NEOLAiA Alliance, coordinated by the Universidad de Jaén (UJA), is collaborating with the Provincial Council of Jaén in the promotion of the European project PROVote, an initiative designed to strengthen democratic participation across the European Union.
The institutional launch of the provincial workshops took place at IES Virgen del Carmen in Marmolejo. The event brought together key institutional representatives, including deputies Lourdes Martínez (European Funds and Geolit) and M. Dolores Ruiz Sánchez (Equality and Youth), the mayor of Marmolejo, Manuel Lozano, and Beatriz Valverde, Director of the UJA Secretariat for European Universities and NEOLAiA coordinator.
Bringing Europe Closer to Young People
During the workshop, high school students were introduced to NEOLAiA and its mission within the European Universities Initiative. The session highlighted the wide range of international opportunities available to students through the Alliance, including:
- Short-term mobility programmes such as Focus Academy Courses
- International summer schools
- Internships abroad
Students were also guided through the NEOLAiA website (neolaia.ujaen.es), discovering how European university alliances create tangible pathways for academic mobility, intercultural exchange, and professional development.
By engaging directly with young people at the secondary education level, NEOLAiA reinforces its commitment to building bridges between local communities and the broader European Higher Education Area.
What Is PROVote?
PROVote is a European initiative aimed at strengthening citizen participation in democratic processes within the European Union. The project focuses particularly on young people, women, and marginalized communities, encouraging greater electoral participation through workshops, conferences, and awareness-raising activities.
The project brings together civil society organizations and local authorities from eight countries – Greece, Spain, France, Belgium, Romania, Italy, North Macedonia, and Germany – fostering transnational cooperation and the exchange of best practices in democratic engagement.
Through this collaboration, innovative approaches to civic participation are adapted to different European contexts, reinforcing democratic values at both local and European levels.
Strengthening European Citizenship Through Higher Education
UJA’s participation in NEOLAiA reflects the Alliance’s strategic objective of fostering a strong sense of European citizenship. By promoting active, critical, and engaged participation in democratic life, NEOLAiA strengthens the European dimension of higher education and contributes to shared democratic values across Europe.
The collaboration with the Provincial Council of Jaén in promoting PROVote demonstrates how European university alliances can work hand in hand with local institutions to empower the next generation of European citizens.
