The Alcuin Award: Honoring Educational Innovation
Each year, the EPA Board of Directors launches the Alcuin Award to recognize and celebrate outstanding educational initiatives across Europe. Established in 1991, the award highlights the crucial role of parents in their children’s education and honors the best educational innovation by a person, school, group, or activity.
Award Criteria
The Alcuin Award is given to an educational initiative that demonstrates excellence across five key criteria:
- Originality: The project must be new and original. If it’s based on an existing concept, it should show a unique adaptation to local or national needs.
- Contribution to Education: The initiative should be a good practice that clearly shows the influence and input of parents in their children’s learning. A holistic approach that includes non-formal and informal learning is highly valued.
- Parental Involvement: Parents and parent associations should be the primary actors in the project, which must offer a real benefit to parents and schools.
- Constructive Home-School Relationships: The project should support the partnership between parents as “primary educators” and educational institutions.
- Role Model Potential: The initiative should have the potential to serve as a role model for others in Europe, with a clear vision and an easy-to-disseminate approach.
Nomination and Submission
Candidates for the Alcuin Award can be nominated by an EPA member, a Ministry of Education, or the European Commission.
The submission is completed through an online application form. All applications must be in English and should clearly explain how the project meets the five criteria. You can also include a short presentation or a brief video to provide a visual impression of the project.
The award is announced and presented annually at the autumn General Assembly. All shortlisted candidates receive a certificate, and a representative from each of the shortlisted projects must be physically present at the General Assembly to introduce their initiative to the members.