The 1st Intensive Teachers’ Training Summer Course of the European project “K12 Agile Learning of Programming with Educational Robotics” (ALPER-EU) is being held in Chania, Crete, with the participation of leading educational institutions, including the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, and the Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills (DDLTS) of the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation of Malta.

The event also brings together educational and research organizations from five European Union countries, as well as representatives of the international school community through Scientix Ambassador Dr. Alexandros Roniotis.

The summer course is hosted by the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) and coordinated by Professor Dr. Antonios Konstantaras of the Department of Electronic Engineering. It is organized in collaboration with George Gogoulos, ICT Education Advisor for Crete, the Primary Education Directorate of Chania under the leadership of Dr. Chrysa Terezaki, and the Secondary Education Directorate of Chania under the leadership of George Psarakis.

The summer school is open to the public and will take place from 1–6 June at the Department of Electronic Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Romanou 3, Chania. It will bring together educators and experts from five European countries to provide professional development in the modern teaching of programming through agile teaching methodologies and educational robotics.

A Central Feature of the Event: Open Dialogue Between Educational Policy Makers and Practicing EducatorsA particularly important aspect of the event is the organization of two round-table discussions with the participation of the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) and educators and educational leaders from Greece and five EU countries.

These discussions constitute the core of the event, creating a meaningful platform for open dialogue between educational policy makers and the educational community that implements these policies in everyday classroom practice.

All primary and secondary school teachers are invited to participate in the following round tables, which will take place in the auditorium of the Department of Electronic Engineering at HMU:

• Tuesday, 2 June, 09:00–13:15 – Round table for ICT teachers, school principals, and all interested participants.
• Tuesday, 2 June, 18:00–20:00 – Open round table for all primary and secondary education teachers and other interested stakeholders.

The discussions will focus on:

• The exchange of good practices;
• The real challenges teachers face when implementing innovative approaches;
• The needs of the modern classroom in the fields of programming and educational robotics.

About the “K12 Agile Learning of Programming with Educational Robotics” (ALPER-EU) Project

The ALPER-EU project is implemented by a consortium of eight organizations from five EU countries. The partnership is characterized by strong complementarity, combining educational policy development, academic research, and classroom implementation.

The consortium includes:

• The Institute of Educational Policy (IEP), ensuring alignment with national educational policy;
• The Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills (DDLTS), contributing expertise in digital education innovation;
• The University of Malta, providing scientific and pedagogical support;
• Osnovna Škola Pećine, bringing experience from the practical implementation of educational robotics;
• Agrupamento de Escolas Terras do Ave, contributing extensive experience in STEM projects;
• Šiaulių Dermės Mokykla, a special education school offering expertise in inclusive education and serving as a model of good practice;
• The STEM-LABELED 47th Primary School of Heraklion, strengthening links with educational practice and European innovation networks;
• The Hellenic Mediterranean University, serving as project coordinator and providing the scientific and technological foundation of the project.

ALPER-EU aims to contribute substantially to the development of a modern European model for teaching programming by fostering students’ creativity, collaboration, and digital skills from an early age. At the same time, it places particular emphasis on supporting teachers and ensuring that educational policy makers actively listen to and address the real needs and challenges educators face in their daily teaching practice.

The full programme is available at the following link:

https://ee.hmu.gr/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ALPER-EU-1st-Teachers-Training-Programme-Schedule.xlsx