About aces

aces was founded in 2006 by ERSTE Foundation within its programme "Europe" in co-operation with Interkulturelles Zentrum (Vienna, Austria). The school network seeks to enhance the active participation of young people and teachers in exchange processes and international co-operation.

The partner countries
Currently Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia are involved in the network. However, it intends to gradually enlarge in the years to come.
Schools from all these countries are invited to take part in the aces activities, to find partner schools and to implement their partnership projects in international co-operation.
The approach

aces establishes and supports of a Central European network of schools
The overall idea is to develop a network of shared knowledge, mutual learning and innovation which offers concrete opportunities for exchange and co-operation of young people, schools and institutions of Central European countries.

aces brings together different target groups of the educational system
The process of network building and programme implementation is characterised by its continuous joint development with all partners on different levels. The activities bring together three different target groups of the educational system: representatives of the Ministries of Education (educational programmes, regulations, planning), teachers (implementation by teaching, quality of education) and pupils (beneficiaries, addressees).

aces offers a support scheme for cross-border school partnership projects
International school partnerships (pupils aged 12-17 years) of the involved partner countries are invited to submit project proposals at the yearly project competition. The best applications are awarded with a grant of 1.000 € per participating partner school and supported in the realisation of their partnership projects. The project duration comprises almost one school year.

aces focuses on European themes and topics
The Academy supports innovative ways of teaching and learning in order to contribute to the process of European integration and the promotion of European Citizenship. Active participation in cross-border dialogue and exchange on European concepts and perspectives with peers from abroad is essential to come to a shared vision of future Europe. By the involvement of persons/groups of other than the educational sphere (e.g. artists, writers, sportsmen, experts of other fields), aces also seeks to integrate a variety of other experiences and approaches.

aces fosters institutional co-operation
The involvement of and close co-operation with institutions of the partner countries (above all Education Ministries) is very important to integrate different perspectives and to assure the national and international sustainability of the programme. The Ministries of Education of all partner countries support the initiative (Kosovo will decide for 2009).