Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2026 Newsletter
Lifelong Latium Ambassadors’ Involvement in the European Dimension of Education by Maria Rosaria Gismondi, Paola Arduini, Anna Rita Recchia and Françoise Altamura
Retirement does not necessarily mark the end of an educator ' s involvement with eTwinning and Erasmus + but what happens to Ambassadors once they retire? In most cases their role evolves from classroom-based project management to a broader focus on community-building and mentorship. No longer tied to an active school affiliation, these experienced educators shift into a new function within the network: they become platform advocates, drawing on years of accumulated experience to support other teachers, strengthen professional communities, and help expand international collaboration across Europe.
Much of their work centres on training and mentorship: they deliver pedagogical workshops, webinars, and training courses designed for both newcomers and experienced teachers, passing on the practical knowledge they built up over
years of active involvement. Alongside this, they take on a strong advocacy function, promoting eTwinning and Erasmus + at conferences, policy events, and educational seminars in order to raise its visibility and draw new educators into the network. Their experience also positions them as a natural link between different levels of the eTwinning ecosystem: they act as a bridge connecting the European School Education Platform, the National Support Organisations( NSOs), and local teachers on the ground, helping information and best practices flow smoothly between these levels.
Finally, many retired ambassadors take on the role of mentors for project development, offering guidance to teachers who are just beginning to set up international collaborative projects and need experienced support to navigate the process.
Italy has one of the most developed Erasmus + Ambassador systems in Europe, and it ' s directly connected to eTwinning. The network has been active since 2022, it includes over 260 teachers and school leaders with expertise in European cooperation and project design. It ' s run by the Erasmus + National Agency INDIRE, working together with institutional and pedagogical contacts appointed by the Regional School Offices( USR). Within this Italian context, retired ambassadors also continue to have a defined role. They remain part of the wider Erasmus + and eTwinning ambassador community, drawing on their long-standing experience to support
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