EuGen’s European Project Design Course comes to an end through international collaboration and practical learning

When we launched the European Project Design course in April 2026, the objective was to provide young people with practical skills in European project design that could support their transition into the world of work and strengthen their ability to access and manage EU-funded opportunities. Over six sessions, participants combined theoretical learning with hands-on exercises focused on the concrete development of European project proposals.

Eleven participants joined from different countries and backgrounds, some already working in the non-profit and cultural sector, others still studying, all of them genuinely motivated. From the very first session, the course became a space not only for learning a methodology, but also for exchanging perspectives, testing ideas, and developing proposals collaboratively.

A Transnational Group with a Shared Goal

One of the most interesting aspects of this first edition was the transnational dimension of the group. Participants came from different countries and diverse professional and academic contexts, bringing different perspectives on how European funding can support local communities and social challenges.

Some arrived with concrete ideas: a project addressing gender-based violence, a platform to engage citizens around water pollution, and initiatives linked to food security, civic engagement, and rural development. Others were still searching for a direction, and the course became a space to explore and develop those ideas. This diversity was not simply demographic: it became part of the learning process itself.

Through group work, participants experienced some of the dynamics that characterise international partnerships in practice: combining different perspectives, listening to each other, and building shared objectives.

A trainer who created the conditions to learn

The course was led by Michele Barghini, whose rigorous and practical approach guided participants through the complexity of European project design: from EU funding programs and calls for proposals to logical frameworks, work breakdown structures, and budget templates. Through practical exercises, group simulations, and real application templates, he created an interactive learning environment where participants could approach European project design in a concrete and accessible way.

As the course progressed, the methodology was adapted to participants’ needs through additional practical exercises, breakout sessions, and collaborative work on proposal templates. The learning environment encouraged questions, discussion, and experimentation, helping participants approach European project design as a practical process rather than a purely theoretical subject.

Particular attention was devoted to the development of a project application form for a European call for proposals, with a focus on key elements such as relevance, European added value, quality indicators, and the coherence of planned activities. The course concluded with practical sessions on budget construction, work package design, and the core principles of project management and international partnership coordination.

From Ideas to Projects for Gender Equality and Environmental Awareness

Participants were divided into two groups and asked to develop project proposals from the ground up, using Creative Europe as their framework.

The first group worked on a project focused on gender-based violence prevention through cultural media tools. The second developed a gamified digital platform aimed at encouraging citizen engagement around water pollution and environmental action. Over the six sessions, both ideas gradually evolved into structured proposals with objectives, methodologies, partnerships, activities, and budgets, allowing participants to work directly on the practical challenges involved in building a European project.

What happened after the last session

By the end of the course, participants had already created a WhatsApp group to stay in contact and continue exchanging opportunities and ideas. A LinkedIn group for course alumni was also set up, together with a shared Drive folder containing minutes, materials, and working documents developed during the sessions.

Several participants became involved in EuGen’s newsletter activities and started exploring European calls and partnerships that had previously seemed difficult to access. They are now preparing for the final assessment and certification process while continuing to exchange resources and project ideas beyond the course itself.

A Pilot from Which We Learned: A Vision for What Comes Next

This was the first edition, and it taught us a great deal. The transnational dimension of the group, the diversity of participants’ backgrounds, and their passionate involvement in developing real project proposals starting from their own ideas became some of the most valuable aspects of the experience. The course also confirmed that there is a genuine need among young Europeans for accessible and practice-oriented training in European project design, a field that is often still perceived as difficult to access.

The vision for the future is to build on this experience and further develop the course into a micro-laboratory for European project design: practical, collaborative, and closely connected to the world of work. EuGen is progressively expanding the involvement of host organisations and companies from the EU4EU network as trainers, mentors, expert advisors and employer. Their contribution helps participants better understand the skills and professional profiles increasingly required in European and international contexts, while creating stronger connections between project design, employability, and real organisational needs.
More than a training course, this first edition marked the beginning of a collaborative European learning community where ideas, opportunities, and future partnerships can continue to grow beyond the classroom.