The Jean Monnet Project Mini-EU Day brought together 85 students and teachers on Friday, May 14th for the first time. The event began with Professor Crina Viju-Miljusevic providing an introduction to the European Union (EU) and the meaning of celebrating Europe Day which was held on May 9th. Many of the students were enrolled in international business classes at their high school.
A brief presentation with videos highlighting European Culture (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn3dNTgz_9A) and Galway, Ireland as a 2020 Capital of Culture (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na63PVAyAXc) was followed by a panel presentation with representatives from three embassies in Ottawa: Delegation of the European Union to Canada, Embassy of Ireland and Embassy of Portugal. Each offered their insights important to the culture of their respective country and the diversity of European cultures. Portugal currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
During the Mini-EU Day, students and teachers learned about the value of culture bringing Europeans together, strengthening communities across Europe and deepened their understanding of the impact of culture in Europe. With two fun activities designed for the event, students played trivia games of well known European people, sports, food, geography, fashion, art and architecture and symbols.
For an introduction to EU Capitals of Culture, you can listen to the ECPR Policy podcast, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KSYgHcW3Oo. More about the EU’s “Capitals of Culture” policy is available at https://ec.europa.eu/culture/policies/culture-cities-and-regions/european-capitals-culture and the decision, No 445/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, which established a Union action for the European Capitals of Culture for the years 2020 to 2033 and repealing Decision No 1622/2006/EC is found at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2014.132.01.0001.01.ENG.
The EU Learning Project “Studying EU in Canadian High Schools” aims to promote a broader and deeper awareness and understanding of European integration and of the EU among high school students in Ottawa region. If you are a high school teacher interested in participating in activities, you can send an email to eulearning@carleton.ca or complete the Teacher Activity form here. We will get in touch with you.
The Mini-EU Day is an activity of the EU Learning Project “Studying EU in Canadian High Schools” which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and by Carleton University.