EVIRTUS

BACKGROUND: The globalization process requires Europeans to update not only their specific work skills, but also to develop transversal key competences for lifelong learning (such as such as digital competence, learning to learn, social and civic competences and cultural awareness and expression) which allow a flexible and effective adaptation to a rapidly changing and strongly interconnected society. In this direction, the cultural heritage that characterizes the EU states – and school museums in particular - is an important resource for the acquisition and promotion of transversal key competences. AIM: EVIRTUS project aims to develop and test a new teaching/learning methodology in order to improve social and civic competences, based on the extensive school heritage which is preserved in the school museums of the project partners (such as school furniture, teachers' documents, pupils' kit, photographic and audio-visual materials, writing and drawing instruments etc.) and devoted to lower secondary school pupils (cf. 2nd level of education according to ISCED). ACTIVITIES and RESULTS: 1) Create the virtual Museum of European education (MUSES), where museum-based learning paths will be available to encourage the construction of a European identity and the improvement of students’ social and civic competences 2) National articles and transnational report on EU citizenship education through school museums - specifically devoted to the scientific community 3) Printed book EVIRTUS GUIDE: becoming EU citizens through EU school museums, i.e. a practical manual devoted to lower secondary school teachers and school museums operators 4) Online and printed versions of the EVIRTUS GUIDELINES: how can we become European through school museums? devoted to policy makers and educational authorities (such as town councillors, education superintendents, education ministerial executives, etc.).