On 15 November 2025, the Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus, in partnership with the European University of Cyprus, successfully hosted the one-day professional development event titled “Geosciences as a driving force for the development of spatial, green and digital competences in STEM sciences” under the framework of GEO‑Academy.
A total of 50 teachers from public and private schools of primary, general secondary and technical–vocational education participated in the workshop, which took place at the premises of the European University of Cyprus.
Opening remarks were given by Dr Eleni Papageorgiou, from the Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus, and Dr Louka Louka, Professor of Science Education, European University of Cyprus.
This conference brought together in‑service teachers, project partners, and educational stakeholders from across Europe. The discussion focused on how the digital geo‑tools developed by GEO‑Academy, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Earth Observation, and geospatial storytelling, have been integrated into classrooms and professional development.
The conference hosted a session where teachers presented their implemented scenarios in a poster format in the entrance area of the event. Also a selection of workshop sessions in parallel, led by the National Technical University of Athens, Ellinogermaniki Agogi, Spotin and Cyprus Pedagogical Institute. Those workshops covered various topics such as: leveraging geospatial technologies to address sustainable development challenges; using maps and storytelling in the classroom; thermal-island detection in Cyprus and embedding geospatial technologies in STEM classroom activities.
Participants praised the interactive format of the workshops and the applicability of the tools and examples presented. Many emphasized the value of hands-on experience with geospatial technologies and the direct links drawn to school curricula and sustainability education.
The event marks a significant step forward in supporting educator professional development in Cyprus. Through the GEO-Academy project, the Pedagogical Institute and its partners are committed to equipping teachers with the competences needed to integrate spatial and digital thinking into STEM teaching, while embedding sustainability across the school curriculum.
For more information, please visit the GEO-Academy website at https://geoacademy.eu.
