Category: Partners

As the largest higher education and research center in Western Romania, WUT, founded in 1944, has 11 faculties and a Teacher Training Department, 85 study programmes at Bachelor Level, 120 study programmes at Master level, and 12 Doctoral Schools. Out of these, over 20 Bachelor, Master and PhD study programmes are offered completely in English, French or German. A comprehensive higher education institution, with around 6% (around 1000) international students out of a total of 15000, West University of Timişoara is constantly striving to create a substantially authentic, interdisciplinary and international environment for our yearly incoming cohorts of undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates.

To this end, we count on a number of almost 700 academic and 400 administrative staff. Our connection to the pre-university medium of education in Romania, through a specific office focused specifically on this matter, allows us to recruit and cater to the needs of the exact future students who need us the most. WUT are involved in this project including Faculty of Sociology and Psychology and the Teacher Training Department.

The University of Lodz (ULO) is one of the largest higher education institutions in Poland. Established in 1945, it has long been one of the biggest and most popular universities in its national context.

The University employs over 2.500 academic teachers. The 12 faculties of the University provide programmes in 60 fields of study, 170 specializations and 90 postgraduate programmes including an MBA programme and host around 40,000 students.

Media literacy, critical thinking in media perception as well as aspects of influencing the recipients of media messages are examples of thematic areas that require interdisciplinary approach, hence teams from several faculties of our University are involved in this project, including Faculty of Management, Faculty of Sociology and Faculty of Educational Sciences.

The University of Palermo, founded in 1806, covers today almost the full spectrum of arts and sciences. The academic structures include: 16 Departments, 2 inter-departmental centres, 1 School of Medicine, 3 decentralised premises (Agrigento, Trapani, Caltanissetta), the Museum System, the Language Centre, the Italian school for foreign students, the Guidance Centre. The Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement (SPPEFF) has an interdisciplinary vocation as it includes among its areas of teaching and research psychology, pedagogy, human movement (motor and sport sciences), and sociology.

There is also a training area, focused on the study and design of professionalization courses for teachers and/or educators involved in formal/non formal education and adult education. In addition to teaching and research activities, the Department SPPEFF aims at promoting activities to exploit the findings of its research activities as well to transfer its knowledge in the reference territory (Public Engagement/Third Mission).

The Cyprus Pedagogical Institute (CPI) is one of the Directorates of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth in Cyprus.

It is the official body responsible for the continuous professional learning of in-service teachers at all levels of education and it also has substantial contribution to planning and implementation of educational policy. The scope of the CPI is to improve the quality of the educational system, taking into consideration the literature and research and the priorities set by the Ministry. Moreover, the mission of the CPI is the design and implementation of continuous professional learning of teachers at all levels, the setting of framework for the teacher competences and the promotion of horizontal issues of educational priority, improving the content and effectiveness of the education provided in accordance with the wider international, european and local context.

CPI offers in-service training to teachers of all levels through several compulsory programmes and optional seminars, including school-based programmes for teachers’ in-site professional learning and development, it plans and conducts education research and evaluation studies, it follows and adapts current trends in pedagogy, it promotes the use of new technologies in education, it undertakes the writing and publication of teaching books, the designing of the curriculum and the production of teaching materials.

The Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) is an executive, scientific and research body that supports the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports as well as the supervised bodies in matters related to primary and secondary education, teacher training, the transition from secondary to Higher Education, post-secondary education, the confrontation of educational inequalities, student dropout and early school leaving aiming at the assurance of every child’s right to education. It issues opinion or proposes upon related query on the part of the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports or ex officio according to the law in force 3966/2011 (art. 2, par. 3, line a).

The purpose of IEP is to carry out scientific research and study of the issues referred to in paragraph 1, as well as to provide ongoing scientific and technical support for the planning and implementation of education policy on these issues.

The Ministry of Education, a central public administration body in Romania, is tasked with overseeing and managing the country’s education and vocational training system.

This central institution is responsible for formulating and executing national education policies, ensuring that the education system maintains high-quality standards. It also monitors and evaluates the performance of schools and promotes the professional growth of educators. Additionally, it handles the financial and human resources aspects of the education sector.
Recognizing the significant role of digitization in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the education system, the Ministry has given this matter considerable attention. This is evident in the inclusion of a distinct section in Law 198/2023 concerning pre-university education. The Ministry is committed to making substantial improvements to the Romanian education system to prepare for a digital and interoperable future.

This digital strategy is not merely a minor adjustment but a comprehensive plan aimed at optimizing the allocation of resources.

The Athens Lifelong Learning Institute is a research and education institute, based in Athens, Greece. It has the mission to foster and enhance innovation processes mainly in the areas of education and lifelong learning, human capital development, knowledge society and social inclusion.

The Institute exhibits an active interest in a number of social issues such as social exclusion, discrimination and suppression of human rights and has attempted through the implementation of innovative learning methodologies to moderate their impact.

The Athens Lifelong Learning Institute contributes to the education ecosystem through R&D activities, creating open education programmes, collaborating and promoting collaboration with advanced scientific organisations and organising educational events. It has a long experience in the development of educational curricula and programmes that keep abreast to the new developments, social demands and European priorities and endorses a firm belief that real-world problem-based learning and innovative teaching methods inspire curiosity and improve learning ability, especially for disengaged and disconnected learners.

The Athens Lifelong Learning Institute aims to facilitate the enabling role that the use of ICTs has in our societies cooperating with a wide range of highly acclaimed national and European organizations in the field of media literacy.

Mediawise Society is a Romanian non-governmental organisation whose mission is to develop media literacy among children, youth and adults in an increasingly mediated society.

They aim at building a national and regional community of practice in the field of media literacy education and research. Peer learning and knowledge exchange is at the base of their community construction. It organizes media literacy creative workshops for children and parents, as well as courses for librarians, teachers and pedagogy students. Mediawise Society advocates for media literacy in schools and develops educational resources for parents, teachers and trainers.

Moreover, Mediawise has actively engaged in raising awareness on the need for media education in Romanian society through its be-monthly podcast Amprenta Digitală. Civic participation, respect for diversity and human rights and critical learning are at the base of their actions.

The Voivodship Vocational Education Centre was established in 1996 and since 1998 it has functioned under the name of the Voivodship Centre of Teacher Training and Vocational Education, and in 2001 it changed its name to Lodz Centre Of Teacher Training And Vocational Education.

From the very beginning, the activity of the Centre has been focused on the systematic modernization and improvement of the education system and life-long learning of adults.

Our centre is organized in such a way as to improve professional skills and enrich skill set of teaching staff in all types of schools and educational institutions for the needs of the reformed school, as well as conduct adult education and practical training of pupils both as part
of year-round didactic activities and extracurricular work with the use of modern, specialized techno-didactic equipment.

Our mission is to prepare the teaching staff to fulfil the school’s tasks and to constantly improve the quality of work and learning outcomes. The aim of our institution is to improve teaching and professional skills of teachers as well as to educate adults. We strive
to fulfil the tasks of our clients, ensuring them full satisfaction from participation in organized forms of improvement and consulting and we enable obtaining certificates confirming the acquired skills.
There are two main divisions / pillars within the structures of the Lodz Centre Of Teacher Training And Vocational Education:

• Teacher Training Centre – organizing and conducting methodological guidance and professional development for teachers, as well as supporting teaching staff in introducing changes and innovations into school educational systems.
• Vocational Education Centre – oriented towards the organization of practical education of students and adults in various professional areas. These are, among others, mechatronics, robotics, electronics, power electronics, automotive electronics, computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, health and safety and ergonomics, programming of numerically controlled machine tools.

Teacher Training Centre includes the following departments:

• School Education System Improvement Department
• Management in Education Department
• Modern Information Technology Department
• European and Regional Education Department
• Vocational Consultancy Department

In the School Education System Improvement Department there are laboratories providing guidance and training in the following areas: pre-school education, early school education, human science / humanities education, science education, upbringing and prevention.

Management in Education Department is involved in building school quality systems, pro-quality education of students, improving the internal quality system, improving educational skills of teachers and managing a school or any educational institution.
Modern Information Technology Department conducts activities in the field of media education, computer-aided design, distance education and practical applications of computer science in education.

European and Regional Education Department organizes improvement in new education models, European education programmes and regional and civic education.
Vocational Consultancy Department deals with professional orientation and counselling, testing professional predispositions, as well as economic, legal and entrepreneurship education.

Vocational Education Centre includes Vocational Education Department with the following laboratories:

• Practical training laboratory
• Safety, occupational health and ergonomics laboratory
• Regional Centre of Mechatronic Education

Vocational Education Department provides vocational education for students of vocational schools, adolescent employees and adults. It enhances the skills both of theoretical vocational subjects teachers and instructors of practical vocational training. It organizes lifelong learning tailored to the needs of the labour market. It organizes examinations confirming the development of selected skills for participants of extracurricular forms of education and external exams confirming professional qualifications in cooperation with the District Examination Board.

Regional Centre Of Mechatronic Education, using its unique nationwide technical and teaching equipment, it conducts general vocational and specialist training for people who want to gain new qualifications in the field of mechatronics (pupils, teachers of
vocational schools, company employees, job seekers).
In addition, as part of the Lodz Centre of Teacher Training And Vocational Education, there are three interdisciplinary teams:

• Educational Labour Market Observatory
• European Projects Team
• Publishing Team

Educational Labour Market Observatory conducts activities aimed at analysing the relations between education and the labour market and concerning the area of education for the needs of the regional labour market.
European Projects Team deals with obtaining funds from external sources for the implementation of project activities.
Publishing Team carries out publishing works and disseminates supporting materials for participants of all our activities and cooperating entities.

Each year, the Centre carries out an average of over 5,000 services attended by approximately 50,000 people.

Research Innovation and Development Lab – ReadLab is a Greece-based research institution that aims to generate positive social and sustainable impact through innovation
Since 2017, ReadLab delivers high-quality research, training, educational, consulting and ICT services to local, national, European and international levels, adopting a human-centered approach and aiming at the promotion of sustainable development and growth.

ReadLab brings together a multidisciplinary team of highly specialized researchers from the fields of engineering, communication technologies, education and social and political sciences with a long experience in project management and implementation of national, EU-funded and international projects. They have cooperated with a wide range of private, public and non-profit organizations in Europe, Middle East and Latin America and the Western Balkans, transferring technical knowledge and designing novel products.

Drawing on the diverse experience and expertise of its staff, the organization provides, among other, research studies, reports and analyses, technology-enhanced learning solutions (e-learning platforms, Moodle, Virtual Learning Environment development, education apps etc.), quality management in education, target group needs-tailored lifelong and adult learning programmes, design and development of training material in a range of fields and sectors, as well as mentoring and support services.