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.

  • DIALLS: DIalogue and Argumentation for cultural Literacy Learning in Schools

    • Start: 01/2018
    • End: 01/2021

    Local Principal Investigator
    Maria Vrikki

    Participants
    Maria Evagorou

    Coordinator
    Cambridge University, UK

    Ref.
    Horizon 2020/ EU funded

    Budget
    4400000 EUR

    Agreement No.
    770045

    Website

    DIALLS was a three-year project working with schools to understand and develop how children and young people make sense of Europe and its differing cultures. Schools in seven countries worked with researchers and teacher educators to develop a Cultural Literacy Learning Programme (CLLP), where young people of all ages learn the skills of ‘dialogue and argumentation‘ to be better able to communicate with each other, understanding each other’s perspectives and exploring the different cultural heritages and values of people who live in Europe.

  • 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.  

  • INFINITE “artIficial iNtelligence For professIonal aNd pedagogIcal pracTices in Higher Education”

    • Start: 01/2023
    • End: 12/2026

    Local Principal Investigator
    Efi Nisiforou

    Participants

    Coordinator
    University of Groningen, Netherlands

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

    Budget
    400000 EUR

    Agreement No.
    2023-1-NL01-KA220-HED-000155675

    Website
    https://infinite-erasmus.eu/

    INFINITE project aims to optimize the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education (HE), focusing on teaching, learning, and assessment. It seeks to prepare academics to employ AI for innovative teaching and assessment methods while helping students understand its interdisciplinary implications. Additionally, the project aims to equip students with the skills to utilize AI for learning through a tailored blended course. Ultimately, INFINITE aims to address skills mismatches and enhance learners' forward-thinking abilities for the future workforce and society. Its objectives include raising awareness about AI's potential and challenges, providing practical resources for HE academics, enhancing digital competences, and promoting the digital transformation of higher education institutions.

  • ICSE Science Factory: Combat a shortfall of scientists and citizens versed in science

    • Start: 01/2023
    • End: 12/2025

    Local Principal Investigator
    Maria Evagorou

    Participants
    Efi Nisiforou, Maria Nicolaou, Evi Kostantiniou, Maria Vrikki, Elena Papanastasiou, Myrtani Pieri, Iris Charalambidou

    Coordinator
    University of Education in Freiburg, Germany

    Ref.
    HORIZON/WIDERA/2022ERA01

    Budget
    1980000000 EUR

    Agreement No.
    101093387

    Website
    https://icse.eu/reported/icse-science-factory/

    The ICSE Science Factory supports the EU’s endeavor to combat a shortfall of scientists and citizens versed in science. It does so by offering a unique combination of different measures, each of them tackling the issue from a different starting point, thereby leveraging impact. The unique features of the ICSE Science Factory are, in a nutshell:
    • New high-capacity cross-sectoral partnerships in five partner countries consisting of science researchers, science education researchers and non-formal education providers, supported by attached schools, enterprises and community institutions.
    • Innovative concept to enlarge the number of scientists and scientific knowledge in the communities:
      1. To strengthen the partnerships, we organise local partnership conventions, where we share and apply research findings, and local public fairs to integrate communities in the scientific learning process.
      2. With the expertise of the local cross-sectoral partnership, in each country we offer collaborative and interdisciplinary lighthouse activities and open schooling activities for community members (on health, digitalisation, Green Deal), supported by mentoring.
      3. All activities are complemented by a series of interactive career talks, focussing especially but not only on female role models in science and on overcoming stereotypes.
    • An educational, research-backed concept for our lighthouse and open schooling activities which deliberately includes real-life problem-solving on issues relevant to society (including decision-making), and the concept of challenge-driven innovation, which integrates communities in overcoming challenges.
    The activities are supplemented by special features: The setting up of stimulating science labs in each country, a threefold system for encouraging mentoring across the partnership and a systematic approach to quality assurance by using design research, which strives for solutions tailored to local communities based on a joint European concept.