 ACADIMIA project partners with Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs & Vyte Ezerskiene, Project Officer from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, at University of Iceland, 5 November 2025 The 5th meeting and teacher training event of the European project ACADIMIA took place in Iceland 4 - 6 November 2025, jointly hosted by GeoCamp Iceland and the University of Iceland – School of Education. The event brought together educators, researchers and project partners from across Europe to advance one of Erasmus+’s most ambitious initiatives in teacher education, creating a European Teacher Academy for Creative and Inclusive Learning. A European Collaboration for Innovation in Education ACADIMIA unites universities, training centres and schools from eight European countries. Its goal is to integrate creative and inclusive pedagogies into mainstream teacher education and professional development. The project builds on ten successful EU-funded initiatives and connects them through a shared curriculum and a networked Community of Practice for teachers. At its core, ACADIMIA promotes ten creative teaching approaches — from digital storytelling, drama in education and gamification, to STEAM-based learning and strength-based inclusion — all designed to make learning more engaging, equitable and sustainable. Iceland’s Role and Local Impact For Iceland, hosting this fifth meeting is both a milestone and a reflection of growing momentum. Over fifity local teachers from the Reykjanes region have already taken part in ACADIMIA’s international training activities, applying new creative learning methods in their classrooms. According to Sigrun Svafa Olafsdottir, Project Manager of Education at GeoCamp Iceland and Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, the project is gaining a real momentum in Reykjanes “Teachers are interested in using more inclusive, hands-on and creative approaches — whether through digital storytelling, creative STEAM projects or collaborative drama activities. It’s exciting to see how these European ideas take root locally.” The collaboration between GeoCamp Iceland and the University of Iceland strengthens the country’s capacity for field-based, sustainability-focused teacher education — a natural fit for Iceland’s landscape and GeoCamp’s expertise in outdoor learning. A Three-Day Programme of Ideas and Practice The meeting opened on November 4th at the University of Iceland – School of Education. Partner sessions will focus on progress in teacher training, professional communities, evaluation and long-term sustainability. In the afternoons, Icelandic and international teachers participating in parallel training workshops on creative methodologies such as MONTECH, EAR, SEDIN, and Talentmaker. On the final day, participants step outside the classroom for a field-based learning experience led by GeoCamp Iceland, exploring the Reykjanes Peninsula, visiting sites like the Bridge Between Continents, Gunnuhver hot springs and the new lava fields near Grindavík — powerful examples of how Iceland’s dynamic landscape can serve as a living classroom. The training event concludes with sessions on Digital Storytelling and Drama in Education, linking creative expression with environmental and place-based education. Building a Lasting Legacy The Iceland meeting marks an important step toward ACADIMIA’s long-term vision, a self-sustaining European network of teacher training providers who champion inclusive, creative and cross-disciplinary education. For GeoCamp Iceland and its regional partners, we look towards a lasting impact with better-trained teachers, stronger ties between schools and universities, and a richer integration of creative and inclusive learning, as well as outdoor andfield-based learning into mainstream education. As Europe and the world face rapid social and environmental change, projects like ACADIMIA remind us that education can be both creative and grounded in reality — rooted in place, collaboration and shared learning.  The Green STEAM – Environmental Literacy and Climate Change in Vulnerable Areas project officially began in autumn 2025 with its kick-off meeting in Iceland, bringing together partners from seven European countries. Coordinated by GeoCamp Iceland, the project aims to strengthen environmental and scientific literacy through outdoor, hands-on learning and innovative STEAM education. Although the opening meeting was adapted to Icelandic weather conditions, partners were able to connect both online and in person for discussions, planning sessions, and field visits across the Reykjanes Peninsula and South Iceland. The meeting established the foundations for a two-year collaboration focusing on education, sustainability, and climate awareness through practical, field-based learning. A European Partnership for Green Education Green STEAM brings together schools, universities, and educational organisations from Iceland, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Italy, and Poland. The project is funded through the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships in School Education programme and runs from September 2025 to February 2028, with a total budget of €250,000. As project coordinator, GeoCamp Iceland leads the partnership and oversees the development of teaching materials, training activities, and digital tools that will help educators across Europe bring learning outdoors. Partners will work together to create field guides, lesson plans, and data-driven learning activities that use environmental sensors and local case studies to monitor and understand change in natural and human environments. At the heart of the project is a simple idea: to help students and teachers learn directly from the environment around them – by observing, measuring, and analysing real-world phenomena through science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Why Green STEAM Matters Across Europe, schools are increasingly seeking practical ways to address climate change education and sustainability within their curricula. Green STEAM responds to this need by linking outdoor learning with data literacy and environmental responsibility, helping students not only to understand the science of climate change but also to develop the skills to respond to it. By combining classroom learning with field experiences, the project enables young people to connect theory with observation and to see their local surroundings as part of a larger European and global system. The approach supports the European Green Deal and EU goals for climate-neutral and resilient education systems. Reykjanes as a Living Classroom For GeoCamp Iceland and the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, Green STEAM represents an important opportunity to expand educational collaboration and research in a region shaped by dynamic geological and environmental processes. The Reykjanes Peninsula, where volcanic and geothermal forces meet the Atlantic Ocean, offers a unique setting for studying earth systems, sustainability, and energy transition. Through Green STEAM, Reykjanes becomes not only a natural laboratory for Icelandic students but also a European classroom for teachers and learners from across the continent. The project will develop new educational materials, workshops, and digital resources that connect local knowledge with global scientific understanding, supporting the area’s ongoing efforts to link education, tourism, and community engagement. Looking Ahead In the coming months, the consortium will complete the project’s setup and communication framework, develop the first draft of educational field guides, and launch its website (www.projectgreensteam.eu). The first international training activity (LTTA) will take place in Sitia, Crete in spring 2026, followed by a second in Liberec, Czechia later that year. The partnership’s work will continue to promote practical environmental education through collaboration, creativity, and shared learning—ensuring that the next generation of students is equipped to understand and care for the changing world around them.
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GeoCamp Iceland is an educational project and travel agency dedicated to increasing knowledge and understanding in natural sciences with practical and active learning. We develop educational content, student and teacher guides and curricula, organize and receive international study groups focusing primarily on natural sciences, environmental challenges, climate change and STEM education.
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