ESC-tension 2 meeting in Caen for the development of the “Student Toolbox”

In April 2025, the ESC-tension 2 partners convened in Caen, France, for their third Transnational Project Meeting. This meeting was critical for the development of the project's core activities. Work Package 3, which focuses on the development of the “Student Toolbox,” is nearing its completion, expected by May, while Work Package 4, which involves embedding the toolbox into the platform, has just begun.

The Student Toolbox consists of various tools designed to raise student awareness about the European Student Card (ESC) and its related benefits. Each tool delves into a specific aspect relevant to the ESC across different phases of the Student Journey: access, participation, and completion.

During the meeting, partners had the opportunity to thoroughly discuss the Student Toolbox model and the document that describes its structure and functionality. The Student Toolbox will be featured in a new section of the ESC-tension website, where all developed tools will be compiled. This webpage and its accompanying documents will be available in English, French, Italian, and Portuguese, organized around 15 topics referred to as Operational Tools (OT).

Each Operational Tool (OT) consists of an explanatory text that explores its specific topic in a concise and precise manner, accompanied by an interactive component that varies depending on the topic, such as a multiple-choice quiz or a feedback form. The purpose of the OT is to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each topic, maximize student awareness of the ESC's potential, and contribute to the overarching goals of the European Student Card Initiative (ESCI).

Following this explanation and an example of an OT shared by the coordinator, partners were divided into two groups for a workshop focused on developing two additional OTs. This collaborative effort has proven to be valuable, fostering significant participation and interaction among all partners and resulting in the achievement of important project milestones.

The core partners will continue to meet online regularly for updates, and will reconvene in person in April 2026 for the closing meeting, which will be hosted by the coordinator in Italy.