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.

  • UNITY: UΝited in Inclusion for employabiliΤΥ

    • Start: 01/2022
    • End: 12/2024

    Participants
    Kyriakos Demetriou

    Coordinator
    Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia

    Ref.
    ERASMUS +, Cooperation partnerships in adult education

    Budget
    37420 EUR

    Agreement No.
    2021-1-MK01-KA220-ADU-000035192

    UNITY project is intended for adults with disabilities and their support for transition into the labour market from education and training and making employment accessible by providing essential information and guidelines for employers, improving competences of educators and for the persons with disabilities as well. It also aims to help people with disabilities by creating innovative supporting employment methods and establishing them in the labour market. Additional priorities interconnected with the goal of the project are referring to extending and developing the competences of educators and other personnel working with adults with disabilities as well as enhancing access to training and qualifications for all.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • VRnSight: “Boosting Virtual Reality Learning within Higher Business Management Education”

    • Start: 01/2018
    • End: 12/2020

    Participants
    Efi Nisiforou

    Coordinator
    Fachhochschule des Mittelstands FHM

    Ref.
    Erasmus+, KA3 Strategic Partnerships for higher education

    Budget
    292025 EUR

    Website
    https://www.vrinsight.org

    The project VRinSight aims to roll-out Virtual Reality learning in Higher Education and in the teaching of business management across Europe through a partnership between education and industry. The project runs over a 2 year period co-funded by the EU Erasmus+ program. An EU Survey of SMEs & Higher Education Institutes was conducted in an effort to understand the challenges involved in introducing VR learning techniques in business management education. The project will offer a complete VR integration guide to educators through a unique VR Training Program and accompanying VR Training Curriculum. Additionally, the project offers a comprehensive Green Paper on Virtual Reality Teaching & Learning giving educators, business and policy makers across Europe an insight on how VR technology can be embraced.