On-site course

Festival MED: Culture & Digital Storytelling

Exploring Music, Artisans and Digital Media during Festival MED in the Algarve

This immersive study visit provides international educators with a unique insight into the intersection of cultural heritage, world music and modern pedagogy. By stepping outside the traditional classroom, participants will experience the Festival MED in Loulé - one of Europe’s most prestigious world music events - as a dynamic laboratory for fostering critical thinking, media literacy and inclusive education. Through a blend of theoretical preparation and intensive field-based activities, educators will gain a deep understanding of how Portugal effectively integrates its historical legacy and traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. Participants will explore the Algarve’s unique identity and "Mediterranean soul" while discussing educational policies, social inclusion and the digital transition. Using cutting-edge ICT tools, such as mobile gamification and AI-assisted analysis, participants will develop the essential skills required to bridge the gap between intangible heritage and the digital-native generation.

Festival MED is scheduled to take place from 25th to 28th June 2026.

Main contents

The course curriculum is meticulously designed to bridge the gap between traditional cultural heritage and 21st-century digital competencies. Key modules include:

Ethnomusicology & Identity: Analysing the historical and social significance of Festival MED and the role of world music in building a shared Mediterranean community identity.
Intangible Heritage & Craftsmanship: Exploring the "living traditions" of local artisans and deconstructing how ancient crafts can be preserved and promoted through modern pedagogy.
Digital Storytelling & Soundscaping: Using multimedia tools to transform oral histories, musical rhythms, and local legends into engaging classroom content and podcasts.
Outdoor Learning Methodologies: Practical strategies for using urban environments (Faro, Olhão, Loulé) as interactive educational spaces.
Heritage & ICT Integration: Leveraging AI, GPS-based gamification and mobile applications to make history accessible to the "digital-native" generation.

Course program

Day 1: Foundations, Interculturality & Global Beats (Faro)

Welcome session: Official welcome, group presentations and ice-breaking activities
Erasmus+ Priority 1
The Mediterranean Soul Lecture: History of Festival MED, the anthropology of music and the revival of local artisan crafts.
Special Guest Session: Meeting with a local musician/artisan to discuss the evolution of Portuguese sounds and traditional craftsmanship.
ICT Workshop: Setting up the digital toolkit

Day 2: Coastal Heritage & Storytelling (Olhão)

Erasmus+ Priority 2
Visit to the Mercado de Olhão
Heritage Walk: guided exploration of the Barreta district and the sculptures of the "Legends of Olhão."
Outdoor Workshop: Modernising Myths – Adapting coastal folklore into digital formats

Day 3: Gamification & Outdoor Pedagogy (Faro)

Erasmus+ Priority 3
Exploring Faro with a GPS-guided app
Designing an educational scavenger hunt on Farol Island

Day 4: Festival MED as a Living Classroom (Loulé)

Erasmus+ Priority 4
Walking tour of Loulé’s historic centre
Roman Baths and Castle: museum visit
Strategy Briefing group work
Festival MED Immersion: active observation

Day 5: Evaluation, Reflection, and Certification (Faro)

Digital Portfolio Lab
Final Reflection
Course evaluation
Certification Ceremony
Festival MED Immersion (admission fee on this day is included in the course fee)

Day 6: Cross-Border Experience (Vila Real de Santo António – Castle of Castro Marim)

Visit to Vila Real de Santo António – a Portuguese town designed as a model urban plan, later used in the reconstruction of Lisbon
Lunch
Visit to the Castle of Castro Marim or free time at the beach

Festival MED Immersion (admission fee on this day is not included in the course fee)

Note: The course program can be changed according to participant's profile, local holidays or on the availability of schools to visit.

Target group

Course methodology

Participants should bring a mobile device to test online applications and platforms during the course sessions. A laptop or tablet would also be highly beneficial for project work. High-speed internet access, video projection and all other necessary resources will be provided by ACJ.

Course fees

Course fee: ,00€ per participant (click for detail)

Certification

Participants receive a Certificate of Participation and a Declaration of Acquired Competences, recognising the learning outcomes achieved
Acquired competences may be validated through the Europass Mobility framework, in accordance with national procedures (Visit Europass mobility website)
The course is aligned with the European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu), with supporting documentation provided to facilitate recognition and transfer of competences

Accommodation and Meals

Participants are responsible for booking and paying for their own accommodation
ACJ guides accommodation options across different price categories
Participants are free to choose their preferred hotels and restaurants
Accommodation and meals are paid directly by participants to the respective service providers, with receipts provided
Lunch and coffee breaks are available in or around the University of Algarve, where the course takes place

Planned course editions