The GIFTED project aimed to address the EU Council’s strategic priorities by enhancing the quality, equity, and inclusivity of education, particularly for gifted and talented (G&T) students, who often remain unrecognized and unsupported in traditional classrooms. The objective was to empower teachers with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to identify and support G&T students, including those from underserved or twice-exceptional backgrounds. Through a transnational, collaborative approach involving partners from four EU countries and the UAE, the project developed an innovative game-based training program. This program promotes experiential learning, engages teachers in real-world classroom scenarios, and fosters their motivation, commitment, and use of digital tools. By implementing this project, GIFTED sought to bridge gaps in teacher training, provide strategies for inclusive and differentiated instruction, and equip educators to nurture the academic potential and socio-emotional well-being of all students, ensuring fair and equitable access to education.
The GIFTED project addressed a critical gap in European education: equipping teachers with the skills to identify and support gifted and talented (G&T) students effectively. In 1994, the Council of Europe recognized the unique needs of G&T students, urging member states to implement measures for their early identification and support. However, many countries, including those in the GIFTED consortium, lack formal teacher training programs addressing these needs, leaving G&T students—especially twice-exceptional learners and those from underserved backgrounds—unrecognized and unsupported. This gap often leads to disengagement, underachievement, and psychological distress. Teachers, feeling unprepared, frequently rely on stereotypes, further marginalizing these students. The GIFTED project bridged this gap by creating an innovative gamified training program and a serious game to enhance teachers’ competencies. These tools help educators identify G&T students, understand their profiles, and implement inclusive strategies in diverse classrooms. GIFTED promotes equitable practices, ensuring all students, also the gifted, can reach their potential and thrive academically and in their overall well-being.