Future Space Erasmus Project

Project Title

Future Space

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Natural sciences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Pedagogy and didactics

Project Summary

European Union faces a shortage of specialists who have completed STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) studies. CEDEFOP’s (European Center for the Development of Vocational Training) official statistics show that by 2025 the demand on highly qualified workforce will increase by 12% compared to the current state, the employment structure will also change: about 80% of new established jobs will require high qualifications. Long-term forecasts clearly indicate that the demand for qualified employees will be increasing constantly due to changes in the sectoral employment structure and changes in knowledge-based technologies.

The FUTURE SPACE project provides a significant change in learning and teaching STEM subjects in upper secondary schools in Poland, Greece and the Netherlands. The implementation of the project will allow to reduce the number of low achievers in natural science subjects, increase the number of candidates for STEM studies and introduce young people to career opportunities in the space sector and other innovative industries. Modern tools and innovative didactic forms combined with an attractive subject matter of classes, should also result in a better understanding of STEM issues.

The two main deliverables of the project are the Space Schools Programme and the Space Programme for science centres and other non-formal education organisations. Thematic modules are devoted to the XXI century’s global challenges and practical solutions offered by research and exploration of the near space. Both Programmes indicate economic and social benefits of space exploration, as well as career paths in industry, available not only to STEM specialists, but also to lawyers or graduates in social sciences. The Programmes will use a variety of didactic materials, such as short videos, ICT tools, and even an astronomical show for mobile planetariums.

The aim of the Space Schools Programme is not to replace the existing curricula of individual STEM subjects, but to extend their content, present real-life applications to theoretical school knowledge and indicate the interdisciplinary nature of all STEM subjects. The Programme will also contain practical information for schools on how to organize classes and teaching process.

The Space Programme for science centres and other non-formal learning and teaching institutions and organisations is a significant modification of the Space School Programme. The Space Programme is based on a wide range of training experience as well as expertise of the project foreign partners: NEMO Science Museum, Amsterdam and NOESIS Science Centre, Thessaloniki.

Both Programmes offer workshops to develop youth’s skills and competencies: from basic scientific and technical ones, through cross-section to soft skills. We also have foreseen a pilotage for Space Schools Programme to guarantee it fits the upper secondary school needs.

The target group of the project are teachers of science subject in upper secondary schools in Poland, Greece and the Netherlands, but also students to whom some of the materials will be directly addressed. Moreover, the Space Programme increases the target group by lower secondary school students.

The Project will train a large number of science teachers and educators. The multiplier events allow to reach 10 000 persons it total (directly and indirectly) in Poland, Greece and the Netherlands and the next few thousands from all over Europe due to ECSITE conferences. Workshops and conferences for the teachers will be conducted by specialists of the teachers’ training centres and science centres. Schools which decide to implement the Programme should see positive results already in the second year of its application. Individual elements of the Space Schools Programme can be used separately in upper secondary schools, shaping the STEM science interests and showing interesting career paths for young people all over Europe.

The implementation of the project will result in long-term benefits not only by improving the quality of natural science subjects teaching and introducing the latest didactic methodology to schools. It will also increase the number of candidates for STEM studies, and present attractive career paths in the space sector and other industry sectors related to new technologies. Both Programmes enrich the educational offer for schools and non-formal teaching and learning organisations and improve the competences of teachers and educators.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 269220 Eur

Project Coordinator

CENTRUM BADAN KOSMICZNYCH POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Polska Agencja Kosmiczna
• KENTRO DIADOSIS EPISTIMON KAI MOUSEIO TECHNOLOGIAS IDRYMA
• Osrodek Edukacji Informatycznej i Zastosowan Komputerow w Warszawie
• STICHTING NATIONAAL CENTRUM VOOR WETENSCHAPS- EN TECHNOLOGIECOMMUNICATIE