New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Initiative category

Identify the award category for which this initiative is being submitted
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most

Email user
agnespociutes@gmail.com

Basic information
Initiative title
DI4all

Full initiative Title
Digital Inclusion for All (DI4all)

Please provide a short, catchy description of your initiative to be used in communication towards the public.
DI4all aims to improve the key competencies, skills, and learning outcomes of young people in schools by promoting quality improvement, innovation excellence at the educational level and mainstreaming digital inclusion, as well as improving the competencies of teachers and educators to promote digital inclusion and combat disinformation through education and training.

What was the geographical scope of your intiative?
National

Where was your intiative implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Lithuania

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
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Does your initiative address mainly urban or rural issues?
Mainly urban

Does your initiative refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)

Has your initiative benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
Yes

Which fund(s)?
ERASMUS

Here you can provide more details about the name of the specific programme, strand/action line as relevant, and the year
ERASMUS + program

Has your initiative won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Does your initiative has a minimum level of maturity? The minimum level of maturity is exemplified by stakeholder/ initiative promoter commitment to implement the initiative in practice and a clear methodology /approach.
Yes

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As an individual in partnership with other persons
Please provide the contact details for the intiative promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the intiative).
- First name: Giedre
  Last name: Kvieskiene
  Gender: Female
  Nationality: Lithuania
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Zibuokliu street 44
  Town: Vilnius
  Postal code: LT-11346
  Country: Lithuania
  Direct Tel: +37068544066
  E-mail: giedre.kvieskiene@vdu.lt
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
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In case my initiative is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my initiative in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
New European Bauhaus or European Commission websites

Description of the initiative
Please provide a summary of your initiative
We are currently implementing an on-going two-year project 2022-2024 Digital Inclusion for all learners (DI4all). The project aims to improve the key competencies, skills, and learning outcomes of young people in schools by promoting quality improvement, innovation excellence at the educational level and mainstreaming digital inclusion, as well as improving the competencies of teachers and educators to promote digital inclusion and combat disinformation through education and training.

The expected outcomes are: training of educators for the implementation of digital inclusion developed based on analyzed results and best practices of teachers and educators in the field of digital inclusion, development of a guide for educators that includes materials from the intellectual results of the project, studies of best practices, and case studies, and the implementation of an online contest for schools that present their best practices for digital inclusion of all learners.

This project is based on main strategies and influenced by the UNESCO SDG4, and EU programs such as the European Commission EU Digital Agenda, the DigComp2.2, DigCompEdu, the Selfie, My Digiskills. The four priority areas for ERASMUS+ also serve as a basis, such as digital transformation, inclusion, and diversity, green sustainability as well as the overall aim on active citizens for all.

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with 5 key words.
Active citinzenship

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Education

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Transformation

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Sustainability

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Digital inclusion

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of sustainability and how these have been/will be met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
The United Nation Agenda 2030 is "an action plan for people, planet and prosperity." It includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are indivisible and include economic, social and environmental dimensions. The UNESCO Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) is the education goal, which aims to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all."

Combating climate change and contributing to long-term sustainable development is the goal of the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030, which form the basis for the European Commission's sustainability work. For the Erasmus+ program period 2021-2027, one of the news is that all projects must be environmentally sustainable. This means that as a project promoter, one have to think green consistently when planning and implementing the project. Alternative to physical visits, conferences, exchange programs or other activities abroad is virtual mobility. The advantages are not only lower environmental impact, but also factors such as higher availability and lower costs.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Project focuses on Creating a sense of belonging through learning in practice, group works. Significant experiences in the project involves designing opportunities for participants to connect with others participants and adapt meaningful practices. This is being achieved by designing learning environments that make people feel valued and understood, by organizing learning activities that align with their every day tasks, interests and goals. Such experiences promote community and shared identity, resulting in increased feelings of belonging. It is expected to improve emotional well-being of participants and their work surroundings, contribute to a greater sense of purpose and meaning.

DI4ALL activites is based previous activities such as:

- interdisciplinary initiative ATRASK (en. DISCOVERY). A branch of the Lithuanian College of Democracy – rural day center “Navininkai” for children and families at risk operates in Aukštadvaris, Trakai district. For many years, the visitors of the day center have been interacting with the Aukštadvaris seniors’ club “Aukštadvario žiburiai”, listening to the stories of their elders about the history of their region, participating in various celebrations and education, and baking pies together. From this beautiful friendship was born the idea to create original interactive maps, and the online application atrask.eu, which will help travelers better understand the land with picturesque nature. This is a social entrepreneurship start-up established by “Navininkai” in an association with a branch of temporary foster home “Atsigrezk” – day center “Čižiūnai” for children and youth at risk and local seniors’ community “Aukštadvario žiburiai”.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
The EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027 by the European Commission outlines concrete steps, provides guidance, and identifies funding for initiatives that promote inclusion for all. It focuses on multi stakeholder partnerships, including close collaboration with immigrant-led organizations. During all activities project involves key actions:

● Inclusive education and training from early childhood through higher education, with a focus on facilitating recognition of qualifications and continued language acquisition;

● Improving employment opportunities and recognition of qualifications to fully recognize the contribution of migrant communities, particularly women, and ensure that they are supported to reach their full potential;

● Promote access to health services, including mental health care, for people with migrant backgrounds;

● Access to adequate and affordable housing, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the Asylum and Migration Fund (AMF) and Invest EU.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the initiative and civil society have been/will be involved in the initiative and what has been/will be the impact of this involvement on the initiative
The target group are all stakeholders within a schools and organizations, such as; students, school staff, schools, other educational providers, public bodies, and national agencies. The Di4all project has sustainability and maintenance activities built in. The project has embedded all four priority areas, such as active citizens, inclusion and diversity, digitalization, and green sustainability, both in its application, but will integrate them even more in its activities, dissemination, and sustainability.
The way citizens benefiting from ,,Digital Inclusion for all Learners (DI4All)” in different ways. One is participation in organized events and/or taking activities in sub-initiatives.

,,Digital Inclusion for all Learners (DI4All)” were presented in various conferences and events, for example: OEW22 7-11 March, 2022; ALL DIGITAL Weeks 2022 will run from 14 March until 14 April 2022; The Festival of the New European Bauhaus, 2022; EDEN Digital Learning Europe 20-22 June 2022; publication in EPALE, 2022; UHR Workshop 5 April 2022 Digital transformation and other.

Also, the project ,,Digital Inclusion for all Learners (DI4All)” was presented in the “EntreComp for Digital” Virtual Study Visit on 20 September, 2022.

The EntreComp for Digital Study Visit connected participants with practitioners in the field of digital and entrepreneurial competence development from across Europe. Through interactive sessions with practices, participates it focused on new inspiration for their own work and a better insight into the opportunities offered by the DigComp and EntreComp frameworks. In addition to the interactive presentations of the featured practices, audience were involved in the virtually visit the practices on site through video links and deep-dive break-out sessions, putting the audience in direct contact with the featured practices.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the initiative.
This project went viral at the national and international levels and could be implemented in different contexts.

GLOBAL LEVEL

Lithuanian College of Democracy is a member of the global network - Civitas International for about 20 years. This unique network of educators, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and governmental agencies has worked for more than a decade to develop quality civic education curricular materials and training. Many countries in the Civitas network collaborate in unique partnerships using model civic education programs to develop programs that address their specific civic education needs.

DI4ALL will be disseminated in this network.

Europe’s People’s Forum invited to jointly present this project at various dissemination events. The best practice of DI4ALL will be presented in a few national and international practical and scientific conferences.

NATIONAL LEVEL / EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

DI4ALL was presented in the biggest national educational conferences. DI4ALL project will be presented at the international conference in the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. Moreover, the project Coordinator based on Game-changers project lessons learned prepared a special program for schools called PLIUS (Pozityvaus lavinimo ir ugdymo sistema or Positive Education and Training System) and implemented this program in different Lithuanian schools. The 23 500 students' benefited from this program.

COMMUNITY LEVEL / LOCAL DAY CENTERS

Vulnerable groups were involved in DI4ALL project by empowering rural day center Navininkai from Aukštadvaris. To ensure the quality of developing project results, professors were invited from Vytautas Magnus University, experts from the Lithuanian Social Pedagogue Association.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your initiative. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was
(1) Social sciences: sociology, psychology, and anthropology that provide insights into human behavior and social dynamics, which can inform the design and implementation of initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion, equity, and sustainability. The project focuses on positive socialization, social partnership, inclusion, behavioral algorithms, well-being of children, families, youth.

(2) Digital transformation - empowering people with limited opportunities or underrepresented groups to participate in the project and introduction of virtual learning.

Please highlight the innovative character of the initiative, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the initiative
The planned activities of the project will respond to the qualitative aspects of education associated with innovativeness, novelty of ideas, creativity, non-standard problem solving. DI4ALL innovative education models are based on 3D: multi-functional, multi-criteria and multi-sector model and the synergy of social communication and leadership. STiM constructed in this way works locally and globally, creates breakthrough directions and reveals new educational opportunities. Harnessing knowledge, innovation, learning, networks and digitality for the greater well-being of the individual and society (community), with rational costs and the probability of sustainability, is based on the leadership of educational institutions and the professionals working in them, managers, often social pedagogues or other professionals.

Please describe which elements of your initiative could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.
(1) Training of educators programs and digital learning platform will be used for future training and can be adapted to various fields and schools
(2) Guide for educators with materials from the intellectual results of the project will be used for future activities
(3) Best Practices Study and Case Studies will be used for future activities in Lithuanian schools

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your initiative.
1 phase: building the knowledge. Based upon the existing data and knowledge, the theoretical substantiation of preconditions for digital interaction multicultural society in the context of social equity and inclusion will be established. In this stage the literature review highlighting detailed analyses of the pilot region and expert assessment will be used. The experts will be asked to assess and the scope and the key parameters of digital interaction multicultural society in the context of social equity and inclusion.
2 phase: participatory action research strategy. This phase will focus on the context of the implementation of digital interaction in a multicultural society. This phase i) will collect the case studies from vulnerable groups (a) migrants; (b) special needs; ii) will explore participatory action research strategy (involving such research methods as individual interviews’ and group discussions; questionnaires’, data analyses and etc.); iii) identify best practices based on the case studies.
3 phase: pilot study analysis. This phase will help to identify the unique representative from vulnerable groups needs in each case. In association with Stakeholders, DI4All will identify needed changes and focus on their improvements to the interventions.
4 phase: drawing the results. The analyzes the digital interaction in multicultural society in the discourse of social equality and inclusion will be presented and the results of investigations will be discussed. The digital interaction in a multicultural society as a key element for social equity and inclusion will be established, the experience of respondents based on the pilot study will be highlighted. The results of the investigation will focus on the multi-aspectness of digital interaction, highlighting key element for social equity and inclusion.
5 phase: sustainability. In order to sustain the DI4Al, the interactive DI4Al map based on the best practice case studies will be created.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the initiative addresses by providing local solutions
(1) Social equity and inclusion: the project includes all kind of participants, including people disabilities, having health problems, having barriers related to education and training systems, having cultural differences, social barriers, economic barriers, barriers related to discrimination, geographical barriers
(2) Access to Education and Skills: activities during the project provide access to education and skills to all.

Please detail the scope of progress in the implementation of the initiative. This can include already demonstrated results/outputs related to the chosen Prizes category, and the already achieved benefits from the initiative for direct and indirect beneficiaries. This can also include a development plan of the initiative, with a particular attention to the steps envisaged in the year following the application, and including envisaged results and benefits from the initiative
(1) The project was already started preparation for trainings of educators of digital inclusion, based on the analyzed results and best practices of teachers and educators in the field of digital inclusion.
(2) The project built collaboration between schools and other research and training institutions targeting digital inclusion by promoting the exchange of best practices and enabling the creation of a network for sharing best practices.
(3) The project and it's aims were presented in various international and national events and conferences.

DI4ALL initiates other initiatives such as: DISCOVERY developed by day center Navininkai for children and youth at risk.

Please provide documents that demonstrate the maturity level of the initiative and commitment to implement the initiative in practice (e.g.: evaluation report, final or mid-term initiative report, certification, publications, building permit, grant agreement, letter of support, partnership agreement, etc.)
Both
PDF
- pdf-1-32666.pdf
Web link
- https://www.lduk.lt/en/
If relevant, please describe how your initiative contributes to developing new competences, especially in the context of the European competence framework on sustainability.
DI4ALL are based on main strategies and influenced by the EU programs such as the European Commisson EU Digital Agenda, the DigComp2.2, DigCompEdu, EntreComp and European competence framework on sustainability. The Digital Competence Framework for Citizen (DigComp) provides a common understanding of what digital competence is [5]. The DigComp framework identifies the key components of digital competences in five areas., which are; (i) Information and data literacy, (ii) Communication and collaboration, (iii) Digital content creation, (iv) safety, and (v) Problem solving.
The framework is also provided in alignment with the Digital Accessibility Guidelines, as creating accessible digital resources is an important priority today.
The European Framework for Educators' Digital Literacy (DigCompEdu) is a science-based framework that describes what it means for educators to be digitally literate. It provides a general reference framework to support the development of education-specific digital literacy in Europe. DigCompEdu is aimed at educators at all levels of education, from early childhood to higher and adult education, including general and vocational education, special education, and non-formal learning.
MyDigiSkills helps to better understand ones level of digital skills based on knowledge, skills and attitudes in each of the five areas of the European Framework of Digital Competences for Citizens, known as DigComp. Educators’ competencies plays an important role in nowadays society, and in one hand it could be described as a formal requirement fulfillment, involving knowledge, skills and values. In another hand, it became a life-long learning process and the synergy between the educators’ professional and pedagogical competencies and learners’ competencies is highlighted. At the same time, it is important to highlight educators' social-emotional competencies (Kvieskienė et al., 2022), especially targeting vulnarable youth.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images or visual representations of your initiative to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below.
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By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed initiative has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the initiative and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their initiatives, initiative, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted initiative, initiative is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes