The eTwinning project aims to encourage European schools to collaborate using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
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The project was born under the European Union's e-Learning programme and is now part of the Lifelong Learning Programme.
The main concept behind eTwinning is that schools are paired with another school elsewhere in the Europe. The two schools then communicate using the Internet (for example, by e-mail or video conferencing) to collaborate, share and learn from each other. eTwinning encourages and develops ICT skills as the main activities inherently use information technology. Being 'twinned' with a foreign school also encourages cross-cultural exchanges of knowledge, fosters students' intercultural awareness, and improves their communication skills.
eTwinning projects last for any length of time ranging from only a week, to months, up to creating permanent relationships between schools. Schools (both primary and secondary) within the European Union member states can participate in the eTwinning project, in addition to schools from Norway and Iceland.
European schoolnet has been granted the role of Central Support Service (CSS) at European level. eTwinning is also supported by a network of National Support Services (NSS).
Inside the UK, it is managed by the British Council. In Spain, the ITE- National Institute for Educational Technologies, develops a National Support Service for etwinning. The Ministry of Education (Spain) hosts the ITE within its official web page.