To support the well-being and professional growth of educators by promoting reflective dialogue, inclusive learning environments, and transformative teaching practices across Europe through shared learning experiences and international collaboration.
Description of the project
Education systems across Europe are facing increasing challenges, including teacher stress, burnout, and the need to address complex social and environmental issues in diverse classrooms. At the same time, many educators feel unprepared to guide young people in developing values, critical thinking, and civic engagement. LIFE responds to this need by supporting both future and practising educators in reflecting on their purpose, beliefs, and teaching practices. The project creates international learning communities where participants can exchange experiences, engage in dialogue, and develop more inclusive and meaningful approaches to education.
Objectives
- Strengthen the wellbeing and sense of purpose of future and practising educators
- Support educators in creating inclusive, reflective, and participatory learning environments
- Foster collaboration and shared learning between teacher education institutions and schools across Europe
Activities
- Development of training programmes on wellbeing, reflective practice, and transformative education for future and practising educators
- Delivery of blended learning courses combining online and in-person sessions
- Organisation of international learning experiences, including study visits, exchanges, and joint training events
- Creation of two learning networks: one for future educators and one for practising educators
- Facilitation of dialogue-based learning activities, including peer learning, storytelling, and group reflection
- Organisation of workshops and seminars at local, national, and international level
- Job shadowing opportunities in schools across participating countries
- Development and testing of different mobility formats (virtual, physical, and blended)
- Creation and moderation of online communities where educators can exchange experiences and resources
Results
Resources
- Structured training programme and training materials on transformative education and educator wellbeing
- University-level course for future educators, including curriculum, learning materials, and assessment framework
- Continuous professional development course for practising educators, including training content and facilitation guidelines
- Digital learning platform hosting courses, materials, and collaborative spaces and Open LIFE Community Platform
- Practical guidelines for implementing reflective dialogue and inclusive learning environments in educational settings
- Living Library of LIFE Resources
Impact
- Engagement of 45 educators per country per year across 6 countries, reaching approximately 540 educators
- Training of 6 university professors and 6 educator trainers per country (total 72 trainers)
- Development and delivery ofuniversity-level courses and professional development courses for educators
- Implementation of blended intensive programmes combining online and in-person learning
- Organisation of international mobility activities, including job shadowing and exchanges
- Creation of a digital platform supporting learning and collaboration across countries
- Improved wellbeing, resilience, and sense of purpose among educators
- Increased capacity for reflection on values, beliefs, and professional identity
- Stronger ability to create inclusive, participatory, and supportive learning environments
- Greater confidence in addressing diversity, sustainability, and civic engagement
- Enhanced use of dialogue, critical thinking, and reflective practices in teaching
- Strengthened collaboration between universities, schools, and training organisations
- Development of sustainable learning communities at national and international level
- Contribution to more inclusive, democratic, and sustainable education systems
Partners
- Coordinator: Háskóli Íslands, Iceland
- North Consulting, Iceland
- Universitatea De Vest Din Timisoara, Romania
- Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy
- UC Leuven, Belgium
- Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci – ETS, Italy
- National Management School, Bulgaria
- INSTITUTUL INTERCULTURAL TIMISOARA. Romania
- Blue Room Inoovation, Spain
- 2 SU "Akad. Emiliyan Stanev, Bulgaria
- New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria
- Djapo, Belgium
