European Competition

The European competition is exclaimed by the European Movement Germany student competition. Was in 1953 advertised in France as essay contest, already participated in 1954 North Rhine -Westphalia. In the following school year, the other states of the Federal Republic of Germany followed suit. He is the oldest student competition of Germany and one of the oldest transnational initiatives for political education in Europe. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the European competition is held under the patronage of the German President.

Each year, nationwide average of 75,000 students participated. Four modules, graded by age group, specify different topics that are based on the motto of the European Union proclaimed by the respective European Year. In the school year 2012/13, the 60th anniversary of the European competition, was the motto "We are Europe! We talk to! " and was based on the European Year of Citizens. In the school year 2013/14 is the motto of the contest " How do we want to live in Europe?" and calls on the German students to think about the balance between work and family.

The tasks require of the students always considering a European perspective. Here, social, economic, political and cultural aspects are in the foreground. The topics can be edited in any way, such as with text, pictures, collages, videos, etc.

Objectives

The European competition is a proven instrument of practical school work. It supports schools to their European educational mission, last meet, formulated in the resolution of the Standing Conference "Europe Education in Schools " (2008 May 5). As topics competition, which is aimed at all ages and types of school, he asks for in-depth discussion of European issues and questions in the classroom. The competition draws the perception of students, but also teachers, on the European dimension of as many functional areas and teaching content.

The task and method provide the teachers a real opportunity to develop the European dimension in education. The themes indicate where European aspects are effective and which box is European decisions are required. They also make clear that in many cases only joint action promises success. Due to the independent and creative engagement of students with values ​​, principles, objectives, challenges and opportunities of European integration, competition makes an important contribution to the strengthening of European consciousness among children and adolescents. It enables young people to actively perceive their future roles as citizens of the European Union. 2013 celebrates the 60th anniversary of the European competition.

Expiration

At the beginning of the school year, the new tender will be published and distributed to schools nationwide. Then the teachers and students have until February time to create competition entries. Advisory representatives in the countries, the regional offices and country representative, in each state coordinate the competition. In February this country a jury will be presented. The judges of the federal states make a choice, forgive land prices and recommend the best works of the Federal Jury, which usually meets in March. The federal jury awards to the best work in 2000 about 600 prizes worth a total of € 80,000. The winners list will be published in April. Ceremonies will often decentralized to the Europe days in early May in the countries instead. Between June and October will take place winners meetings and events at the Federal Chancellery and the Bundestag.

Prices

On the older students whose work has been recognized at the federal level, each year will be awarded attractive travel prices and invitations in political institutions in Berlin and Brussels. The Chancellor each year invites 30 winners for a three day visit to Berlin. Also, the organizer of the German Bundestag receives annually 50 students to a varied political and cultural program in the capital. In the European Academy Otzenhausen and Europe House Marienberg annual international prize winners seminars take place at the European competition. The Friedrich- Ebert -Stiftung organized specifically for the winner of the European competition, policy seminar in Strasbourg and Brussels. The younger winners will be awarded cash and prizes.

Realignment

The European competition was realigned content and formally in 2009. Key points of the new approach are:

• The theme focuses on the competitive activities of the European Union by the orientation of the motto more prominent than before.
• Students who submit purely creative work must explain the European reference their work in writing.
• The separation between pictorial and written contest tasks omitted. Instead, all threads can be processed in many ways.
• In addition to the subjects German and visual arts contributions of other subjects such as history, political education, geography, religion and ethics are desired.
• A stronger internationalization, inter alia, are supported through cooperation with European partner schools to work on a topic.

Financing

The European competition is one of Germany's so-called pan- government-sponsored competitions. It is financed by grants from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Foreign Office. In addition, the Standing Conference as well as the Ministries of Education and Senate administrations of the countries support the competition financially. An official appointed by the Standing Conference Steering Committee determines the guidelines of the European competition. The Press and Information Office of the Federal Government, the Bundestag and the Friedrich- Ebert -Stiftung support the competition by invitation of award winners.

Cooperation with eTwinning

In order to facilitate cross -border cooperation of students under the European competition again, a new eTwinning branch in European competition was introduced in the school year 2012/13. School classes from several European countries will be able to work online together on the topics of the competition. The themes are age appropriate processed and ideal for online collaboration in the Twin Space.