop informed opinions on: - common understanding of European values - EU citizenship rights and responsibilities - EU economic integration - the future of the EU political project - EU data protection - EU - Russia relations - EU peace building projects - Muslim integration in Europe - Benefits (and costs) of ageing populations The project gave high importance to students’ acquisition of soft skills or transversal competencies, as recommended by current strategies for lifelong learning and youth, such as the "Youth on the Move" and "New skills for new jobs" that promote flexible qualifications of the workers and a wider acquisition of soft skills, in line with what is required by the labour market. Non formal and informal learning methods used: role plays, debates, simulations, workshops, exploratory and guided discussions.