The two-year European co-funded project “Green Learning Community (GREELCO)”, implemented from 1^st June 2022 to 31^st May 2024, received a remarkable evaluation score of 93/100 by the Erasmus+ Republic of Slovenia’s National Agency. GREELCO project aimed at fostering professional development through green education. Its specific goals included: enhancing digital skills, promoting inclusive and quality education for kindergarten professionals, increasing awareness of diverse educational systems and pedagogical practices and emphasizing the importance of digital competencies and green education.

The project was funded by the ERASMUS+ program of the European Commission (KA220-SCH) and its consortium included three (3) main partners from three (3) EU member-states, namely the: Educational Research Institute-ERI (Slovenia), International Step by Step Association-ISSA (Netherlands), and DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University (HOU) as the sole Greek and Academic partner. In addition, it involved eight (8) Kindergartens, from eight (8) European countries, namely, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia.

The DAISSy Research Group of HOU was actively involved in all five (5) Work Packages (WPs) of the project as well as in all major intellectual products and deliverables. Specifically, DAISSy-HOU had the responsibility of coordinating WP2 “Training on digital competencies” which was successfully implemented with additional activities that expanded its scope and accessibility, while maintaining high quality and alignment with project objectives. The training activity involved more than forty (40) kindergarten professionals, was conducted mainly online, and enhanced digital literacy, pedagogical understanding, and environmental sustainability, benefiting participants, partner organizations, and the broader professional community, through intercultural networking and sustainable educational resources.

Additionally, DAISSy-HOU was the leader also of the WP3 “Platform”, assuming the lead role and responsibility for the design, development and effective operation of the GREELCO online platform addressed primarily to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals across Europe and everyone interested in the topic. The GREELCO platform overcame the planned results making it a high-quality digital tool that supports, professional development, networking, and access to innovative pedagogical resources. With currently 1,325 users from 63 countries worldwide, the platform has had a significant impact on digital literacy and international collaboration and it keeps on growing.

On behalf of DAISSy-HOU, the GREELCO project was coordinated by Mr. Achilles Kameas, Professor at HOU and Director of DAISSy, managed by Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager and Lead Researcher, and implemented by Ms. Panagiota Polymeropoulou, Senior Researcher, Ms. Elisavet Pirounia, Media Producer, and Mr. Anastasis Papadopoulos, Developer and Technician.

As per the high evaluation score and the Agency remarks indicate, the GREELCO project was highly successful, fully achieving its objectives and even exceeding the planned indicators in several points. The GREELCO team of the DAISSy-HOU and the whole partnership are extremely proud, as the ERASMUS+ Managing Authority praised the project’s deliverables as of “high quality” and in general provided highly positive feedback.

For more information on the GREELCO project and other activities of DAISSy-HOU:

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