 With two workshops completed this autumn and more in preparation, the ACAδIMIA project is beginning to transform the professional landscape for teachers across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Creative, inclusive pedagogy is no longer an abstract idea, it is becoming part of continous teacher training activities of teacher in the ten primary schools in the area..
A European Vision Anchored in Local Practice ACAδIMIA brings together partners from eight European countries and collects 11 creative teaching methods—ranging from drama and dialogue to Creative STEAM, digital storytelling, gamification and Montessori-inspired practices—into one shared curriculum. The aim is straightforward: to strengthen teachers’ confidence and expand their pedagogical toolbox through hands-on, collaborative learning. A Regional Effort with Wide Participation The impact in Reykjanes is already significant. Close to 60 teachers from all primary schools within Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark have already taken part in Acadimia seminars, both in Iceland and during Erasmus+ training abroad, with more to join over the next few months. This level of engagement has created a regional professional learning community unlike anything seen here before. Workshops hosted in Ásbrú and Njarðvík this autumn introduced teachers to Creative STEAM, Digital Storytelling, EAR (Dialogue and Drama) and Gamified Learning. Each session has sparked new ideas, encouraged experimentation and strengthened ties between schools. Strengthening Collaboration, Creativity and Confidence Teachers report that these methods bring immediate value:
The involvement of the University of Iceland School of Education adds academic depth, ensuring the project is grounded in both research and practice. A Long-Term Investment in Education Over the coming months, all 11 ACAδIMIA methods will be introduced through regular workshops across Reykjanes. The long-term goal is clear: to build a sustainable professional platform where teachers can continue learning, sharing and innovating long after the project ends. Reykjanes is becoming a vibrant hub for creative pedagogy in Iceland, supported by active municipalities, committed schools, and GeoCamp Iceland’s expertise in outdoor learning and STEAM education. For students in the region, the ripple effects will be felt in richer, more engaging classrooms. For teachers, this is the start of a new chapter of collaboration, creativity and confidence.  The partners of On the Move gathered in Bergamo, Italy on 26 – 27 November for the project’s second transnational meeting, hosted by AFP Patronato San Vincenzo. The meeting marked a significant step forward in shaping the four frameworks that will guide how blended apprenticeship mobility is designed, delivered, and supported across Europe. During the meeting, the project consortium - consisting of Action Synergy (Greece), Cámara de Comercio de Sevilla (Spain), AFP Patronato San Vincenzo (Italy), Consufé (Denmark) OTI Group (Cyprus) and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as GeoCamp Iceland - focused mainly on refining the substance of the frameworks and ensuring they respond directly to the needs highlighted in the project application and in CEDEFOP’s analysis of emerging challenges in VET mobility. At the centre of the discussions were the four interconnected frameworks:
Across all four frameworks, partners focused on alignment, ensuring that each framework complements the others and collectively provides a complete, future-oriented model for blended apprenticeship mobility. The meeting also clarified what elements will be tested in the upcoming national Validation Focus Groups - taking place in January 2026 - which will assess whether the frameworks hold up across different VET ecosystems. The work in Bergamo has moved the project into a more mature phase. The frameworks are now more coherent, more actionable, and better grounded in the real needs of VET providers, companies, apprentices, and intermediary organisations. These developments will shape the training activities, mobility pilots, and policy insights that follow. We look forward to sharing our insights early next year. Building the Future of Blended Apprenticeship Mobility On the Move is an Erasmus+ project dedicated to improving the quality, transparency, and accessibility of blended apprenticeship mobility across Europe. Responding to the challenges identified by CEDEFOP, the project supports VET providers, companies, intermediary organisations, apprentices, and policymakers in navigating the shift toward combined online and in-person training. Through the development of practical frameworks, targeted training, and new Mobility Coordination Offices, On the Move aims to strengthen digital readiness, ensure consistent learning outcomes, and create smoother, better-supported mobility experiences. The project ultimately seeks to make blended mobility a sustainable and scalable part of VET systems by equipping more than 400 stakeholders, piloting blended apprenticeships, and contributing to policy development at local, national, and European levels. For additional information please visit the On the Move website. The "On the Move" project is co-funded by the European Union. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA.  From 17–19 November 2025, partners from six countries gathered in Sur du Norte, France, for the first Transnational Project Meeting of RESPONSIBLE, an Erasmus+ KA220 initiative dedicated to building a more sustainable and climate-aware future through education, creativity, and cross-border collaboration. The meeting marked the official launch of the project titled “Create a Sustainable World by the Motto of Zero Waste and Educate the Future Citizens of Europe to Be Responsible”. The project is coordinated by Lycée général et technologique Saint Martin in Nort-sur-Erdre (France) and includes partners Tulpar Eğitim Gençlik Sanat Derneği (Türkiye), Scoala Gimnaziala Ion Rosca (Romania), Rakkestad ungdomsskole (Norway), Osnovna skola Braca Radic (Croatia), and GeoCamp Iceland. The first meeting focused on establishing a shared vision for the project’s core objectives: strengthening zero-waste education in schools, reducing environmental pollution through creative reuse of materials, and developing a sustainability-focused curriculum for young learners. Partners also confirmed task-sharing, the work plan for all five work packages, and the timeline for upcoming activities, including curriculum development, waste-to-art workshops, the production of organic root dyes from bio-waste, and a final international conference. What is the impact for Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark? For GeoCamp Iceland, this project speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities in Reykjanes. The region is balancing rapid environmental change with a growing need for responsible, STEAM-driven education that prepares young people for a sustainable future. Through RESPONSIBLE, GeoCamp Iceland contributes with our experience in environmental education, teacher training, and community-level communication. Our role includes preparing academic input on sustainability in education, contributing to research and evaluation, and leading communication with local communities, schools, and media, ensuring the project’s results reach wide audiences. The potential impact in Reykjanes is considerable. The project brings new tools for schools to integrate sustainability into everyday learning, encourages creativity through the transformation of waste into useful and artistic products, and strengthens awareness of zero-waste principles among upper-level primary school students It also supports broader regional objectives by promoting responsible resource use, creative problem-solving, and climate awareness, all values that align strongly with ongoing initiatives in Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark. By the end of the meeting in France, partners had established a strong collaborative foundation and a clear roadmap. The RESPONSIBLE project now moves forward with momentum, aiming to inspire practical, creative, and long-lasting change across schools in Europe, and to bring those benefits home to the communities of Reykjanes.  Gunnhildur (second from left) took part in the ACADMIA teacher training seminar in Girona 2026 Taking part in European projects is more than just attending a course. To me, it’s an investment in the future of education. Projects like ACADIMIA – the European Teachers’ Academy for Creative and Inclusive Teaching Methods – open doors to new ideas, new connections, and new ways to meet the diverse needs of students.
In collaboration with teachers from eight European countries, we gain opportunities to learn from one another’s experience, to test methods that work in different cultural settings, and to adapt them to our own classrooms. It’s not just theoretical – it’s practical, realistic, and based on approaches that can be gradually introduced into everyday teaching. Why does this matter? Because education is becoming increasingly complex. Student groups are more diverse, expectations are higher, and we as educators need to keep evolving. By broadening our horizons, engaging in international cooperation, and giving ourselves the chance to grow, we strengthen not only our teaching but also our professional confidence and creativity. I’ve already shared my experience of GeoCamp Iceland and the value of European projects with my colleagues at Grundaskóli, about 50 teachers in total, to encourage others to see how beneficial this can be for professional growth and school development. These projects allow us to be part of a wider community of teachers who learn from one another and work towards more creative and inclusive schools. The goal is clear: to build a professional community of teachers who share knowledge, learn together, and develop methods that can be applied directly in the classroom. European projects like ACADIMIA are the key to this. They offer training courses, online learning, and a platform for collaboration that reaches far beyond national borders. The opportunity is here. Whether you want to strengthen your teaching methods, meet the needs of students from diverse backgrounds, or simply find renewed inspiration in your work – this is the way forward. Through collective effort, we can make education more creative, inclusive, and engaging – for our students, and for ourselves. Gunnhildur Björnsdóttir Teacher at Grundaskóli Primary School in Akranes, Iceland  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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