Erasmus, five Italian projects win the European EITA Award

The European Commission has announced the winners of the European Innovative Teaching Awards 2025. There are 117 Erasmus+ projects from over 30 countries, both within the EU and beyond its borders. With the awards, the Commission rewards educators who adopt innovative, interactive and inclusive teaching and learning approaches, in order to improve life and skills for the next generations.
In Italy, the initiative is promoted by the two Erasmus+ National Agencies, INDIRE and INAPP, and from this edition it also concerns the Adult Education sector and the European Language Label Recognition - ELL. Five educational categories are envisaged: Early Childhood Education and Care; School Education; Adult Education; Vocational Education and Training (by Erasmus+ INAPP); European Language Label. This year's recipients of the award are educators and institutions that have distinguished themselves in promoting active citizenship in Erasmus+ projects. Activities have been selected that have prepared students of all ages to develop the skills needed to actively participate in public life and to promote EU values such as freedom, democracy, solidarity and inclusion.Below are the winning Italian Erasmus+ projects of EITA/ELL 2025.

The project A Time for Ourselves, promoted by Bimbi&Co Impresa Sociale, of Isola di Capo Rizzuto, Crotone, in partnership with the 4th Kindergarten of Zakynthos, focused on the value of slowness as quality time for children. Over two days of mobility, families and young kindergarten pupils enjoyed intercultural experiences in Greece, including cooking workshops, yoga, bilingual readings and artistic activities, with a focus on environmental protection, thanks to a visit to the Caretta Caretta turtle park. The initiative also fostered inclusion and socialisation for children and parents in difficult situations, offering valuable moments of shared growth. The impact extended to the entire community of Isola di Capo Rizzuto, where the project represented a sign of hope and European openness in a complex social context.

From School to EU, promoted by the Liceo Da Vinci of Arzignano, Vicenza with partners in Spain, France and Belgium, is a project that has created a real European community of students and teachers committed to civic education and EU values. The activities, also developed through eTwinning and "EU Virtual Rooms", fostered discussion on crucial topics such as eco-sustainability, socio-economic inclusion and digital policies for young people, experimenting informal and collaborative teaching approaches. Students were able to strengthen digital, language and social skills, while teachers innovated teaching practices and methodological exchange. The initiative had a strong inclusive impact and helped consolidate the European identity at school and territorial level, stimulating networks, mentoring and new forms of active participation.

The ELAN Consortium of La Spezia, together with the CPIA of La Spezia, implemented the Erasmus+ project Walking the Paths of European Democracy, which took 24 adult students to visit the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. The experience, attentive to sustainability, strengthened knowledge of democratic values and stimulated participation in European elections, especially among students from non-EU countries with no democratic tradition. The recognition obtained enhances adult education as a laboratory of innovation and gives a clear message: they too are protagonists of European citizenship.

The Bridging European Communities 4 Learning project, coordinated by the IISS of Lercara Friddi, Palermo with partners in Spain, Slovenia and Poland, promoted active citizenship and European values by involving students from rural and peripheral areas. Through international mobility, civic debates and collaborative activities, the pupils experienced multilingual and interdisciplinary learning, enhancing language, digital and social skills. The joint work also resulted in a reflective e-book that collects innovative teaching practices and continues to inspire teachers and students. The experience has strengthened the sense of belonging to Europe and stimulated new educational networks and Erasmus opportunities, with a positive impact on the schools and local communities involved.