Next Level Skills for Student Leaders (NELS)

Programme(s): Erasmus+ (ERASMUS+)
Topic(s): ERASMUS-EDU-2024-VIRT-EXCH
Type of action: ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants
Project ID: 101193288

Objective: "Next Level Skills for Student Leaders (NELS) is a dynamic virtual training programme designed to elevate the capabilities of student leaders across Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. Through fostering direct interactions and intercultural dialogue, NELS cultivates a culture of engaged citizenship, grounded in the core values of freedom, tolerance, and non-discrimination. Moreover, it hones essential skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, leadership, and effective communication. Tailored for elected representatives and students passionate about shaping their educational environments, NELS empowers participants to become catalysts for positive change in higher education and beyond. It targets 2500 participants over three years. The programme is structured around three comprehensive modules. ""Future Challenges"" delves into pressing topics like megatrends, digital transformation in education, and sustainability. ""Next Level Skills"" focuses on refining leadership capabilities and fostering inclusive communication, also in the virtual realm. ""New Ways of Student Organising"" explores democratic engagement, values within higher education, and the art of effective networking. Each semester, participants engage in 10 immersive virtual sessions conducted in small, facilitated groups. The programme also offers the opportunity to earn micro-credentials (ECTS), providing tangible recognition for their efforts. Backed by a consortium of HEIs and representative student unions, NELS draws on extensive expertise in fostering student engagement and civic involvement. Partners, are committed to utilising digital platforms for enriching student interactions and cross-cultural dialogue. In essence, NELS combines academic excellence with real-world insights from the student movement. In building on student organisation's existing networks, such as the Global Student Forum spanning 127 countries, the consortium delivers a scalable and inclusive virtual programme."