[BIP] EMPOWERING FUTURE EDUCATORS THROUGH STEM: THE 2025 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Project Title: EMPOWERING FUTURE EDUCATORS THROUGH STEM: THE 2025 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Type of the project: KA+131-HED, Blended Intensive Programme

Coordinator:

• Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Romania, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences
  PhD. Assoc. Professor Gianina-Ana Massari (gianina.massari@uaic.ro)

Partners:

• University of Patras, Greece, Department of Educational Sciences
• Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Turkey, Faculty of Education , Departments of Early Childhood, Music Education, and Psychological Guidance and Counseling

Where: “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania

When:

• Physical component 21-25 July 2025.
• Virtual component 28 July – 04 August 2025

Who should attend?

This Blended Intensive Programme is addressed to students (Bachelor, Master, or PhD) in Education Sciences, Pedagogy, Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and related fields, as well as academic staff interested in innovative teaching methodologies, STEM education, and teacher training. Participants should be motivated to explore how STEM can be meaningfully integrated into early years and primary education, and how this can shape professional identity and instructional design.

Benefits:

• 3 ECTS Credits

Main Goal:

The general theoretical framework of thisproject is the integration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education into early childhood and primary teacher training, with a strong focus on experiential learning and professional identity formation. The programme explores how future educators understand, construct, and deliver STEM-related content in ways that are age-appropriate, inclusive, and engaging for young learners.

Learning outcomes:

• A deepened theoretical and practical understanding of STEM education within the context of early childhood and primary teacher training.
• Familiarity with tools and frameworks for inquiry-based learning, assessment, and digital pedagogy in the early years.
• The ability to design and adapt STEM activities to different learning stages and educational systems.
• Improved collaborative and intercultural competences through teamwork and peer learning.

Course structure. Main topics

The physical component of the event will take place over 5 days, between 21 and 25 July 2025, and will include interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, roundtables, and site visits to innovative educational settings (e.g., STEM learning centres, kindergartens, and science museums).

The main topics will include:

• Foundations and goals of STEM education in early and primary learning contexts
• Experiential and play-based approaches to early STEM learning
• Low-cost and sustainable materials for hands-on STEM activities
• Gender equity and inclusion in STEM from early education
• Integrating technology and digital tools into the classroom
• Assessment methods tailored to early inquiry and discovery learning
• International case studies and cross-cultural approaches to STEM educational approach
• Participants will also engage in transnational teamwork sessions to foster intercultural dialogue and the co-creation of teaching resources.

The virtual component will consist of a team-based task to be completed over the 10 days following the in-person event, as well as online summarising presentation related to the event’s theme. The task will involve designing a short STEM learning module for early or primary education, integrating inquiry-based methodology and inclusive practices. Final outputs will be submitted online and evaluated by a team of educators and researchers.

Activities

The event will consist of interactive lectures, practical workshops, transnational teamwork, and field visits to educational institutions to encourage the exchange of good practices across European contexts and promote the co-creation of teaching materials and micro-research projects among participants.