For two decades, ‘Europa macht Schule’ (EmS) has been bringing international students into German classrooms: since 2006, around 3,000 students have volunteered to organise school projects with a European focus, reaching over 70,000 school pupils nationwide. Through EmS, international students become ambassadors for their home countries and inspire young people to take an interest in Europe and the world. The programme is coordinated by the Erasmus+ National Agency for Higher Education at the DAAD (NA DAAD) and funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The anniversary will be celebrated tomorrow (19 June) at Goethe University Frankfurt am Main. 

“‘Europa macht Schule’ combines student engagement, international higher education mobility and European education in an exemplary way. International students bring Europe and the world into the classroom in person. School pupils experience at an early age what European and international cooperation actually means,” said DAAD President Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. “Especially at a time when Europe and international understanding need to be redefined and made tangible, the programme demonstrates what direct encounters can achieve among young people.”

“The programme brings student exchange to life in the very place where young people often first consciously encounter Europe and international mobility: the classroom. At the same time, international students gain direct insight into schools, everyday life and society in Germany. It is precisely this personal encounter that has made ‘Europa macht Schule’ so valuable for 20 years. Furthermore, EmS fits perfectly into the Erasmus+ programme, as many of the participants are Erasmus grant holders themselves,” added Dr Stephan Geifes, Director of the Erasmus+ National Agency for Higher Education at the DAAD (NA DAAD).

Students become ambassadors for their countries

In ‘Europa macht Schule’, international students work together with teachers to develop teaching projects about their countries of origin and then implement these with the pupils. The focus is on personal perspectives, exchange and interaction: pupils get to know other countries, cultures and ways of life first-hand; the international students gain an in-depth insight into schools, everyday life and society in Germany.

The projects are coordinated on a voluntary basis by teams of students at higher education institutions across Germany. They match international students with schools, support project planning and organise closing events where results are presented. The teaching projects usually last three to five school lessons and cover a wide range of topics depending on the pupils’ age and school type: from language, daily life, food and culture to social issues and Europe’s role in the world – always with a clear European focus.

Born out of a student initiative 

‘Europa macht Schule’ was launched in 2006 at the student conference ‘What holds Europe together?’ organised by the then Federal President Horst Köhler. The programme emerged from a student initiative and is still supported by the association of the same name. The association brings together the voluntary work of students, working groups and alumni, further develops the programme in collaboration with the DAAD, and supports students on the ground. The patron of “Europa macht Schule” is the incumbent Federal President.

The NA DAAD has been coordinating ‘Europa macht Schule’ on a full-time basis as part of the Erasmus+ programme since 2009, and supports the association and students with organisation, quality assurance, public relations and programme implementation. The programme is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.