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Student Engagement in Concrete Terms

Practical information about the NA DAAD’s services
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To help universities in Germany implement the horizontal Erasmus+ priority «Participation in democratic life» in a very practical, yet low-threshold and straightforward way, existing programmes promoting student engagement were amalgamated in the NA DAAD in the «Student Engagement for Europe» team at the beginning of 2021. This gives universities a first point of contact to help them implement the requirement to mobilise students as active citizens of Europe. 

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With funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the NA DAAD supports and manages two programmes – the «Local Erasmus+ Initiatives» (LEI, since 1991) and «Europa macht Schule» (Europe meets School, EmS, since 2009), together with the EmS funding line «Back to School» (BtS, since 2022). The trio of initiatives gives students the opportunity to advocate international exchange and cultural understanding, but it also offers universities a range of benefits that help them implement their own goals. Why should universities and students work hand in hand?

Logos Europa macht Schule und Back to School

«Europa macht Schule»: one programme, multiple goals

The «Europa macht Schule» programme brings together international students and school classes all over Germany. They work together to design an interactive project, bringing to life the idea of intercultural exchange in a very personal way. «Europa macht Schule» was originally founded by the non-profit association Europa macht Schule e.V., which continues to support the programme’s cause today. The projects are coordinated in each city by teams of students from local universities. This means «Europa macht Schule» addresses several target groups that are relevant for universities:

  • Participation in the programme increases the value of a period in Germany for European and international students. They have the opportunity to step outside university life, get to know the German school system, improve their German language skills and experience German culture and everyday life in a different way. Universities in which EmS is firmly established can use this aspect to raise the profile of incoming mobility at their own university. 
  • School children in Germany not only gain a fresh perspective of our neighbours in Europe and the wider community, they also learn about the opportunities of the Erasmus+ programme at an early age. They are introduced to the idea of European and global mobility and the options awaiting them when they leave school. The programme specifically targets groups of school children who either have little international contact in their personal environments and/or have had previously few or no academic contacts.
  • After returning from their own period abroad, students at universities in Germany can continue to promote international exchange in the location teams and make an active contribution towards international understanding. The voluntary nature of this work strengthens and promotes the civic engagement of students.
[Translate to English:] Foto vom Team Studentisches Engagement für Europa der NA DAAD
© Susanne Reich/NA DAAD

The NA DAAD’s Student Engagement for Europe team, from left Raffaella Lesizza, Parastou Mowlavidjou, Elisabeth Gruber, Martina Blindert, Lisa Greinch, Miriam Palm

«Back to School»: from the other perspective

«Back to School» is a programme line of «Europa macht Schule» which was launched in 2022. It offers students at German universities the chance not only to help coordinate projects, as is the case with EmS, but also to become active contributors and organise a project at a German school about their own experiences of studying or doing a work placement abroad. In general, «Back to School» wants to

  • enable returning students to share their experiences beyond their immediate circle of family members and friends and to actively advocate common values and peaceful coexistence;
  • target potential first-generation academics early on and inform them about opportunities to study at home and abroad;
  • help increase mobility rates – school children identify with students from their own country, who are an important element in the peer-to-peer approach.

«Back to School»: from the other perspective

«Back to School» is a programme line of «Europa macht Schule» which was launched in 2022. It offers students at German universities the chance not only to help coordinate projects, as is the case with EmS, but also to become active contributors and organise a project at a German school about their own experiences of studying or doing a work placement abroad. In general, «Back to School» wants to

  • enable returning students to share their experiences beyond their immediate circle of family members and friends and to actively advocate common values and peaceful coexistence;
  • target potential first-generation academics early on and inform them about opportunities to study at home and abroad;
  • help increase mobility rates – school children identify with students from their own country, who are an important element in the peer-to-peer approach.

How the NA DAAD supports universities with EmS and BtS

To interest students in «Europa macht Schule» and «Back to School», universities send an eMail prepared by the NA DAAD to their students. These can be returning students, but also other interested students from the faculties, such as teaching, intercultural studies, political science or geography.

Students interested in «Back to School» contact the NA DAAD, whose staff takes care of everything else.

The voluntary members of a «Europa macht Schule» location team supervise and coordinate implementation of the programme at their university. Universities can support this work by advertising the programme via mailing lists or by providing space. Central coordination of the student teams is the responsibility of the NA DAAD, which means there is no additional work for the universities.

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Local Erasmus+ Initiatives: an established element of peer-to-peer support

The Local Erasmus+ Initiatives are almost as old as Erasmus+ itself. For more than 30 years, student groups have been informing, advising and motivating students at German universities on behalf of the LEIs on the subject of Erasmus+ periods abroad. They play an important role not only in helping universities interest students in international mobilities, but also in preparing them for their time abroad. Equally, they provide assistance to international students settling in at their own university. 

Typical LEI activities include language tandems, buddy programmes, regular informal get-togethers, city tours and information events. But the LEIs also organise more unusual events to connect international students with local students and promote mobility. In addition to a lump sum from the NA DAAD, LEIs can receive funding for activities that take place according to annually changing themes. Last year’s special theme was «sustainability». For example, the LEIs organised a visit to a waste museum and discussions with international students on waste separation and avoidance as well as workshops on the sustainable use of resources.

The LEIs are much more closely linked to universities than EmS and BtS, often working hand in hand with International Offices. To receive funding, an LEI is required to submit an application in cooperation with the respective International Office. The NA DAAD announces funding at the end of each year.

Logo Lokale Erasmus+ Initiativen

Have you noticed the added value? Get in touch with us!

As we have seen, the trio of initiatives EmS, BtS and LEI can bring real added value to universities by helping to promote mobilities and make university projects more international – and also by complementing existing supplementary qualifications at universities, such as service-learning certificates. Integrating the initiatives into faculties such as education or European studies is equally conceivable. The NA DAAD’s entire «Student Engagement for Europe» team is available to answer questions from universities interested in the initiatives and help them set up programmes at their own institutions.

The process of applying for an LEI is simple. The only requirement is that there are at least four student members.

End of year: Apply to NA DAAD for LEI funding 

Beginning of year: Receive funding approval and request funds

Carry out activities as part of an LEI 

Start of following year: Submit report on expenditure of funds

Related Links

Hochschulstandorte von Lokalen Erasmus+ Initiativen (LEI) 

Hochschulstandorte von «Europa macht Schule» (EmS)

Contact:
Yvonne Schnocks
EU03 – European Universities
Author: Author: Martina Blindert, NA DAAD
Erasmus alumni student commitment Europa macht Schule (EmS) Lokale Erasmus+ Initiativen (LEI) Back to School (BtS) volunteering Erasmus Student Network (ESN)

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