Erasmus+ and ESC awards for outstanding commitment and role models

Institutions and organisations that have made a sustainable impact on participants, their organisation and a wider community through the successful use of the EU funding programmes Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps received awards.

On 12 December 2023 the OeAD presented the winners of the Erasmus+ and ESC Awards 2023 in Vienna. The award went to organisations that made a special impact on a personal, institutional and systemic level with this EU funding. Programme ambassadors were also honoured. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF)’s secretary general Martin Netzer, Andreas Schneider, head of department for International Family and Youth Policy at the Federal Chancellery, Claus Farnberger, responsible for international sport matters at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Civil Service and Sport (BMKÖS) and the OeAD’s managing director Jakob Calice congratulated the award winners.

"This award clearly demonstrates the impact of EU funding programmes in the education sector in Austria. Participation in EU-funded projects not only has a positive influence on personal biographies and careers but also brings new ideas and impetus to the participating institutions and thus the educational landscape in Austria," said the secretary general Martin Netzer from the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, expressing his delight at the impact of the programmes.

This year's award was dedicated to EU-funded stays abroad. More than 330,000 people are expected to have gained experience abroad with Erasmus+ by the end of 2027. "The organisations that organise and implement EU-funded mobility projects play a central part in this. These organisations give their target groups the opportunity to acquire new knowledge, skills and competences during their stays abroad. The participants will come back with fresh ideas and motivation. They will have made contacts that are enriching both for them personally and in the context of work. This also has a positive impact on the organisations and beyond. With this year's Erasmus+ and ESC Award we are focusing on this multifaceted impact of stays abroad and showing why participation in these programmes is definitely worthwhile," says Jakob Calice, managing director of Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD), with conviction.

"What better way to experience the EU first-hand and find out for yourself what it means to be a European than a stay abroad? In EU projects young people can help shape the EU and make their voices heard at local, national and European level. I would particularly also like to thank the many associations and organisations as well as the volunteers in youth work who make it possible for young people to spend time abroad," said Andreas Schneider, head of department for International Family and Youth Policy at the Federal Chancellery, who congratulated the award winners on their commitment.

"In a Europe characterised by diversity Erasmus+ Sport plays an important role in creating a shared sense of identity. Participating in sporting activities in an international context not only develops skills and talents but also creates networks and friendships that last a lifetime. Erasmus+ Sport therefore not only promotes physical fitness but also mental resilience, teamwork and intercultural skills. This holistic effect contributes to the development of a generation of cosmopolitan and socially responsible citizens," emphasises Claus Farnberger, responsible for international sports matters at the BMKÖS.

Honours for 18 organisations – these are the award winners:

The prize was awarded to institutions and organisations that have had a sustainable impact on participants, their organisations and the wider community by successfully using the EU funding programmes Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. A total of 18 organisations in the fields of school education, vocational education and training, higher education, adult education, youth and the European Solidarity Corps received awards:

Erasmus+ Youth: Link to the presentation

InterAktion – Association for intercultural coexistence, Graz, Styria

Österreichische Kinderfreunde – Region Mühlviertel, Sankt Georgen an der Gusen, Upper Austria

Association PatInnen für alle, Vienna

Erasmus+ school education: Link to the presentation

BG Georgigasse (GIBS – Graz International Bilingual School), Graz, Styria

BG/BRG Judenburg, Judenburg, Styria

MS/VBS In der Krim, Vienna

Erasmus+ Higher Education: Link to the presentation

FH JOANNEUM Gesellschaft mbH, Graz, Styria

FH Technikum Vienna

mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

Erasmus+ Vocational Education and Training: Link to the presentation

Carinthian School of Tourism, Warmbad Villach, Carinthia

HTL Rankweil, Rankweil, Vorarlberg

STVG – Styrian Economic Society, Graz, Styria

Erasmus+ Adult Education: Link to the presentation

Catholic Education Centre Carinthia, Klagenfurt, Carinthia

MUSIS – Styrian Museums Association, Graz, Styria

VÖV – Association of Austrian Adult Education Centres, Vienna

European Solidarity Corps: Link to the presentation

InfoEck – Association for Generations and Society, Innsbruck, Tyrol

Jugend:info NÖ, St. Pölten, Lower Austria

Verein für Freizeit und Bildung der Jugend – Jugendzentrum Gewölbe, Steyr, Upper Austria

Programme ambassadors spread the European spirit

Every year the OeAD also honours programme ambassadors. "These individuals contribute to the success of the European programmes with their personal commitment and dedication. They are role models of internationality in action," explains Ernst Gesslbauer, director of Erasmus+ and ESC at the OeAD. For the first time a GREEN special ambassador, Patrizia Fiala, was honoured this year for her commitment to the EU programme priority "Environmental protection and combating climate change".

• Erasmus+ ambassador for vocational education and training: Sonja Karbon, Tyrol
• Erasmus+ ambassador for adult education: Markus Feigl, Vienna
• Erasmus+ ambassador for higher education: Wolfgang Horvath, Styria
• Erasmus+ Youth ambassador: Gregor Ruttner-Vicht, Lower Austria
• Erasmus+ ambassador for school education: Bernd Fiechtl, Styria
• Erasmus+ ambassador for sport: Thomas Jäger, Styria
• Ambassador for the European Solidarity Corps: Nicole Mayr, Vienna
• GREEN special ambassador: Patrizia Fiala, Burgenland

Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps
Erasmus+ facilitates stays abroad, promotes European and global cooperation and gives international impetus to Austrian education and youth policy. Erasmus+ offers mobility and cooperation opportunities in higher education, vocational education and training, school education (including early childhood care, education and upbringing), adult education, youth work and sport – within Europe and, in some cases, worldwide. The European Solidarity Corps supports local initiatives of young adults (solidarity projects) as well as volunteer assignments in charitable projects and organisations abroad.

In the current Erasmus+ programme generation 2021 to 2027 Europe invests 28.4 billion euros in Europe-wide and international exchanges. From 2021 to 2027 Austria is expected to receive 683 million euros for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps from European Union funds. 331,000 people from Austria from all areas of education, youth and sport are expected to gain experience abroad during the current programme period. The OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation, is the national agency responsible for the implementation of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps – on behalf of the BMBWF, the Federal Chancellery, the BMKÖS and the European Commission.

www.erasmusplus.at and www.solidaritätskorps.at

Link to the APA photo gallery: https://www.apa-fotoservice.at/galerie/35462