Author: Nikolina Frangoullidou

CARDET Participates in the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2024

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 17/09/2024. Posted in Blog.

CARDET, represented by Dr. Marinos Papaioakeim, had the honour of participating in the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2024, held in Lyon between the 10th and 12th of September. The event brought together Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) from across Europe and beyond, focusing on key challenges such as the green economy, AI integration and fostering inclusive societal transitions through improved Vocational Education and Training (VET).

The forum provided a valuable platform for VET professionals to exchange ideas, collaborate across sectors, and explore innovative strategies for advancing vocational education excellence. CARDET shared its expertise in the field, delving into its work and experience in the field, contributing with insights on the conceptual framework of Entrepreneurial CoVEs and putting forward actionable recommendations to enhance VET programs for a broader impact.

The forum coincided with the 47th WorldSkills Final Competition, offering participants a unique opportunity to engage with WorldSkills experts and competitors, further enriching the event’s collaborative and educational spirit.

XR Women Project Launches Innovative E-Learning Course to Empower Refugee Women

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 12/09/2024. Posted in Project News. 23 Comments on XR Women Project Launches Innovative E-Learning Course to Empower Refugee Women

XR Women Project is excited to announce the launch of its groundbreaking e-learning course,aimed at empowering refugee women and women with fewer opportunities through the integration of Extended Reality (XR) tools into language education. This innovative project features four comprehensive learning modules, designed to make language learning more interactive and effective.

Module 1: Introduction to XR in Language Education
Module 2: XR Teaching Methodologies and Strategies
Module 3: Practical Application of XR Tools
Module 4: Evaluation and Best Practices

In alignment with our commitment to promoting social inclusion, this course focuses on using education and training to empower women. Language learning is a vital tool for social inclusion, allowing individuals to actively participate in society. Understanding the emotional impact of language learning is especially important for marginalized communities.

The XR Women project leverages cutting-edge technologies, such as Oculus, to simulate real-world communication scenarios and help learners navigate emotions through language. By providing immersive experiences in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), these tools enable users to practice communication, correct mistakes, and learn in dynamic, interactive environments.

For the e-learning platform, click here

Empowering Educators with a Two-Day Training Seminars Focused on Innovation and Resilience

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 09/09/2024. Posted in Project News.

CARDET had the pleasure of contributing, for yet another year, to the Pedagogical Institute’s annual Teacher Training Seminar taking place at the start of the school year. Over the course of the two days of the seminar, the Centre’s project managers and trainers organized and delivered a wide array of workshops walking educators through the innovative and immensely useful resources of their projects.

Drawing on the work and experience of the work of its projects, CARDET Team offered a comprehensive set of training offerings, delving on key facets and themes essential to the professional development of educators. More than 200 educators from across Cyprus, working in early childhood, primary and special education benefited from practical training and the presentation of good practices and tools.

Namely, CARDET offered training covering the following themes:

Mental Resilience and inclusion practices in support of both students and teachers based on the Inclusive Hubs project.
Developing students’ emotional skills, promoting self-confidence and positive emotional management based on the SMILE project.
STEAM skills and the promotion of astronomy to students by using the interactive resources and learning material of the Aristarchus project
The promotion of digital education approaches and skills through the BENEFIT project

Participants engaged in interactive activities, discussions, and group work, utilizing educational materials that enriched both teaching and learning. CARDET continues its efforts to create a high-quality and inclusive educational experience for all.

ICC – Enhancing structures and policies for intercultural integration in Cyprus Famagusta district

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 04/09/2024. Posted in Projects & Initiatives.

In a bit to support local authorities to design and implement inclusive integration policies Intercultural Cities (ICC) is a Council of Europe programme, aims at improving the outreach to people (children and their families) with fewer opportunities, especially with migrant background, that frequently can be facing socio-economic difficulties or any other potential source of discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief. ICC implementing a 2-year project, called “Enhancing structures and policies for intercultural integration in Cyprus” in partnership with the Civil Registry and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior of Cyprus (CRMD), and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Structural Reform Support (DG Reform).

The project’s specific objectives are:
1. Support, empower and guide migrants to effectively navigate through important aspects of their everyday lives and connect with the local community, through language courses, and their active participation in workshops, events and local festivals.
2. Promote intercultural exchanges and interactions in the region and counter diversity-related prejudices, with the support of civil society organisations, local authorities/stakeholders, NGOs and other local entities.
3. Expand the Regional Network, engage and reaffirm the commitment of all the members to support and promote intercultural integration.
4. Facilitate the implementation of the recommendations set by the Famagusta District Intercultural Network’s Action Plan towards the overall objective.
5. Assess the performance and progress of the region in relation to the intercultural integration model and promote further actions

Green League Project Hosts Eco-Friendly Sports Tournaments to Promote Environmental Awareness

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 30/08/2024. Posted in Project News.

The Green League project, dedicated to strengthening the connection between sports and environmental sustainability, organized a 7-day football tournament and a 3-day relay race using garbage bags in August 2024. These events attracted the participation of approximately 150 amateur athletes and aimed to raise awareness about the impact of sports on the environment.

Participants in the tournaments also engaged in discussions about how sports can influence the environment, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable practices in everyday activities. Similar tournaments were also organized in schools, summer camps, and in collaboration with other organizations.

Green League is an innovative project designed to merge the world of sports with environmental advocacy, using physical activity to inspire urgent action against climate change. By linking sustainability with healthy living, Green League contributes to both a greener planet and improved well-being for communities.

The Green League initiative promotes outdoor physical activity as a powerful tool for generating environmental consciousness and encourages sustainable practices within sports. Through experiential learning, the project addresses the urgent need to combat climate change while promoting healthy lifestyles and well-being for all.
For more information and event materials, visit Green League Results here

Exploring the Universe through the ‘ARISTARCHUS’ Project: A New Approach to Education

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 28/08/2024. Posted in Project News.

The European project ARISTARCHUS continues to innovate in the field of education with the aim of enhancing STEAM skills through interactive and inclusive activities. The program, which is implemented in Cyprus by the CARDET Research Centre, seeks to encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of our solar system, allowing them to discover science in a fun and effective way.

In Cyprus, Aristarchus has already managed to spark the interest of the younger generation in astronomy, providing an especially appealing framework for the development of observation skills and the practice of scientific research methods. Through this framework, students have the opportunity to explore fundamental laws of physics and important mathematical concepts in a way that combines learning with entertainment.

Recently, the project team introduced an educational program that includes six gamified scenarios for teaching astronomy. The scenarios, available in English, Greek, German, and French, are designed for two age groups: three are aimed at primary school students (ages 9-12) and three at secondary school students (ages 12-15).

The online platform and accompanying educational materials for students and educators are available here. More information about the project can be found on the official ARISTARCHUS website.

Migrant Kids At School: Exchange of Good Practices

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 08/08/2024. Posted in Projects & Initiatives.

In a bit to promote inclusivity and equality in schools, the “Migrant Kids at School” project aims to ensure that every child has access to quality education. By sharing experiences and expertise from different countries, the project will present effective strategies for supporting migrant children in their educational process. Through collaboration and cooperation, we can change the lives of these children and contribute to building a more inclusive society.

During the project, organize workshops and training aimed at improving the understanding and implementation of inclusive practices. These events will be intended not only for teachers and school management, but also for other relevant actors, such as social workers or workers with migrants. At the same time, we will create digital tools that will support project management and enable better monitoring and tracking of progress.

INCLUDE-CE virtual LTTA facilitated by CARDET

CARDET has successfully facilitated the Virtual LTTA of the INCLUDE-CE project

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 07/08/2024. Posted in Project News.

In line with our mission to advance the social and labour inclusion of migrants and refugees through digital literacy and skill enhancement, CARDET recently hosted the virtual Learning, Training, and Teaching Activity (LTTA) for the INCLUDE-CE project.

The training brought together project partners, including Solidaridad Sin Fronteras (SSF – Spain), / ARCIRAGAZZI PORTICI “Utopia Attanasio” (APS – Italy), and Mindshift Talent Advisory Ida (MINDSHIFT – Portugal). They focused on key elements of the project, particularly Work Packages 3 and 4 , which are designed to improve digital skills and employment opportunities for migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and ethnic minorities (MRAE).

The INCLUDE-CE partners have developed two courses:

WP3: Digital Literacy

This course aims to provide participants with foundational computer skills while emphasising the role of technology in sustainable practices. It includes modules on the principles of the circular economy, the value of refurbished devices for environmental sustainability, and fundamental skills such as understanding hardware and software components, internet usage, and email management.

WP4: Active Job Search Training

This course focuses on boosting employability and personal branding in job searches by teaching active job search techniques and essential recruitment skills. Key modules include defining professional objectives, crafting compelling CVs and letters, building strong job profiles, and excelling in interviews.

Find out more about the project on its official website

RoboAquaria team leads an e-Learning session in Italy

Leading a Pivotal e-Learning Session in Italy with Robo Aquaria Project

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 06/08/2024. Posted in Project News.

We are thrilled to share another milestone for the RoboAquaria Project, marked by our recent participation in the Learning, Teaching, and Training Activities (LTTA) held in Ancona, Italy. This event provided a valuable opportunity for our team to reconnect with partners and deepen our collaborative efforts.

During the training, CARDET and INNOVADE spearheaded “Session 5: e-Learning Toolkit and Open Educational Resources (OERs).” This critical session showcased the cutting edge tools and resources developed throughout the RoboAquaria Project. Educators and staff from partner organizations were introduced to the RoboAquaria platform and received hands-on training with its features, including the RoboAquaria toolkit, which encompasses the Methodological Framework, RoboAquaria Guidelines, Marine Robotics Curriculum, e-Learning Toolkit components, and Open Educational Resources (OERs).

The meeting also featured a lively exchange of ideas about Educational Robotics in Europe. This interaction offered a valuable platform for sharing insights from different projects and classroom experiences, fostering a collaborative spirit aimed at advancing educational practices.

We look forward to sharing more updates on our initiatives and collaborative efforts. For more information about the project please visit our official website.

VideoTeach Concludes with the Release of its Final Newsletter

Written by Nikolina Frangoullidou on 31/07/2024. Posted in Project News.

After two years of pioneering efforts to enhance digital skills among educators, particularly in rural areas, the VideoTeach project has proudly released its sixth and final newsletter. This milestone not only marks the successful completion of the project’s key objectives but also leaves a lasting legacy in the field of digital education.

Throughout its journey, VideoTeach has empowered educators by promoting video-based learning as a dynamic tool for digital teaching. As the project wraps up, its rich repository of resources remains available, ensuring that educators can continue to innovate and create more interactive, engaging learning environments.

We invite educators and key stakeholders in the educational community to explore these resources, which promise to contribute to the future of digital education across Europe.

Find out more about the project’s results in the newsletter below.