QIR - Quality development and Internationalisation Rahlgasse Aims & objectives With this project proposal we want to increase teachers' competence in order to - further develop the schools' thematic focus "G/Gender - U/Umwelt/Environement - S/Social Issues" - further develop methodological and didactic competence in the field of Holocaust education, Civic Education and European dimension - foster international project work and cooperation in school (on a mid and long term level) - be able to contribute to quality development and development of European and international project work on a strategic level - including the schools' thematic focus G-U-S. Target group and participants Target group for activity 1: teachers who are already active in a thematic working group (GUS - team) that develops and carries out activities around the schools's thematic focus such as project work on local and international level. The group is involved in strategic development of the school and its members act as multipliers within school. The group currently consists of about 20 teachers, and non academic personell of the school and the director of AHS Rahlgasse. The group is open to all interested teachers, there are regular meetings (once a months) and is coordinated by the responsible teachers. Target group for activity 2: teachers who are members of History working group. Criteria for participation in both activity 1 and 2 is interest and readyness to implement the acquired competences in future activities around Internationalization and quality developement. We want to reach the aims of this project proposal through participating in two learning activities: Activity 1: Participation of a group of 15 teachers (active in the "GUS team") in an international workshop on the topic of sustainability (4 days). The workshop will specifically be designed according to the needs of AHS Rahlgasse. It will be organized in close cooperation with an experienced partner, the European research institute "ELETTRA Sincrotrone Trieste" (www.elettra.trieste.it). Programme elements will be: visit of the ELETTRA Sincrotrone Trieste and discussion with experts, presentation of best practice examples of "teaching sustainability" and training on coeducation in science focusing on: how to increase the presence and representation of girls & women in science and technical professions. The specific aim of the Workshop is to get relevant input for the further development of the GUS team members' activities in school in general and to develop the curriculum of a specific training course on Gender-Environement-Social Issuses, which is offered to the students of Rahlgasse. This course will allows them to do their final exams (A-level) in this subject. Activity 2: Participation in the international encounter "MORAH" in Auschwitz/Poland. Teachers and students of Rahlgasse participate in the programme "Morah - March of Rememberance and Hope". The programme consists of various activities (also on local level, including preparation workshops for teachers). An international encounter (4 days) will take place in April 2015, bringing together teachers, students, youth organisations, holocaust survivers and family members of holocaust victims from many countries in the world. The programme in Poland offers both elements for teachers and students. Activity 2 will contribute to intercultural learning, European awareness, anti-racism. Participating in the event will allow contact making with potential future cooperation partners. The programme will be organized in cooperation with the NGO (association) morah (www.morah.at). Follow -up The activities and the results will be evaluated with the participating teachers in a GUS team meetings including the director of Rahlgasse. Next steps and consequences for a future European Development Plan, basis for future Erasmus+ related activities will be agreed. Teacher training on school level will be organised, if possible in cooperation with the NA of Erasmus+. The aim of the training is to inform other teachers about the new findings, inform about possibilities within the Erasmus+ programme such as e-twinning. In order to ensure sustainability of follow-up activities on the school-level, we plan to establish a "working group international" , a group of teachers who is interested to initiate international activities and who will work in close cooperation with the GUS team. The team should meet and take up its activities by December 2014. All in all we aim at qualitative and quantitative stimuli for future international cooperations and quality development at school level resulting in enhancement of teaching and learning in the classrooms.