Further to the adoption of the Resolution on Education in Times of Emergencies and Crisis and a draft toolkit supporting its implementation, in accordance with the decisions by the CDEDU, the Council of Europe’s EDURES Pilot Project has been underway since Spring 2024, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region (Italy), focusing on the areas of Tolmezzo and Cividale del Friuli. Six schools—three in each area—are actively engaged in the evaluation process. This initiative is coordinated by the Regional Director of the Education, Guidance, and Right to Study Service, Central Directorate for Work, Training, Education, and Family of the Friuli Venezia Giulia, and supported by the Institute of International Sociology of Gorizia.
Early results highlight the toolkit's significance for both school and regional use, underscored by the cooperation among various stakeholders. In recent weeks, the municipalities of Cividale del Friuli and Tolmezzo have also begun their EDURES self-assessment process, assisted by local civil protection units. This collaboration has proven crucial in enhancing the toolkit's applicability and effectiveness.
The evaluation process will continue throughout the summer, culminating in a sharing and exchange meeting in October. This meeting will gather all local actors involved to co-develop strategies for enhancing community resilience. Students from educational institutions will play a key role in this phase, contributing to the identification of primary actions to increase the resilience of their educational ecosystems. Their involvement is expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the forefront, as well as promote their sense of ownership and their engagement for local communities.
Overall, the EDURES Pilot Project in Friuli Venezia Giulia demonstrates the importance of a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach in developing resilient educational environments. The active participation of schools, municipalities, civil protection, and students illustrates a comprehensive effort towards building a more resilient future for the region.
"As the first pilot at the member states level, we are very grateful for the cooperation of various stakeholders at local and regional levels, especially the schools, municipalities and Civil protection in the areas of Tolmezzo and Cividale del Friuli; the upcoming phase, involving students in co-creating resilience actions, is essential for maintaining education continuity in the future, even in times of emergencies and crises; the results are highly relevant, and we look forward to presenting our findings to the member States in Strasbourg in Spring 2025," said Ms Patrizia Pavatti, Director of the Education, Guidance and Right to Study Service, Central Directorate for Work, Training, Education and Family of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region as coordinator of the EDURES piloting.
