Bookfest 2026 - the transnational competition within the homonymous eTwinning project

Between December 2025 – January 2026, five teachers and more than 100 students from two partner institutions, Liceul Teoretic „Radu Vlădescu” Pătârlagele (Buzău, Romania) and Liceul Teoretic „Mihai Eminescu” Florești (the Republic of Moldova), successfully organised Bookfest 2026, the transnational multimedia presentation competition within the eTwinning project of the same name. The project activity was conducted online and involved approximately four hours of work per participating teacher.

The project brought together students and educators in a collaborative learning context that highlighted the value of reading, digital creativity, and cross-border cooperation. Coordinated by the English teacher Mrs. Claudia Emilia Frînculeasă and the Romanian language and literature teacher Mrs. Iorga Adelaida Loredana (Romania), alongside three Moldovan teachers - Mrs. Alina Răilean, Mrs. Victoria Comerzan  and Mrs. Victoria Burlădeanu, the initiative exemplified effective teamwork and shared pedagogical vision.

The Educational Aims and Objectives

The primary aim of the Bookfest 2026 competition was to identify and integrate innovative teaching, learning, and assessment strategies that support a transdisciplinary approach to education. Under the auspices of the eTwinning programme, the activity sought to develop key student competences while promoting cooperation, experience sharing, and the exchange of good practices between the two partner schools.

More specifically, the project aimed to:

- provide students with opportunities to express opinions, preferences, arguments, and recommendations clearly and persuasively using digital tools such as Canva, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and video creation platforms;

- encourage online collaboration and intercultural exchange between Romanian and Moldovan students and teachers;

- develop linguistic, digital, civic, and “learning to learn” competences, alongside critical and creative thinking, cultural awareness, and expression;

- promote reading and raise awareness of its benefits for personal and academic development.

How the Project Activity Was Implemented

In December 2025, the students from both partner schools were informed about the opportunity to participate in the Bookfest 2026 transnational multimedia competition, in either Romanian or English. The coordinating teachers presented the theme, competition regulations, and evaluation criteria, ensuring transparency and equal access for all interested participants.

During the first half of January 2026, each teacher selected a maximum of 15 multimedia presentations for the Romanian-language section and 10 presentations for the English-language section. The presentations created by the students were submitted for evaluation to teachers from the partner school, in line with the competition regulations. The juries awarded prizes based on clearly defined scoring criteria, reinforcing fairness and mutual trust between the two institutions.

The activity relied on accessible resources such as laptops, mobile phones, and printed materials for data protection agreements and certificates, demonstrating that meaningful international collaboration can be achieved with modest, but well-managed logistical support.

Results and Impact

The outcomes of Bookfest 2026 were both tangible and pedagogically significant. Each partner school contributed at least 25 multimedia presentations, reflecting high student engagement and creativity. The project also resulted in an improved digital portfolio hosted on the European School Education Platform, ensuring visibility and sustainability of the work produced.

Beyond these concrete results, the impact on participants was particularly noteworthy. The participating students from both schools improved their language proficiency in English, digital literacy, and confidence in public expression, while also developing critical reading habits and creative thinking skills. The teachers benefitted from professional exchange, exposure to innovative practices, and strengthened partnerships across borders.

Bookfest 2026 proved to be more than a competition: it was a meaningful learning experience that connected reading with digital innovation and international collaboration. For both students and educators, the project reinforced the value of eTwinning activities in fostering key competences, motivating learners, and building durable partnerships between schools. As such, it stands as a model of good practice for educators seeking to combine language learning, digital tools, and cultural exchange in a coherent and impactful way.