The Project Connecting (ex)You, conceived for young journalists, uses community radio in order to encourage knowledge and experience exchange on the European Union and civic engagement. Connecting (ex)You proposes to train three interrelated groups of young people in radio journalism. The three groups encompass: a) Vienna-based residents with immigrant background, mainly from former Yugoslavia; b) journalism and communication students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and c) journalism and communication students from the Republic of Macedonia.Young people interested in radio journalism and the EU affairs will be trained in both technical and editorial aspects of producing radio programs. These programs will be conducted in such a way as to serve as a learning platform for a variety of topics related to the European Union, understanding common history and cultural diversity, as well as a stage for debates on the EU membership and civic engagement.Studies have demonstrated that citizens of immigrant background need additional information regarding the EU policy-making process and politics, while residents of the future member states often lack the proper information what the membership entails. Considering the size of the immigrant community proceeding from former Yugoslavia in Austria, and the fact that several states that previously belonged to former Yugoslavia aspire to join the Union, Connecting (ex)You proposes to bring these communities together for a joint communication project aimed at the promotion of the common European identity.Twelve program participants, four from each country, will attend international trainings and webinars, during which they will be trained in how to use technical equipment, coached in the concepts of quality journalism and diversity reporting, as well as prepared in conducting debates on EU topics. Radio programs produced throughout the duration of the project will be broadcast by different European radio stations. While community radios will be used for communicating and debating Europe, general aims of the project include: a) knowledge and cultural exchange between Austrian residents of migrant origin and the citizens who remained in their countries of origin, focusing on former Yugoslavia. The aim is to foster better understanding of history, politics and culture, within the EU context. b) Preparing young radio journalist who will have full understanding to the EU and therefore be able to cover its diverse aspects. c) Creating lasting professional networks, among journalists and broadcasters that will continue collaborating after the project’s finalization and continue producing and airing radio programs specializing in EU topics. Further, trainees are expected to train their colleagues in newsrooms. d) Fostering the sense of belonging to the European Union as well as contributing to better understanding between the citizens of the current and the future member states.

"The project established a virtual campus of three HEIs from Macedonia, Slovenia and Turkey that developed and implemented a joint Online Program for Professional Development in Innovative Management, Leadership and Strategic Communication - e-PROFMAN. Within the one-year extra-curricula programme, 100 young practitioners and bachelor students mastered leadership, business and communication skills for a competitive transnational environment.ContextThe European Communication Monitor 2014 reports that one of the most significant challenges for communication management is the merging of communication and business strategies in order to become a valuable part of the decision-making process of an organization. Interviewed professionals said that most important factors for career development are further education and networking among peers and colleagues. Furthermore, ""Opening up Education"" (2013) stimulates developing new business and educational models of curriculum development.Objectives1. Equipping the Programme`s participants with appropriate skills and abilities in achieving competitive advantage and effective leadership behavior in a transnational corporate environment;2. Providing interactive and flexible opportunities for students that exceed geographical, social and financial barriers by utilizing virtual classrooms and cutting-edge ICTs; 3. Providing newfound solutions and strategies through project-based and real-client courses and mentoring that students will apply in their workplaces and during organized internship in business and public sector; 4. Developing free online resources and learning materials relevant to the specific areas; 5. Acquiring international and intercultural experience via virtual mobility and establishing interaction and networking among peers from other European countries;6. Sharing of know-how between HEIs in online learning;Project partners- School of Journalism and Public Relations (Macedonia) (project leader) - a non-profit HEI with a mission to enhance the quality of education in the field of communication, PR, media and journalism, and promote regional cooperation among students and scholars. At the undergraduate level, the SJPR offers professional education in (i) Journalism and (ii) Corporate Communications and Public Relations, providing modernized and applied study programmes.- DOBA Faculty for Applied Business and Social Studies (Slovenia) - online business school dedicated to the development of innovative individuals and eLearning. It offers BA and MA programmes in the areas of Business & Management, Marketing, Social Services and Lifelong Learning. With an annual intake of about 1500 students DOBA is the largest online distance education provider in SEE.- Istanbul University’s Faculty of Communication (Turkey) - the oldest and longest established communication faculty in Turkey. Offering a theoretical and applied education, the faculty currently gives BA, MA and PhD education in three departments - Journalism, Public Relations, and Advertising and Radio/Television/Film. Having a dual education program, the faculty has also been providing distance education.Activities- Transnational Desk Research - provided initial understanding of the educational environment and policies, and market competition in Macedonia, Slovenia and Turkey, and collected and analyzed all the existing information about the educational programs in the fields of management and communication studies.- Joint Staff Training was organised for 34 HEIs representatives and mutual database for providing a coherent professional program was developed.- Curriculum, including syllabuses, learning materials and OER, was developed and 8 online courses were provided by the mixed teams of lecturers from different countries. Two blended learning events - Students Camp and Final Seminar, and traineeships for 5 students were organized.- The Learning Management System facilitated the management of the virtual classroom by tracking the students' progress.- The Regional Conference “e-PROFMAN Talks”, organised in Skopje in May 2018, discussed new content and media that path a way for effective communication in a VUCA world. Project`s results were presented in front of 100 participants.- The Evaluation Report presents the findings of internal and external evaluation of project implementation, and provides detail information about results and impact that were achieved. The report was included as a part of the international monograph ""Linking Business and Communications: From a Sparkle to a Flame"", published by the DOBA Business School (Slovenia).Impact and longer term benefits-Strengthening the skills of students for a transnational competitive environment;-Networking among professionals from different European countries;-Strengthening the capacities of the partner HEIs;-Raising awareness of young people on the importance of lifelong learning and new ICT for their career growth."