FEDORAS academy begins: reflections from the Bologna Kick-Off and our shared vision for change

On February 27–28, 2025, the city of Bologna hosted the official kick-off meeting of the FEDORAS Academy – Teacher Academy for a Future-oriented STEAM Education for a Sustainable World. This two-day gathering brought together project partners from across Europe to launch the new Academy, aiming to reshape teacher education and secondary school ecosystems through a transformative, interdisciplinary, and futures-oriented approach to STEAM education.

The kick-off meeting was more than just a formal start. While key management tasks were addressed efficiently, the majority of the time was dedicated to sharing the project’s vision, ambition, and identity. The Academy does not begin from scratch—it builds on a rich legacy of collaboration and innovation shaped by previous EU-funded projects, namely FEDORA, CLIMADEMY, and SEAS. These initiatives provided the groundwork for reimagining science education through interdisciplinary practices, future thinking, and the establishment of Open Schooling Networks (OSNs).

FEDORAS takes these achievements a step further. Grounded in operational recommendations and tested models, the Academy is positioned to focus on two critical and urgent challenges:

1. Fostering institutional transformation through human-centered form of co-participation
   FEDORAS aims to regenerate educational ecosystems by embedding schools in broader societal dynamics. Through collaborative co-design, co-teaching, and co-learning, the Academy will support schools in becoming active agents of social innovation. These efforts will be anchored in local OSNs, enabling dynamic, multi-actor engagement between teachers, students, researchers, policy makers, and community stakeholders.
2. Developing a multi-dimensional, values-oriented approach to assessment
   FEDORAS seeks to redefine what assessment means in education. Moving beyond standard metrics, the project will explore ways to align evaluation practices with the values of sustainability, creativity, and learner agency. The goal: to make space for the joy of learning and the power of imagining new worlds, placing meaning and engagement at the center of the learning process and the assessment culture.

The Academy’s focus on STEAM topics—from climate change to artificial intelligence, sustainability, and cutting-edge technologies like nano- and quantum technologies —reflects its deep commitment to equipping teachers with the knowledge and competences required for the green and digital transitions. In particular, the Academy’s activities will support the development of GreenComp competences and promote mobility—both virtual and physical—across European contexts.

Looking ahead, FEDORAS will continue to build and support a culturally active European network of educators, schools, and institutions through its website, newsletters, and social media channels. The Academy’s digital platforms, including its mobility portal, will serve as ongoing hubs for connection, resources, and professional development—even beyond the project’s formal end.

The Bologna meeting marked the beginning of an ambitious journey. Stay tuned as we continue to share stories, resources, and opportunities to make school ecosystems our driver of cultural and societal change.