Overview of the Project
The Erasmus+ project, “Epic: The Heroes, The Chants, The Words,” has successfully concluded after three years of collaboration between five schools across Europe. This ambitious educational initiative, conducted under the reference number 2020-1-ES01-KA229-082231, aimed to deepen students’ understanding of European culture through the lens of the humanities and social sciences. Running from September 2020 to August 2023, the project received an EU grant of €160,300 under the Erasmus+ programme’s “Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices” action.
The project brought together institutions from Spain, Germany, Italy, Greece, and France, creating a dynamic exchange of ideas, cultures, and languages. The activities fostered intercultural communication and digital competence, while promoting a shared understanding of Europe’s historical and cultural roots through the epic genre.
Project Objectives
The project aimed to stimulate learning and intercultural exchange among students and teachers from five partner schools. The main objectives were categorized into three key areas:
1. Educational Goals
- Stimulating Learning: Improving the learning process through engaging educational methods, such as using the epic genre to explore history, literature, and languages.
- Developing Key Competences: Fostering linguistic, cultural, social, and civic skills through the study of European epics and intercultural approaches.
2. Research and Innovation
- Promoting Educational Innovation: Encouraging the development of innovative teaching methods and learning experiences.
- Enhancing Inter-School Communication: Creating stronger links between partner schools to improve collaboration.
- Career Guidance: Providing information about qualifications and career opportunities within the humanities.
3. Digital Society
- Improving Digital Competence: Integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into all aspects of the project to enhance students’ digital skills.
The Project in Context
At its core, this project drew inspiration from the shared cultural heritage of Europe, particularly the epic genre. Epics like “The Odyssey” and medieval chansons de geste have served as vehicles for expressing the national spirit of various European cultures. By exploring these ancient stories, the project participants could better understand how these narratives reflect the values and identities of their respective societies.
The humanities played a central role in this endeavor, serving two primary functions:
- Cultural Heritage: Helping students understand how past cultural expressions shape the present.
- European Awareness: Enhancing students’ understanding of economic, social, and political life in Europe, with a focus on democratic systems.
Planned Activities and Methodology
The project activities were diverse and multidisciplinary, covering areas such as music, philosophy, literature, history, and languages (Latin, Greek, German, French, Italian, and Spanish). The use of ICT was a key aspect of the methodology, with eTwinning serving as a central platform for collaboration. Flexibility and adaptability were also prioritized to accommodate the varying needs and methods of the partner schools.
The suggested activities included:
- Literary Studies: Exploring the rich tradition of epic poetry and songs from ancient Greece to medieval Europe.
- Art and Music: Encouraging students to interpret the themes of epics through visual arts and music.
- Language Learning: Deepening linguistic competence by engaging with texts in multiple languages.
- ICT Integration: Using digital tools to enhance learning, communication, and collaboration.
Impact and Results
The project successfully achieved its goals in four key areas:
- Cultural Understanding: Students gained a deeper appreciation for the cultural and sociological significance of epic stories, recognizing them as a shared European heritage.
- Multilingual Learning: The collaboration between partner schools fostered multilingualism, particularly in the study of classical and modern European languages.
- Career Awareness: Students explored potential career paths in the liberal arts, broadening their understanding of employability within this field.
- European Citizenship: Participants developed a stronger sense of European identity, appreciating the multicultural aspects of modern Europe.
- Digital Competence: By working with ICT tools, students improved their digital literacy and communication skills.
Long-Term Impact and Sustainability
The long-term impact of the project extends beyond the completion of the three-year collaboration. One of the key objectives was to build synergies between education, innovation, and research, providing students with the skills needed for future mobility during their university years. The collaboration between the partner schools created a solid foundation for potential future exchanges and temporary stays, continuing the intercultural learning experience. Additionally, the focus on ICT and digital competences ensures that students are better prepared for a future in a globalized, digital world.
Conclusion
“Epic: The Heroes, The Chants, The Words” has left an enduring legacy by enhancing students’ understanding of European culture through a creative, interdisciplinary approach. By combining literature, history, languages, and technology, this project fostered a deeper connection to Europe’s shared cultural roots while equipping students with valuable skills for the future. This collaboration not only celebrated the past but also built pathways for future educational innovation, cultural exchange, and European unity.
Through projects like this, the Erasmus+ programme continues to strengthen the bonds between European nations, fostering a spirit of cooperation, mutual respect, and shared learning.
Visit the official project results page to download all the outcomes of the project
