Language plays a crucial role in cross-border regions, as it can open doors to employment and mobility for its residents. This is the aim of the initiative proposed by the linguistically diverse Euroregion Nouvelle-Aquitaine Euskadi Navarra (EGTC) located on the border of Spain and France.

Eskola Futura (IRAKASLEGAIAK AEN), as the name suggests, has its sights set on the future, and it believes that the future starts with teachers. The project gives future teachers the opportunity to attend an intensive two-year training programme to prepare them to teach in French/Basque bilingual public schools. The initiative aims not only to fill the increasing demand for bilingual teachers in the region but also to:

• Promote the practice of the regional languages (French, Spanish, Basque, and Occitan)
• Increase access to employment for young people in the region
• Reinforce collaboration among universities
• Encourage the sharing of pedagogical practices across the border

A total of 26 students from various partner universities joined the programme in 2018 and 2019. Listen to what they have to say about their experience in the programme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGwlDNyDYCE&t=8s

The project is part of the INTERREG POCTEFA 2014-2020 cross-border cooperation programme, partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).