Activities

The pilot implementation phase tests and validates the ENLACED methodology, resources, and tools with students across all partner HEIs, including the application of the digital breakout challenges in real educational settings. The participating students include those studying English as a foreign language (B2/C1 level) and those learning Bulgarian, Greek, Romanian, or Ukrainian (A2 level).

Students work through the challenges individually and in international collaborative teams, developing both linguistic competences and democratic competences. The final phase of the pilot includes student-led community outreach activities, where project results are presented to local stakeholders, fostering civic engagement beyond the classroom.

 

Pilot Training - (UNWE - Bulgaria)

As part of the ENLACED project piloting phase, the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) in Sofia, Bulgaria, successfully implemented the English language pilot course between February 16 and May 14, 2026. A total of 124 first- and second-year Bachelor’s students from various specialties, including Marketing, International Economic Relations, Business Informatics, and European Integration participated in the testing, with 97 providing detailed feedback. The implementation combined PDF learning materials with interactive sessions on the ENLACED web application. Overall, students praised the content for broadening their vocabulary and knowledge on key topics like freedom of speech, while offering constructive technical suggestions to further enhance the platform's mobile accessibility and user navigation.

Parallelly, from March 15 to May 15, 2026, UNWE conducted the second pilot testing focused on Bulgarian as a foreign language. This course engaged 21 international Bachelor's students enrolled in programmes such as International Relations and Tourism. Participants completed the ENLACED course assignments using both PDF materials and the newly uploaded web application units. The international students expressed high satisfaction with the learning experience, highlighting the value of interactive, challenge-based tasks in developing both their language skills and understanding of democratic competences.

 

Pilot Training - (UMFST - Romania)

Between March and June 2026, the "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology (UMFST) of Târgu Mureș, Romania, conducted the pilot implementation of the ENLACED English course. A total of 36 first-year Faculty of Law students including 8 students from ethnic minority backgrounds, participated in the testing, completing all course tasks through a combination of traditional in-class activities and digital units on the ENLACED Web App. Students expressed a very high level of satisfaction, highlighting the engaging nature of the interactive tasks and their value in strengthening both advanced English skills and understanding of citizenship, democracy, and European values.

At the same time, from March to June 2026, UMPhST carried out the pilot testing for the national language course (Romanian as a Foreign Language), involving 19 international students from countries such as Ukraine, Palestine, Italy, France, and Syria enrolled in the Preparatory Year and English-taught medical programmes. Participants engaged with the ENLACED citizenship and democracy challenges via the Web App and learning resources, combining Romanian language development with teamwork, intercultural communication, and reflection. Feedback was positive, with students describing the activities as well-organized and useful, and warmly recommending the ENLACED challenges to future learners.

 

Pilot Training - (SUMI - Ukraine)

From April 1 to June 30, 2026, SUMI State University conducted the pilot implementation of the ENLACED English language course, involving 33 local students. The learning process took place during online tutor-led classes, where students thoroughly engaged with all course units. Feedback from participants was unanimously positive, with students describing the material as excellent, highly relevant to daily life, and valuable for their future academic work.

Additionally, from May 1 to June 30, 2026, the university piloted the Ukrainian language course, engaging 15 local students. The implementation combined online tutorial guidance for the opening unit with independent individual study for the remaining modules. Feedback was consistently positive, with students describing the challenges as an interesting experience that expanded their vocabulary on citizenship and democracy. The successful execution of both courses demonstrated the flexibility of the ENLACED methodology, supporting both guided and self-directed learning models.

 

Pilot Training - (Tetra - Bulgaria)

During the period from April to June 2026, Tetra Solutions Ltd. rolled out the pilot implementation of the ENLACED English course, engaging 10 Bulgarian university students from diverse academic disciplines, including Business Informatics, International Economic Relations, and Design and Printing Communications. The learning process blended individual study via the Web App with collaborative practical sessions, backed by tailored online support for remote participants. Students shared positive impressions regarding the experience, highlighting the Web App's intuitive interface and structured guidelines. They especially appreciated the team-based format, emphasizing that working together on civic and democratic issues enriched their perspectives while boosting their foreign language proficiency.