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.

  • GEM: Empower Girls to Embrace their Digital and Entrepreneurial Potential

    • Start: 01/2020
    • End: 12/2022

    Local Principal Investigator
    Maria Evagorou

    Participants

    Coordinator
    University of Education Freiburg

    Ref.
    Pilot Project Horizon 2030/ EU funded

    Budget
    300000 EUR

    Agreement No.
    LC-01380173

    Website
    https://www.girls4stemcyprus.com

    The purpose of this project was to engage girls in STEM activities and enable them to appreciate aspects of STEM and entrepreneurship in which girls usually do not participate in.

  • InterED

    • Start:
    • End:

    Local Principal Investigator
    Maria Vrikki

    Participants
    Evi Konstantinidou

    Coordinator

    Ref.
    KA2, Erasmus+

    Budget
    EUR

    Agreement No.

    Website

    InterEd is an Erasmus+ KA2 project which aims to integrate a pedagogical methodology for secondary education, utilizing interdisciplinarity and PhenoBL, in order to help students develop transversal skills. In parallel, it aims to develop ready-to-use resources of interdisciplinary teaching for teachers of History, STEAM, Culture & Economics classes. Both aims will be achieved via a number of activities, such as a Virtual Learning Lab, Interdisciplinary Pedagogical Micro-Unit Lesson Plans, roundtables, video podcasts and webinars. Relevant target groups will be engaged in the process of material development.

  • STEMkey: Teaching standard STEM topics with a key competence approach

    • Start: 09/2020
    • End: 08/2023

    Local Principal Investigator
    Maria Evagorou

    Participants
    Efi Nisiforou

    Coordinator
    University of Education in Freiburg, Germany

    Ref.
    Erasmus+, KA2

    Budget
    450000 EUR

    Agreement No.
    2O2O-I-DEO1.KA2O3.OO5671

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

    The main purpose of the project is to prepare pre-service teachers to teach STEM related topics with an emphasis on key competences (critical thinking, argumentation, digital skills). The research group will prepare specially designed professional development materials that will be tested with pre-service teachers in partner countries.

  • Up-STEAM:Upskilling Prospect Teachers in STEAM for elevating out of school learning for all

    • Start: 11/2023
    • End: 10/2025

    Local Principal Investigator
    Maria Evagorou

    Participants
    Agni Stylianou Georgiou

    Coordinator

    Ref.
    KA2, Erasmus+

    Budget
    400000 EUR

    Agreement No.

    Website

    The Up-sTEAm project aims to provide university students studying to become teachers and/or science communicators with the skills and knowledge necessary to design effective and meaningful STEAM activities for non-formal learning contexts that are appropriate and adapted to school pupils’ needs and particularities. The goal is to increase access to non-formal STEAM education for these students.