Topic: Urban development against the effects of climate change
Date: 21/11/2021 – 27/11/2021
Hosting school: Gymnasieskolan Spyken (Sweden)

From 21^st to 27^th November 2021 the first Joint-Staff Training Event of partners working at the project 2020-1-AT01-KA229-077992 “Think Smart – Act Green” has taken place at Gymnasioskolan Spyken in Lund, Sweden.

21^st Nov 2021 - Sunday
This was the arrival day of participants at Lund. Colleagues from the hosting school picked all partners from the train station and guided them to the hotel.

22^nd Nov 2021 - Monday
This was the first day of the working sessions. Since it was the first time that all participants met each other in presence with professor Giovanni Santoro from Austria (coordinator of the project) to attend the meeting online due to COVID19 local regulations. The Headmaster of the Swedish school, Petra Karlsson, welcomed the partners and explained the importance of Erasmus+ programs and especially this one that has an impact on the climate literacy of the students. Then, the participants have started discussing and explaining the topics of each exchange in a more analytical way and their impacts to the students. The criteria of choosing all partners (students, families, etc.) discussed and agreed to be according to COVID19 guidelines in order to protect students and families.

After a small break for Swedish ‘Fitka’, the teachers had a guided tour to the school, explaining the difference in the educational system and the way the students select subjects for each semester.

A workshop and a lecture from Professor Roger Hildingson from Lund University was given to all participants about the Fossil Era, towards a post – fossil pedagogivs. The professor explained the damage of carbon ruins and presented a study about the post-fossil transition. He pointed out the factual knowledge (about climate change, embeddedness of carbon, energy etc.), the creativity and speculation (creating skills like problem solving and reflection, knowledge-based speculation) and the hope and agency to create space for practising active hope. At the end, the teachers split into three teams and presented their idea about an easy recognizable object that represents an unsustainable practice that changed during post-fossil transition.

The day at Spyken ended with the presentation and dissemination of “Think Smart – Act Green” to the majority of teachers and the headmaster of the school. The teachers from each country presented themselves and talked about the Erasmus spirit to the teachers of the hosting school.

23^th Nov 2017 – Tuesday
Tuesday was the cultural excursion to Copenhagen. The Swedish teachers gave us a guided tour of the city of Copenhagen and explained all about green living in Copenhagen. It is a city that mixes green mindset with fun (floating swimming pool at harbor), providing eco-friendly choices while you are visiting, organic restaurants that try to decrease their carbon footprint and eco-friendly behavior, transport and accommodation. Copenhagen is a pioneer city in sustainable urban development like the new neighborhood Nordhavn, where sustainability is present from urban planning and architecture to consumption, energy and green livability. During the trip, the teachers met the Greek Ambassador in Denmark and the General Secretary from the Greek Ministry of Energy and discussed with them the topic of the Erasmus program.

24^th Nov 2017 –Wednesday
During project work at Spyken the principles of the project made clear to all partners and the next step was to adjust and agree the dates of the meetings and exchanges. Since there was a very positive thinking of each participant school, the dates were agreed for the two years of the project. Dates have changed from the initial application but not the groups of hosting and visiting schools due to the pandemic of COVID19. Another vivid topic that was analysed in detail is the control of the budget, since some of the partners are participating for first time. Participants had questions about the procedures covered by each part of the budget and their obligations, so everything made clear to everybody by Professor Giovanni Santoro from the coordinating school. Additionally, each product – working space (such as project website, YouTube channel, E-twinning, evaluation etc.) was assigned to each participant school. Each topic has been analysed further and the participants have made suggestions about the processes that would be followed and that products that would be produced by the students. Another subject that was discussed was the evaluation (from students, teachers and families) and how this could be organised after each meeting/exchange. Next topic was the documents that should be produced by each school and the ways of sharing. Finally, the organisation of the exchange week has been explained and the responsibilities of each hosting/visiting school and students. Also, we have discussed and agreed the responsibilities of the hosting families.

The day ended with a guided tour at the city of Lund, the University and the Cathedral.

25^th Nov 2017 – Thursday
On the fourth day all partners checked the current situation of their own budget verifying all the costs not only by receipts and invoices but also structuring them according to the application and to the provided Mobility Tool Platform. The participants received a detailed training from the coordinator about the Mobility tool platform. Risk management and dissemination activities have been discussed and proposed. The evaluation processes also explained by the coordinator. Then, the teachers were allocated for job shadowing. They split into groups of two and attended classes of Chemistry, Physics, English, Music and Special Need class.

The day ended with a guided tour to the city of Malmӧ. The city has undergone a major transformation after the completion of Ӧresund Bridge with new architectural developments, supporting biotech and IT companies. A series of pioneering residential construction have implemented across the harbor and the coast where SDGs goals have been localized and people act towards a sustainable future.

26^th Nov 2017 – Friday
The last day started with Christmas songs by the advent singing by school choir in the assembly Hall. Then the teachers moved to project work and with the guidance of the coordinator read and checked the meeting protocol and signed by all local coordinators and all paperwork requested in compliance with the Erasmus+ regulations were done. At the end all participants agreed and signed the protocol and completed the evaluation form. The hosting teachers received presents from the visitor teachers showing their gratitude for this wonderful week.

The working day completed with the visit to the Smart City of Brunnshӧg. The head architecture of this new part of Lund explained the vision of a sustainable city that will face different demands in the future but all in the concept of sustainability. Even the research centres of ESS and MAX IV will be involved in the low-temperature district heating system that is planned. The energy will be reused in an innovative and efficient way to serve Brunnshӧg’s vision of sustainable urban development.

After this tour in a Swedish weather a beautiful surprise at teacher’s offices was waiting with warm wine and making of Gingerbread Christmas houses. Just before farewell dinner the partners exchange presents at the hotel reception carrying the sense and the culture of their countries.

27^th Nov 2017 – Saturday
The departure day of the participants arrived and they left Spyken and Sweden having enriched their professional development with workshops and examples towards a sustainable living.

The Agenda

The Evaluation

Photogallery