Determining the place of European Union projects in science education and the opinions of students participating in these projects

European Union (EU) projects have an important place in science education. Such projects aim to increase students' interest in science, modernize teaching materials and technologies, as well as improve the quality of science education. In addition, it also has objectives such as improving teaching methods, providing students with scientific thinking skills and supporting the professional development of teachers. In this context, the aim of the study is to examine the role of EU projects in science education and to determine the opinions of secondary and high school students regarding these projects. The study was carried out using the "special case" method, one of the qualitative research methods. The research was conducted with a total of 20 students, 10 secondary school and 10 high school students, during the 2022-2023 academic year. Data were collected by the researcher through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. The data obtained was evaluated using the content analysis method. As a result of the research, students stated that their interest in science increased and that it contributed to their scientific thinking, problem solving and critical thinking skills. They also stated that through these projects, they gained a global perspective through international collaborations and cultural interactions and had the opportunity to get to know different education systems. In addition, they said that it contributed to their learning by doing and experiencing the subjects effectively. Students stated that they were very pleased with participating in EU projects and that they gained more in these projects compared to traditional science education. In line with the opinions of the students participating in the study about EU projects, it is recommended that students studying at different education levels be encouraged to participate in these projects and teachers are encouraged to participate in the projects voluntarily and enthusiastically