Our objective was to strengthen the role of heritage languages in formal education in Europe by developing a coherent, sustainable model that supports multilingual learners, teachers, and schools. We aimed to improve educational equity by ensuring that students’ home languages are recognized as academic resources rather than obstacles. The project aimed to initiate professional exchange with stakeholders in the five partner countries (DE, FI, GR, NL, SE) to lay the foundations for the recognition and implementation of HLE in the education system with the pilot project and the testing of HLE practices. We also aimed to build structured cooperation between mainstream schools, and municipalities, addressing the fragmentation and lack of coordination identified in current systems. Another goal was to raise awareness among school leaders and policymakers about the cognitive, social, and cultural benefits of heritage language development. Overall, the project intended to empower students with refugee, immigrant and minority backgrounds, enhance teacher competence, and support schools in creating inclusive learning environments where linguistic diversity is valued and systematically supported.
We applied for this Erasmus+ project to address the growing gap between multilingual students’ needs and the limited structures available to support their heritage languages. In increasingly diverse classrooms in Europe, many students navigate an education system dominated by a language different from the one spoken at home. This often leads to lower academic performance, reduced self-esteem, and weakened connections to cultural identity. Research shows that maintaining and developing heritage languages strengthens cognitive abilities, improves academic outcomes, and fosters a stronger sense of belonging. Yet, schools often lack pedagogical tools, coordinated structures, and trained educators to integrate heritage languages effectively. Furthermore, families are often unaware of the importance and positive effects of Heritage Language Ecucation (HLE). The project responded to these needs by aiming to develop, test, and implement a coherent model for HLE in schools, to create professional support structures for teachers, and to provide strategic guidance for schools and policymakers. Its purpose was to build more inclusive learning environments where multilingual students can thrive academically and culturally.