Since 1986 European Studies has promoted joint study and communication among students and teachers in several (currently 15) European countries with the aim of increasing mutual understanding, awareness and tolerance in the youth of contemporary Europe.
It is intended that students following the European Studies Programmes will increase their knowledge and develop skills and competencies which will lead to better communication and an awareness of what we share and what we can contribute and receive from being Europeans together. This shared identity is not promoted at the expense of local or regional cultures or interests. In the course of their studies, students are encouraged to carry out investigations on a variety of levels. They research a wide range of perspectives amongst the peoples of Europe and are encouraged to develop an appreciation of their own regional contribution to European culture and identity as well as an understanding of that of their neighbours. Students are encouraged to develop the skills necessary to use IT within the exchange projects.
Below are the links to our partner schools in Sweden, Holland Denmark and Northern Ireland. This year during the first term the students were;
This year we exchanged personal profiles with each school where each student wrote to a student in a European school and gave their views about stereotyping of each others culture and exchanged information about their cultures.
This will be followed in the spring term by a project on Industry and Employment in Ireland and an exploration of "Racism in the Celtic Tiger".
The results will be posted on a web page where each partner school can view it.
You can view these projects and student profiles on the web.
The WEB sites of our ESP Partner Schools can be accessed by following this link.
Pauline Moore,
ES Co-ordinator.