Slovenia, Austria and especially Hungary are lagging behind most developed economies in innovation and economic results. One of the important obstacles is the educational system which has not yet adapted to the needs of the modern society. Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship (CI&E) are crucial competences that cannot be taught in a simple manner. The project aim is to trigger different way of thinking in primary schools and to show that creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship is crucial for success - anywhere; in all subjects, in daily situations in school, in real life challenges, and to teach participants how to do that in practice. Within the IO1 (Intellectual Output) we will define the profile of competencies which teachers must obtain. With the goal of the validation and recognition of competencies we will base our exam system on ECQA standards of European Certification and Qualification Association and the Europass guidelines.The OI2 will be related to methodology development. We will prepare methodology for short motivating workshops for the Schools’ management. In addition the methodology for selection of teachers and their training will be prepared. It will be supported by methodology for international teachers’ cooperation and guidelines for teachers' innovative projects implementation.The IO3 will be focused in preparation of LTT materials encompassing the preliminary topics: Developing the innovation, Innovative teaching and Making innovation work. The last topic is related to international aspects of cooperation. Within this IO materials will be prepared for international training and will also be used in the IO4.The IO4 - e-Training portfolio is an e-environment incl. training materials for LTT activities. It will be prepared on one of the already existing e-platforms (e.g. Moodle). The study materials from IO3 will be tailored for e-activities.Within IO5 we will develop the InnoTeach Exam System focused in validation and recognition of skills and competences gained through non-formal education. We intend to develop this system via ECQA exam methodology and Europass standards. They also represent a step towards defining of national competences related to teachers/trainers work.Based on the project activities, evaluation and country specifics we will prepare the final InnoTeach Model - an optimised comprehensive toolbox (IO6) representing a set of methodology, guidelines and materials for efficient implementation of the project goals to other schools and its validation. The activities will also encompass interesting and interactive international training (C1) and national e-training (C2). Teachers will get knowledge and skills from the field of CI&E. It is important also to develop personal competences necessary for successful implementation of ideas (e.g. self-confidence, courage, risk attitude, teamwork etc.). Within practical work teachers will identify a concrete challenge (a problem from school, educational process, local environment…) and perform all the necessary phases which are crucial if they want to bring their idea to life.Within the project, we will encourage schools/teachers to establishing cooperation with various stakeholders, e.g. companies, researchers, parents, innovators and entrepreneurs. They can contribute their experiences if teachers invite them to present their jobs via invited lectures, visits of their working places…Some of them may prepare problems and the school can contribute ideas and develop solutions. In addition local stakeholders can support teachers/pupils in preparation of prototypes, materials, equipment… It is important to stress that many successful projects in schools were performed in cooperation with the local environment.Within national and international Multiplier Events we will present main project results from the perspective of project partners and mainly school headmasters, teachers, local stakeholders and pupils. In addition, we will emphasise the international dimension of the project which may result in new networks and exchange of best practices.We strongly believe, innovation in educational system is one of the cornerstones of the innovative and entrepreneurial society, which EU tends to become. It is a must which should become daily educational system praxis.Last but not least the partnership has a long and sustainable tradition in developing CI&E in the educational system. Due to the resound results the Institute for Innovation and Technology was invited to present the results at the United Nations’ headquarters in Geneva and at the Closing Conference of the European Year of Creativity in Stockholm. Also the The Tenegen project (HU partner) was selected as “best practice” by the EU Commissions.
CONTEXT/BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT The development of new and improved services, systems, and products is an important driver for the EU market. Innovation necessitates people who can generate new ideas, cooperate in innovation teams, and boost environments that support the entire chain from idea creation to their implementation. But it requires competencies and especially personal characteristics, innovation modus operandi, i.e. way of thinking, which can not be easily taugth. Therefore, it is essential to start with youngsters. OBJECTIVES The project empowered the innovation mindset in primary schools and trained teachers for innovative work - anywhere; in all subjects, in daily situations in school, in real life challenges. The target group were teachers for the 2nd and 3rd triad in primary schools (pupils aged 9-14); indirect target group were pupils. NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS In each country, one or two schools and a core “knowledge” institution were project partners. These had know-how to develop InnoTeach concepts, materials and to transfer innovation best practices from industry to the educational system. MAIN ACTIVITIES, RESULTS AND IMPACT ATTAINED Firstly, the profile of competencies for participating teachers was defined and a comprehensive training methodology prepared addressing three pillars: Development of Innovation, Innovative Teaching, and Making Innovation Work. Based on the training materials, we carried out an international joint staff training event. 18 trained teachers became mentors to their colleagues from school. For them, and also for the forthcoming generations, e-Training portfolio was prepared using state of the art andragogical approaches and digital solutions. It was finished with "real-life" interdisciplinary innovative projects, which required cooperation of various experts. Project were tackling: teaching process innovations, improvements for school and its local environment, e.g. innovations in school’s garden; development of tourist destinations, cooperation with elderly people’s home, local flower shop, socialisation and closer cooperation of pupils/teachers and parents, and suchlike. Also other various stakeholders actively participated, e.g. kindergarten, elderly people’s home, municipality, parents of pupils involved, etc. In cooperation with hundreds of pupils, teachers developed 16 innovative projects. In addition an international Exam System focused on validation and recognition of skills and competences was developed in line with the ECQA (European Certification and Qualification Association) exam methodology. Altogether 83 InnoTeach mentors were trained (212 cooperated and 2111 pupils and 52 stakeholders involved) The main project achievements were presented at 4 (inter)national multipliers events and 5 international conferences. The presence of two mayors, secondary and university level representatives, researchers, economy and policy makers additionally confirm our thesis that the InnoTeach idea and achievements should be an integral part of international innovation ecosystem. Within our events, there were also representatives of eminent institutions, such as Joaneum, Grenoble IOT, Jozef Stefan Institute and participants from France, Germany, Australia, Finland, Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Austria and Slovenia. Moreover, the Project contributed to the application of various motivational elements, thus encouraging pupils to co-create a learning process. LONGER-TERM BENEFITS The project addressed at least 3 of top 10 skills for businesses to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, identified by World Economic Forum (WEF 2016), i.e. Complex problem solving, Critical thinking and Creativity. At the schools’ level, a critical mass of teachers was reached and innovative culture in schools was enhanced by way of applying multidisciplinary approaches. The InnoTeach also received a very good media response. Moreover, the Austrian ORG Schulschwestern used the InnoTeach materials for new school subject called WIN (Wirtschaftlichkeit – Innovation – Nachhaltigkeit). In Slovenia, materials were included in some workshops for teachers organised by Slovenian national agency SPIRIT. It also expressed interest to continue the InnoTeach programme and include other schools. Also the University of Primorska- Faculty of Education expressed interest for cooperation on concrete courses for elementary schools. Based on project proposal evaluation by Slo NA, InnoTeach has a great potential to be transferred to other countries as well as to other educational levels. Based on this fact we already started activities in Czech republic, Italy, Germany and France. Last but not least, prof. Likar’s (project leader) student prepares a PhD thesis based on InnoTeach project. And what is more, our children can eagerly expect highly-motivated teachers, well-equipped with the competences for the 21st century. http://innoteach.itstudy.hu/