NHL Stenden contributes to European education project for the makers of the future
The Challenge Lab of plays an important role in a new European project that aims to make education more innovative, creative and practice-oriented. The project, TINKERVERSE – SkillBuilders Lab: Tinker, Discover, Learn!, is funded by the European Erasmus+ programme.
The official launch took place on 7 and 8 May at the in Spain. Experts from eight countries, including six RUN-EU partners, came together to develop the plans for the next three years.
Learning by making and discovering
TINKERVERSE focuses on so-called “Maker Education”. This approach encourages children to learn not only from books, but mainly through discovering, designing and collaborating on real-life projects. Activities include creating digital stories, carrying out environmental projects and experimenting with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Through this approach, the project aims to stimulate a major shift in European education. Schools and educational institutions will be introduced to new teaching methods that better match the skills children will need in the future.
Special attention for rural areas
An important part of TINKERVERSE is the development of a so-called “hub-and-satellite” model. In this model, central Maker Spaces support schools in the surrounding region, with special attention for rural and disadvantaged areas.
Practical and creative activities will be developed for children aged 3 to 15, helping them strengthen digital, social and problem-solving skills.
European collaboration
TINKERVERSE is funded through the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme and is coordinated by University BURGOS within the Regional University Network – European University alliance (RUN-EU).
In total, nine core partners- including six RUN-EU partners - are collaborating from seven EU countries and one non-EU country. Alongside NHL Stenden, higher education institutions from Spain, Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Romania and North Macedonia are involved. Partners from Ukraine and Moldova also participate in the project.
European recognition
The selection of TINKERVERSE is particularly significant because the Erasmus+ “Forward-Looking” funding call is highly competitive. Out of the hundreds of applications submitted across Europe, only a small number of projects are selected within each theme.
By participating in TINKERVERSE, the Challenge Lab of NHL Stenden further strengthens its position as an innovative learning environment for educational innovation and social development at both regional and international level.
