Europe -Wide Survey – The Legacy of ‘Europeanisation’
The development of the upgrade2europe products did not have to start from scratch. The project could build on the successes and experiences gained from the earlier Europeanisation project (2014-2016; No: 2014-1-DE02-KA200-001539). Europeanisation was recognised as a ‘Success Story’ by the EU Commission and as a ‘Good Practice Example’ by NA-BiBB.
Survey About the Opportunities and Challenges of a Process of Europeanisation
Between May and July 2015, the Europeanisation project consortium conducted a Europe-wide survey about the internationalisation and Europeanisation of educational institutions. The focus was on the opportunities and challenges entailed by a process of Europeanisation. 520 representatives of educational organisations from over 30 countries, including all EU member states at that time, took part in this survey.
The results of this survey were summarised in a short report and remain relevant even several years later. This is particularly true for the target group, educational institutions, who are once again the focus of upgrade2europe. However, conclusions can also be drawn from this data for the other upgrade2europe target groups, since many educational institutions can be classified as either SMOs, i.e., small and medium-sized organisations such as clubs, associations or foundations, or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
For those who are interested, we recommend studying the short report about the Europeanisation survey. We would like to provide an overview of some interesting aspects below.
Which area of an organisation is most affected by a process of Europeanisation?
One emphasis of upgrade2europe is the significance of professional project management that is aligned with international standards. The results of the Europeanisation survey confirm the vital importance of project management for successful international work. According to more than 500 respondents from all across Europe, project management is the area of an organisation most affected by transnational activities.
The Biggest Challenge During a Process of Europeanisation
The importance of good strategic partners abroad has also been recognised for many years. In the survey, the majority of respondents ranked ‘transnational partner organisations’ as the number one challenge faced during a process of Europeanisation. This was followed by language skills, developing EU-funded projects, communication and personnel development. The upgrade2europe products also pay extensive attention to all of these topics.
What Possibilities are Open to Organisations Active in Europe?
A process of Europeanisation offers many opportunities that you should make use of. The participants in the survey chose the following as their top 3 opportunities:- Developing new competences, especially regarding the scope of all the participant’s knowledge. It has a clearly identifiable, positive effect on the entire organisation.
- Accessing new knowledge, which specifically increases your organisation’s ability to innovate. You will benefit from new ideas and alternative methods that you would normally not have discovered without stepping beyond your national borders.
- Accessing new sources of funding including, in particular, the transnational funding opportunities provided by the EU. These funds are also relevant beyond the education sector.
Useful Links and Further Information
We are delighted if the results of the Europe-wide survey have given you an interesting first impression of what awaits you during your process of Europeanisation.
You can find further helpful articles and tips in this upgrade2europe learning tool, in our learning videos and in our upgrade2europe handbook. You can also find in the handbook an introduction to the P3.express project management method, for example, which we recommend you use to professionalise your project management. If you wish, you can use our self-assessment tool to find out immediately online to what extent your organisation is ready for Europe.