Erwachsenenbildung über dem Inn

The intention of the project was to further the cross-boarder activities between VHS Simbach am Inn (Germany) and VHS Braunau am Inn (Austria), to improve the availability of high quality learning opportunities for all adults. Special concideration was given to people with diminished chances in education. Thus, for example, German language courses for migrants could be offered successfully crossborder. The project aimed at the overall increase in amount and varietey of courses offered. Special attention was given to the domains sport, children / family and languages, in presence as well as online. People in these two rural areas should gain increased access to education, without having to drive long distances. Courses, in addition, should increase in their quote of realisation, as in the past, courses often had to be canceled, caused by low numbers of participants All together these arrangements were to lead to higher customer satisfaction.

People, regular participants of each VHS, as well as new potential participants, should gain knowledge of cross-boarder offers on either side. Making both VHS' more popular would allow an extention of adult education through a wider range of offers to all participants of theses two country side regions. The two cross border cities Simbach am Inn and Braunau am Inn are already interconnected since the nineties, however in different ways. Emergency patients from Germany are for example allowed to go to Branau for treatment by full payment from their Germany health insurance. Collaborated events have taken place, like X-Mas markets, crossborder trainings of associations like fire brigades and rescue services, shared printed news and adds, and a cojoint city marketing for both cities. With regard to already implemented cooperational activities between these two cities, it seemed just about time to extent that crossborder alliance as well to the educational sector and, thus, to the two VHS. After all approximately 25% of all german participants are from Austria. Here, the European Union is lived to ist fullest, thus urged for this step to be taken.

Teamsbuilding activities, meetings with lecturers of both sides, developed a feeling of alliance. They actively participated in the project development. Knowledge in commen practices were exchanged between our teachers. Instead of the open day, we participated in the streetfoodfestival, We head a great joint public apperance, with two tents, handed out marketing material and increased the awareness of our collaboration. One tent for information, discussion, explanation, courses to be looked at and the possibility of direct booking. In a second tent,lecturer offered short trainings sequencies to interested participants. We further created a corporate administraion. We offered each others courses on our webpages, enabling participants to find and book courses on either side. In addition to webbased appearances we alligned our marketing activities. We made fotos for joint articles for newspapers and the internet and offered each others courses in our printed course booklets, We supported the education of lecturers and staff to enable them to offer courses online, diversify their teachings and to create a necessary backup to ensure that the really high demand of teaching German for foreigners can be met at any time.

We reached our goal, to work together and to promote each other, leading to a higher level of awareness of the VHS on either side. Participants of all levels of population could always participate equally. New courses were created (approx. 30%) and number of bookings of existing ones rose. It demonstrates that adult education has become more popular and wide spread throughout this remote region. Subsequently, this has also led to higher level of executed courses. Our implemented changes also promoted the environmental sustainability. Since more courses could be offered and participation rose, we also acted ecologically sensitive, as people did not have to commute as far anymore to gain access to adult education. We supported each other finding teachers and animating them to work as well across boarders to enable the other VHS to offer courses they otherwise would not have been able to.We established a way of working together, that will be continued after the completion of the project. This certainly is an experience that can easily be transferred to other VHS in border regions all over the EU to enable them as well to profit from such an alliance.