InSSTER

InSSTER, Innovative STS (Science, Society, Technology) Education Research Centre, is a dynamic multidisciplinary research hub that brings together passionate educators and scholars from diverse fields within the field of education. Our collaborative team includes faculty members and researchers from the Department of Education at the University of Nicosia. Together, we explore the intersection of inclusive research education, science, society, and technology, with a strong emphasis on innovative and inclusive practices.

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Vision

InSSTER promotes research in education focusing on innovative and inclusive practices in Science, Society, Technology education. This involves transforming schools to cater to all children, including marginalised groups, aiming to eliminate exclusion. It also emphasises cultivating skills for global problem-solving, ensuring inclusive education, and addressing gender equality in digital skills. InSSTER aligns with the Digital Education Action Plan for comprehensive and high-quality digital instruction and training (European Commission, 2020).

Objectives

  • 1

    Conduct state-of-the-art research under the umbrella of innovative and inclusive education with links to science, society and technology;

  • 2
    Participate in competitive EU calls and receive external funding for projects
  • 3
    Establish a national and international network with relevant, researchers, schools, and policy makers;
  • 4
    Engage with society on issues related to inclusive science and technology education, and
  • 5
    Offer continuous training on skills, methodologies and technologies to its members and beyond.

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Research

The members of InSSTER are involved in funded research under the umbrella of Innovative and Inclusive education with links to science, society and technology.

  • IncluSME: Intercultural learning in STEM (mathematics and science) initial teacher education

    • Start: 01/2016
    • End: 12/2019

    Participants
    Maria Evagorou

    Coordinator
    University of Education in Freiburg, Germany

    Ref.
    ERASMUS +, Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

    Budget
    448195 EUR

    Agreement No.
    2016-DE01-KA201-002910

    Website
    https://icse.eu/international-projects/prior-projects

    IncluSMe (2016-2019) is an Erasmus+ project focussing on intercultural learning in mathematics and science initial teacher education. IncluSMe (Intercultural learning in mathematics and science education) offers a constructive contribution for tackling one of Europe’s greatest challenges: education for an increasing number of refugee and immigrant youth, to integrate them into European educational systems and to provide for stable, socially cohesive societies. The project aims to increase the quality of higher education curricula for prospective maths and science teachers by linking maths and science education with intercultural learning – and thereby strengthening students’ social, civic and intercultural competences. Core to IncluSMe is the design and implementation of open access teaching modules on intercultural learning for prospective maths and science teachers.

  • OnlineHE: A practical toolkit for integrating elearning in Higher Education Curricula

    • Start:
    • End:

    Participants
    Christiana Karousiou

    Coordinator
    University of Pitești, Romania

    Ref.
    ERASMUS + KA2, Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, KA226 - Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness

    Budget
    183680 EUR

    Agreement No.
    2020-1-RO01-KA226-HE-095434

    Website
    https://onlinehe.eu/

    A shift towards distance learning is evident worldwide, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, educational organisations, including Higher Education (HE) institutions, are asked to face the complexities and challenges emerged, such as the lack of digital skills and strategic planning. To address these issues, a consortium of 7 partners from 6 EU countries, including CARDET from Cyprus and Universitatea din Pitesti from Romania, participate in the project OnlineHE, under the ERASMUS+ KA2 programme of the European Commission. The project, aligned with the European Commission’s initiatives, aims at building the capacity of HE faculty, leaders, and learning designers in integrating eLearning in the design and delivery of courses. By producing valuable resources, such as a useful Toolkit, a training course, a MOOC, and policy recommendations, the project is expected to modernise HE curricula and practices across Europe, improving the quality of teaching and learning online.

  • EUVHS

    • Start:
    • End:

    Participants
    Christiana Karousiou

    Coordinator
    Akademie Klausenhof Germany

    Ref.
    ERASMUS + KA2, Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, KA226 - Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness

    Budget
    268565 EUR

    Agreement No.
    2020-1-DF03-KA226-SCH-093410

    Website
    https://euvirtualschools.eu/

    The aim of EUVHS – A framework for the design and implementation of European Virtual ScHoolS project (co-funded by the Programme Erasmus+ Key Action 2: Strategic Partnership for Schools) is to improve the quality and effectiveness of digital education in European secondary schools contributing to reach a standard level of preparedness and quality in virtual learning as set in the Digital Competence Framework for Educators and to contribute to the European Education Area. EUVHS develops innovative practice and methods for digital education and aims at creating a training course for school leaders, teachers, and students that will equip them with the knowledge and tools to effectively teach and learn through digital education.

  • INCLUSIVE HE: Designing and supporting inclusive practices in Higher Education

    • Start:
    • End:

    Participants
    Christiana Karousiou

    Coordinator
    Åbo Akademi University, Finland

    Ref.
    ERASMUS +1 KA2 - Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices KA203 - Strategic Partnerships for higher education

    Budget
    252660 EUR

    Agreement No.
    2020-1-FI01-KA203-066572

    Website
    https://inclusivehe.eu

    The InclusiveHE project focuses on developing practices that support the inclusion of people with different abilities, diverse ethnic, cultural and migration background in higher education institutions. OBJECTIVES
    • Support higher education providers to design, implement, and monitor effective inclusive policies and practices.
    • Improve the supply of high quality inclusive higher education opportunities for all.
    • Develop and offer a systems approach toolkit for administrators and policymakers.
    • Develop and offer a training course for HEI staff.
    • Offer an online platform and MOOC with gamification characteristics.
    • Raise general awareness concerning inclusive practices that foster inclusion.