University of Macerata (UNIMC) – Founded in 1290, the University of Macerata (UNIMC) is one of the oldest universities in Europe. More than 12,000 students are enrolled at UNIMC, which employs around 600 people. UNIMC is the only university in Italy focusing exclusively on socio-economic sciences and humanities. Students are offered a broad range of courses, including undergraduate, postgraduate degrees and PhD programmes, specialization schools and summer schools, both in Italian and English. Internationalization is a priority: international exchange programmes with 132 European Institutions have been established. Besides this, a number of Universities based in non-EU countries have signed bilateral agreements with Macerata for cooperation in teaching and research as well as contracts for students’ exchange, particularly in China. In 2014 the University has been awarded with the “Excellence in Research” logo. The University of Macerata participates in this project with the relevant effort and expertise of the Department of Education, Cultural Heritage and Tourism. This Department has been recognized by MIUR (Italian Ministry of Education and Research) as a Department of Excellence (2017) with a focus on the overall improvement of university education through internationalization and inclusion.
The Volkshochschule im Landkreis Cham e.V. (VHS CHAM – www.vhs-cham.de) is an educational institution in Bavaria with more than 70 employees and around 300 freelancers. The facility was founded in 1989 and offers around 1,250 courses with more than 15,000 participants each year. The organization’s mission is to ensure the right to education, access to lifelong learning services and equal opportunities by providing citizens with the knowledge and skills they need to be actively involved in society. To this end, the facility offers a wide range of activities on professional (e.g. IT, accounting, marketing) and non-professional topics (healthy lifestyle, sport, culture).
Since 2001, the International Projects Department of the VHS CHAM has carried out projects on various topics: social and economic integration, development of professional and interdisciplinary skills, promotion of entrepreneurial skills, etc.
PROMEA is a non-profit society, based in Athens, Greece, aiming at promoting and supporting research & development methodologies, particularly related to innovation in communicating and learning. PROMEA was founded in 2006 by researchers & scientists sharing a common vision of open content, community-driven solutions, strong privacy rights for individuals and civil society, and equal opportunities on access to knowledge. PROMEA’s members include researchers, university and education staff, engineers, entrepreneurs, public & private sector employees. PROMEA can provide services covering the entire cycle of developing a research idea, planning and securing funding for its development, managing the research phase, implementing, evaluating, promoting the prototype solution, and carrying it further all the way leading to a market mature product and/or service. We are particularly strong in developing research proposals and in assuring funding for them.
Vienna Association of Education Volunteers (VAEV) is a non-governmental organization, based in Vienna, Austria, formed by a community of passionate advocates committed to developing sustainable solutions to improve education and learning processes by conducting research, participating in projects, and promoting innovation. Through continuous interaction of cross-border collaboration, VAEV develops and delivers programmes in the form of community-based activities to empower people, advocate for policy change, and advance and strengthen access to quality education and learning opportunities for the most vulnerable groups. Our main goal is to promote and facilitate the exchange of ideas and create environments that enable open discussions and stimulate new thinking, as well as to improve physical, mental health, and the general well-being of different social groups by building confidence and self-esteem. Our focus is directed to assist in self-development and personal responsibility with the aim of increasing employability/ educational opportunities by engaging in structured, positive activities.
Alytus Vocational Training Centre (APRC- http://www.aprc.lt/) is a public institution, founded in 2004. The centre mainly offers vocational training activities, as well as adult learning courses: secondary education, basic education and education-specific activities. The aim of APRC’s activities is to develop learners’ spiritual, intellectual and physical strengths, to educate creative, responsible citizens who would become able to acquire the competencies and qualifications necessary for their successful social integration and lifelong learning.
APRC is one of the largest institutions of vocational training in the region of Southern Lithuania, with approximately 1,310 students participating in the centre’s initial vocational training programmes, and approximately 2,000 adults participating in formal and non-formal continuing vocational training programmes every year. The centre implements 48 initial vocational training programmes, two of which are addressed to students with special needs, and 30 programmes of continuing vocational training.