The Future of Education
The ENGAGE Project — Needs and Preferences for Empowering Next Generation Advocates for Global Education
Irina Gheorghiu, Albert Ludwigs Freiburg University (Germany)
Alina Ailincai, EuroEd Foundation Iasi (Romania)
Andreea Ionel, EuroEd Foundation Iasi (Romania)
Diana Mazga, EuroEd School Iasi (Romania)
Stefan Colibaba, Al. I. Cuza University (Romania)
Abstract
This article presents a study based on the ENGAGE project (Empowering Next Generation Advocates for Global Education), funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Ref. no.: 2024-1-RO01-KA220-YOU-000250540). The project is carried out by an international consortium comprising educational institutions from France, Czechia, Germany, and Romania, all of which have extensive experience in European projects, youth development, human rights, and inclusion. Targeting youth leaders (YLs), the ENGAGE project addresses a key gap by offering an online course and training programs—both at national and international levels—focused on EU values, cultural diversity, inclusion, social justice, and civic engagement. Its central aim is to equip youth leaders with theknowledge, skills, tools, and methodologies necessary to educate young people about democracy and European values, promote inclusive participation, and ensure that all youth—including those with disabilities or at risk—have equitable access to opportunities. The article centres on the project’s
research, which investigates the needs, preferences, and challenges faced by youth leaders. This process ensures the relevance and impact of the project’s outputs in promoting youth participation and civic engagement. The paper presents the main research results, which include the youth leaders' needs questionnaires, the national report that summarizes the results from Romania, a collection of best practices, infographics that show important data, and a strategy document that lays out ways to make educational practices more inclusive. Additionally, it offers insights into the findings from the questionnaires.
Keywords: youth leaders, young people, young people engagement, inclusion
REFERENCES
[1] European Parliament, Young people's participation in European democratic processes, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2023/745820/IPOL_STU(2023)745820_EN.pdf
[2] Centrul roman de politici europene, 2024, 50 Policy Recommendations for Enhancing Civic Engagement of Youth, https://www.crpe.ro/en/50-policy-
recommendations-for-enhancing-civic-engagement-of-youth/
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