With the partnerships between schools from different member states of the European Union, students – especially those in secondary education – have considerably improved their cultural and social skills, information technology and foreign languages. This is the main conclusion of a new study by the European Commission on the impact of partnerships between schools in different countries.
Two out of three schools felt that the partnerships had improved their image and 80% said they had strengthened their European dimension. Schools argue that contacts with educational establishments in other countries allowed them to strengthen ties both within the school and with local authorities.
The partnerships in question were financed through the Comenius exchange programme, the equivalent of the Erasmus program for primary and secondary education.
For many schools in remote regions of the European Union, partnerships funded by EU funds are the only opportunity for pupils and teachers to participate in projects abroad. 85% of schools covered by the study expressed their intention to apply for funding to establish partnerships in the future.
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