European Union Projects for Education Page
In a world of relentless change, it is increasingly important to build up knowledge in order to acquire useful skills, to get a job, or simply for personal fulfilment. Education today is more and more a lifelong process. Learning and training no longer means only what goes on in school or university, but also in less formal environments and at any time of life. European added value
A key feature of Europe, which is often mentioned is its diversity. This is particularly true in the area of education, where systems and practices vary enormously from one country to another. This diversity is a source of enrichment for everyone and offers fertile ground for innovation and the quest for quality. Together we can be stronger and more creative.
The objectives of Socrates
Socrates is Europe's education programme and involves around 30 European countries.
Its main objective is precisely to build up a Europe of knowledge and thus provide a better response to the major challenges of this new century: to promote lifelong learning, encourage access to education for everybody, and help people acquire recognised qualifications and skills. In more specific terms, Socrates seeks to promote language learning, and to encourage mobility and innovation.
Cooperation
Socrates advocates European cooperation in all areas of education. This cooperation takes different forms: mobility (moving around Europe), organising joint projects, setting up European networks (disseminating ideas and good practice), and conducting studies and comparative analyses.
In practice, Socrates offers people grants to study, teach, undertake a placement or follow a training course in another country. It provides support for educational establishments to organise teaching projects and to exchange experiences. It helps associations and NGOs in organising activities on educational topics, etc.
Socrates comprises eight separate actions:
 | Comenius: school education
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| Erasmus: higher education
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| Grundtvig: adult education and other education pathways
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| Lingua: learning European languages
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| Minerva: information and communication technologies (ICT) in education
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| Observation and innovation of education systems and policies
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| Joint actions with other European programmes
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| Supplementary measures |
The Chain Stories project is within the area of Socrates called Lingua. The Lingua Action is designed to:
| encourage and support linguistic diversity throughout the Union; |
| contribute to an improvement in the quality of language teaching and learning; |
| promote access to lifelong language learning opportunities appropriate to each individual's needs. |
More information can be found on the European Union websites at:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/socrates_en.html
Details about the new action starting in 2007 can be found at:
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/static/index.htm
A database of completed European projects can be found at: http://www.isoc.siu.no/isocii.nsf/O/socrates
