İstanbul Avrupa Araştırmaları Derneği (IAAD), was established in the city of Istanbul in September 2015, under the form of not for profit Civil Society Organisation. IAAD main activities are organised in two specific spheres: a) societal challenges; b) innovation and technology.
Societal challenges – IAAD promotes education and training initiatives supported by Non-Formal and Informal Learning (NFIL), by ECVET-based Apprenticeships and Learning Mobilities. IADD also activates participative dialogue between communities and policy-makers, develops Culture, Arts and Heritage initiatives (dance and theatre plays, festivals, media events), Sports and leisure activities, Community Cooperatives development, Social Entrepreneurship and encourages a variety of grass-root initiatives aiming at fostering pluralism, non -discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men, globally equity and inclusion.
A European sense of belonging
We aim at fostering European cooperation by designing, developing and multiplying projects and good practices through a unique platform of interaction, aiming at collectively unlock potential at local and regional levels for the practice of European agendas, policies and recommendations.
Indeed, we take stock from the EU 2020 strategy though we also are very reflective of changing times and developing a critical thinking approach to develop further our activities. On this matter we organize an in-deep and integrated consultation within the consortiums we are building for each activity, aiming at generating an enhanced European added-value, a EU transnational dimension and at promoting the exploitation of EU initiatives results.
The European Commission as well as a variety of foundations and EU bodies provide funding and grants for a broad range of projects and programmes. Amidst a variety of aims and operational objectives, these structured initiatives co-finances projects aimed at improving the capacity of individuals and institutions in the European Union and neighbouring countries, as well as eligible third countries.
Cultivating a community-based vision and strategy
Our staff, volunteers and associated partners are involved in a variety of actions and programmes, tackling issues where intercultural dialogue, migrant integration and repatriation, ageing population and intergenerational relationships, employment, Youth, gender equality, human rights and democracy orientation are high on our list of priorities. We are also currently developing activities on every aspect of social capital enhancement which can contribute to community cohesion.
We are committed to creating and maintaining a cohesive community development as the main outcome of our activities within our fields of expertise, comprising education and training, innovation, social entrepreneurship and sustainable development. This can only be done through partnership with a multi-stakeholders and a holistic approach.
Our endeavours focus on the interpretation of guiding principles, which have been identified as specifically appropriate for the communities we are working with, and organized by level of importance by all the stakeholders involved, comprising the anticipated target group, beneficiaries, practitioners, policy-makers, social partners, representatives of the civil society (including the world of work), to name but a few.
IAAD’s programmes includes: a) learning activities; b) effective work placements, apprenticeship and internships; c) structured networking with the world of work and policy-makers; d) observatory of best practices on sustainable development policies oriented to labour market demand; e) transfer of innovation with exchange of good practices; f) policies recommendations; g) diffusion at the broadest EU level of effective best practices, case studies and strategies validated. IAAD plan and implement an average of 14 activities per year.
Area of specific expertise – In the education and training sphere:
In the Innovation and technology:
