European Universities Launch a Cultural Cooperation Project, Camino, to Celebrate 20 Years of EU Membership

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 2004 European Union (EU) enlargement, eight partners from seven Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are joining forces in 2024 to implement the project “Twenty Years of Cultural Enrichment in Reunified Europe” (the CAMINO Project). Its aim is to explore the impact of the 2004 EU enlargement on various cultural aspects and values of the new member states, as well as to create stronger cultural and academic bonds within CEE. It also lays a foundation for a long-term cultural cooperation network among the partner universities.

“The word “Camino” in Spanish means “a path”. The project indirectly emphasises the role of our individual paths within the EU, yet seeks to look for aspects that we have in common – values, ideas, dreams. We want to look back at the last 20 years of the EU membership through the eyes of our youth, to highlight the cultural uniqueness of each country and celebrate our common history and future heritage in the European framework of unity,” says Prof. Ina Druviete, Vice-rector of the University of Latvia (UL), the project’s lead partner.

Prof. Vilmantė Pakalniškienė, Pro-Rector for Organizational Development and Community Affairs at Vilnius University (VU) is pleased with the opportunity to implement the international project CAMINO: “The fact that we are in the European Union is an extremely great achievement and value. The 20th anniversary of Lithuania and 9 other countries joining the union, which we are happy about, is also a celebration of freedom, democracy and Western values, which we can celebrate together with universities from other countries and a guest partner from Ukraine in implementing this project.”

• The CAMINO Project consortium is formed by seven universities and a film studio from seven EU countries:
• The University of Latvia (Latvia) – the project’s lead partner
• Vilnius University (Lithuania)
• The University of Tartu (Estonia)
• The University of Opole (Poland)
• J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (the Czech Republic)
• Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia)
• Ludovika University of Public Service (Hungary)
• VERY Films (Latvia).

King Danylo University in Ukraine is taking part in the project as the Associated Partner. 

What to expect from the CAMINO Project?

The CAMINO Project kicks off in March 2024 and will embody a series of cultural and educational events that will take place until February 2025. The first activity, an international photo contest for students, Inspired by Europe, starts on March 11, 2024, culminating with an exhibition of the winning photographs in Brussels, Belgium, on April 15-19, 2024. A flash mob, Ode to Joy, to celebrate Europe Day on May 9 will unite people in seven partner countries and will be streamed online in the project’s communication channels. The project also aims to develop and pilot a lifelong learning open course on intercultural communication.
To support the participation of university students and employees in different non-formal art and culture education programmes, a memorandum of cooperation among the partner universities will be signed in May, laying a foundation for a Network of European universities, university culture centres and student unions.

The peak event of 2024 will be the screening of a documentary produced by VERY Films. The film will focus on the changes in the cultural scene in the past 20 years and the importance of nurturing cultural diversity in Europe.

All project events will involve students, academic staff, cultural and political stakeholders, and the general public in all partner countries. In Lithuania, the project is coordinated and implemented by VU Culture Centre.

Inspired by the Europe photo contest

We kindly invite all students from Partner universities to take part in the international photo contest, Inspired by Europe, taking place March 11 – 18, 2024. Each contestant can submit up to five photographs depicting one’s unique lifestyle, values, hopes and dreams in the framework of European unity. An international jury will choose the best photograph from each country, and the winning pictures will be displayed in an exhibition in Brussels, Belgium, on April 15-19, 2024.

All submitted photographs will be published on Instagram: @camino_inspired_by_europe, but the winners of the contest will be announced in an online event on March 25, 2024. The authors of the best photographs will be awarded with a trip to Brussels, Belgium, to take part in the Opening ceremony of the photo exhibition, Inspired by Europe, on April 15, 2024.

In order to participate, contestants must be at least 18 years old and must have a valid national ID. The photos with a brief description and the applicant’s contact details must be submitted to by 23:59 CET on March 18, 2024. More information about the contest Rules and Regulations is available here. The contest is coordinated by Ludovika University of Public Service in Hungary.