The project Bridge is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Servicio Espanol para la Internacionalizacion de la Educacion (SEPIE). Neither the European Union nor the National Agency SEPIE can be held responsible for them. -- Number: 2025-1-ES01-KA220-HED-000359236 --

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LEVEL 1. ACT: Virtual Exchanges for Active Citizenship

BRIDGE Main Challenge: A.6. Deficits in democratic participation, representation and inclusive governance

What problem does it address?

Young people in Europe and the Southern Neighbourhood face limited opportunities for civic engagement, mobility and intercultural dialogue, compounded by structural, ethnic, socioeconomic and gender inequalities. Physical mobility barriers—worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic—further restrict access to intercultural learning and active citizenship experiences.

What does it propose?

ACT uses virtual exchanges to connect students and staff from HEIs across Europe and the Southern Neighbourhood, offering them an international, "mobility-like" experience. Structured online training on global competences, EU fundamental rights and the SDGs is combined with facilitated virtual dialogues, workshops and collaborative projects to build civic and intercultural skills.

Why is it an inspiring practice?
  • It removes mobility as a barrier to intercultural and civic learning
  • It connects 13 institutions across Europe and the Southern Neighbourhood
  • It is structured around OECD global competences, EU Charter and the SDGs
  • It embeds critical reflection on privilege, power and exclusion
  • It features a multi-year model with repeated cycles and continuous evaluation
Resources you'll find
  • Digital training modules on global competences, EU values and SDGs
  • Recorded webinars and virtual-exchange facilitation guides
  • Best-practice manuals for online intercultural dialogue
  • Multilingual, accessible digital classroom resources
Featured results
200+
Direct participants in initial Welcome Activities
3
Training modules delivered (Global Competences, EU Rights, SDGs)
What can visitors learn?
How to design virtual exchanges that substitute for physical mobility
How to structure training around global competences and EU values
How to facilitate online intercultural dialogue across diverse regions
How to embed critical reflection on power and privilege in online learning

LEVEL 2. EXPLORE BEST PRACTICE

Introduction

ACT – Virtual Exchanges for Active Citizenship is an Erasmus+ project that connects students and staff from Higher Education Institutions in Europe and the Southern Neighbourhood through structured online training and facilitated virtual exchanges. The project builds global competences, knowledge of EU fundamental rights and the SDGs, fostering active citizenship, tolerance and non-discrimination without requiring travel.

  • Coordinating organisation: European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training - EVBB
  • Participating countries: Germany (DE), Greece (GR), Lebanon (LB), Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (LY), Morocco (MA), Palestinian Territory, Occupied (PS), Tunisia (TN)
  • Duration: 01/01/2022-31/12/2024
  • BRIDGE Main Challenge: A.6. Deficits in democratic participation, representation and inclusive governance
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • SDG 4: Quality Education
  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Secondary Challenges
  • A.5. Discrimination, racism and sociocultural polarisation, including hate speech
  • A.7. Digital ecosystem, disinformation and the need for media literacy and critical thinking

The Challenge

What social issue does it address?

Young people in Europe and the Southern Neighbourhood exhibit low civic participation, limited mobility and persistent intolerance or discrimination, worsened by structural, ethnic, socioeconomic and gender inequalities. Physical mobility barriers, deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic, further restrict access to intercultural exchange and democratic engagement.

Why is it important?

Active citizenship and intercultural understanding are essential for resilient, inclusive democracies on both sides of the Mediterranean. Without accessible alternatives to physical mobility, many young people are excluded from these formative experiences.

How does it contribute to the BRIDGE Challenge?

ACT tackles A6 by making civic and intercultural learning accessible through virtual exchange, reaching students and staff who cannot travel and equipping them with global competences to engage as active citizens in their communities.

How does it work?

Participants join Welcome Activities, then structured training modules on Global Competences (OECD framework), EU Fundamental Rights and the SDGs, followed by facilitated virtual exchanges—synchronous and asynchronous online dialogues, workshops and collaborative projects—linking students and staff across Europe and the Southern Neighbourhood over repeated annual cycles.

What might inspire you?
Ideas for adaptation
  1. Replaces physical mobility with meaningful virtual exchange
  2. Structures learning around OECD global competences and EU values
  3. Connects Europe and the Southern Neighbourhood as equal partners
  4. Embeds reflection on privilege and structural inequality
  5. Runs repeated annual cycles with continuous evaluation
  6. Uses accessible, multilingual digital classroom resources
Resources created

ACT Participant Testimonials

Digital publication

Video and written testimonials from students and staff describing their experience of ACT's virtual exchanges, illustrating impact on intercultural understanding and civic engagement.

Policy Makers, General Public