European School Radio

European School Radio (ESR) is a student web-radio initiative in Europe, founded in Greece to promote media literacy, digital skills and creativity in education. Based at the International Hellenic University and supported by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, it connects schools and universities across Europe through collaborative educational radio.

What they are doing

ESR offers an interactive online platform where students and teachers co-create and broadcast their own radio shows and podcasts. Through hands-on activities, participants learn audio editing, online broadcasting, storytelling and digital ethics. Training is provided via online courses, webinars and live seminars, helping educators integrate media production into their teaching. ESR also promotes innovation through projects such as the Erasmus+ initiative Kids Radio Europe, where an AI-powered recommendation tool is being developed to analyse audio and text for personalised podcast suggestions. This enables users to easily navigate the large content archive while enhancing media literacy and critical thinking. Creativity and intercultural learning are further encouraged through initiatives like the Make it Heard radio and music competition and the annual European School Radio Festival

Impact

European School Radio has achieved growth and engagement across Europe. A total of 7,506 schools and organisations are currently enrolled and actively participating in the platform. It counts 69,817 registered users, including teachers, students and parents, and has hosted 11,054 student-produced radio episodes to date. Thousands of students and educators have received training in digital media production and collaboration. The initiative places strong emphasis on inclusion, offering accessible tools for students with disabilities and supporting schools from remote or disadvantaged areas. It has also strengthened cross-border collaboration through Erasmus+ and Creative Europe partnerships, connecting classrooms across Europe through media..

Why is it a good practice

European School Radio is a strong example of how media education can be integrated into school curricula in an engaging and impactful way. It develops essential digital skills, critical thinking, teamwork and creativity through hands-on learning. The platform empowers young people to become responsible media creators rather than passive consumers and gives them a space to express their voices. Its inclusive, innovative and scalable approach makes it a sustainable model for media literacy and digital education across Europe.