OUR RECENT PROJECTS
During the first year of its operation, IMS R&D participated in 44 proposals, under:
- Erasmus+,
- the Interreg Med Cooperation programme 2014-2020
- Interreg Balkan Mediterranean programme
- HORIZON 2020
Its participation is mainly addressing societal and environmentalissues as well as scientific excellence in education.
SMARTageCARE
Toolkit for Caring and Empowering European Older Adults
The Project is addressing the SMART AGEING concept in terms of developing skills in Health&Care, Digital Inclusion, Citizenship, and Lifelong
Promoting the digitization and integration of Health and Care, in terms of older adults empowered to manage their own lives and health and care, intensification of interactions between the person, health and care, more interactions mediated by technological and digital solutions, and humanization of technological and digital innovation.
Promoting sustainable and inclusive ageing in terms of design solutions that guarantee conditions so that the older adult has the freedom to live, autonomous and independent, one's own identity, culture, group or partner, sexuality, ideology, religion, but also to guarantee the sustainability of the world for future generations.
Promoting education for ageing and lifelong, with special focus on technological and digital education, healthy and active lifestyles, European citizenship in family, work, retirement, social participation, rights and legislation, violence, and neglect, and retraining of skills, entrepreneurship, and professional careers.
Healthy at school. Supporting the well-being and mental health of students and teachers
Our Erasmus+ project, “Healthy at School” aims to improve the physical and mental health of students and teachers by strengthening the capacity of educational institutions to develop strategies and training programs that will promote a healthy environment that effectively fosters the well-being of everybody involved in the educational process.
"Women in STEM - overcoming stereotypes", a new ERASMUS+ project for IMS Private School
Our Erasmus+ Project "Women in STEM - overcoming stereotypes" is a Strategic Partnership in the field of higher education that will be implemented over a span of three years, by a consortium comprised of five experienced organizations:
TRAKIA UNIVERSITY, Bulgaria
UNIVERZITET MAJKA TEREZA VO SKOPJE, North Macedonia
EOS DEVELOPMENTAL SA Greece
IMS Private School, Cyprus
Association of Young Psychologists in Bulgaria, Varna
Project aims:
- Making STEM higher education more supportive, diverse and socially inclusive for women
- To improve the future career prospects, professional and personal development of women in the modern labour market
- To increase the motivation of women to pursue and participate in education and career in STEM
The project will produce the following results:
- Development and testing of programs aimed at motivating women for pursuing and participating in STEM higher education.
- Development of a methodology for overcoming/eliminating gender-based stereotypes towards women in STEM.
- Research and analysis of good practices and examples of successful women-experts in STEM fields.
DIGITAL INCLUSION FOR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY PEOPLE
Erasmus+ project, “Digital Inclusion for people with Intellectual Disabilities” aims to support the social inclusion of people with Intellectual Disabilities by creating training programs that will enhance their digital skills so they can actively participate in today’s digital revolution. The project also aims to promote the use and production of accessible digital tools that can be used by various organizations and will facilitate the digital inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
GAMIFICATION OF DIGITAL LEARNING
CONTEXT AND NEEDS
- The sudden shift in digital learningdue to the COVID-19 pandemic, had a significant impact on teaching. Teachers were clearly not prepared for this rapid change to digital.
Addressing digital transformationthrough development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity to foster digital learning practices through gamification, promoting the good use of digital technologies in secondary school education for engagement and teaching.
- Tackling learning disadvantage, early school leaving and low proficiency in basic skills with a focus on inclusion and engagement of learners with fewer opportunities such as learning difficulties.
III. Development of key digital competences. Gamification is a practice that has been identified by various studies and European documents and initiatives to enhance learning and help learners develop essential competences such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, expression as well as cognitive and interpersonal skills and the ability to adopt new competences.
See more: http://gdl-project.eu
RESOURCES
R1: Compendium of methods for gamification in digital learning
R2: Technical Toolbox
R3: eLearning Module: A free online course for teachers, trainers and educators, in particular of secondary school. It aims at enhancing their understanding and confidence on using gamification in digital learning, in a simple and practical way. https://logocourses.eu/el/courses/gdl/
R4: Pedagogical Sequence
R5: Explanatory Tools Sheets
ACCEASY - Easy to Read Easy to Access
IMS Research & Development Centre joined forces with the Autism Association of Cyprus in the framework of the ERASMUS+ project “Acceasy”, which aimed at developing a methodology and the tools necessary to promote an inclusive and accessible European heritage for people with cognitive difficulties. The project succeeded to facilitate the full participation of people with cognitive difficulties in the society and contributed to European cultural heritage.
ACCEASY project was a consortium of seven European organisations: Fundacion Aspanias Burgos from Spain, e-code from Slovakia, European Grants International Academy SRL from Italy, aCapo Societa Cooperativa Sociale Integrata from Italy, IMS Research and Development Centre and Cyprus Autistic Association from Cyprus. More at http://www.acceasy.eu
PROJECT RESULTS
The project developed the following products:
- Database with key technical concepts, adapted to easy to read and understand and in 5 languages, which allows its use in Different contexts. This is an innovative and necessary tool that was developed and tested by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as experts in cultural heritage of different EU countries. Ο1
- Manual aimed at professionals in heritage sector. A guide with practical advice and instructions so that cultural heritage in all its dimensions can be accessible to all people. O2.
- Training action on cognitive accessibility, of short duration, aimed at professionals in the heritage sector, which will be based on the manual and Acceasy methods. It will offer guidelines and recommendations to make the heritage accessible, applicable in their daily activities.
- Training course aimed at people who work with people with intellectual disabilities (educators) to incorporate accessible heritage in leisure, therapeutic and personal development programs of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
LEARNING PLATFORM
Please register to our learning platform.
DATABASE OF ENTRIES
Amphora
It is a vase made of terracotta with two handles.
It was used to transport oil, wine, sauces and honey.
See them all: Database of Entries – acceasy.eu
ACCEASY Sites/Monuments
Cyprus: Ancient Amathus
The Amathus archaeological site is located 11 km east of the city of Limassol and is considered one of the most important ancient and historical sites of Cyprus. Traces of the earliest human presence, dating to the Neolithic period, have been detected during archaeological excavations on the hills neighbouring Amathus. During the Archaic period the town acquired special wealth as one of the Kingdoms of Cyprus, and had remarkable commercial relations both with the Aegean and the Syropalestinian coast. Since at least 4th c B.C, the goddess Aphrodite was worshipped on the top of the hill of the acropolis. Over the centuries, Amathus was conquered by many conquerors including the Phoenicians, Persians, Ptolemies and Byzantines. Amathus is a Unesco World Heritage site and the legends and mythology associated with the ancient city further enrich its cultural and historical value.
Learn more: ACCEASY Sites/Monuments – acceasy.eu
Train-The-Trainer
The First ACCEASY Training Course in Cyprus
The workshop, organised by IMS Research & Development, alternated theoretical and practical experiences. After the presentation of the two Intellectual Outputs of the Project (Database and Manual), the participants were given case studies and group work to assess the quality of the products and to understand the importance of the issues addressed.
The final moment of the workshop was a visit to the Archaeological Site of Amathus and the Castle of Limassol. In particular, at the second site, an activity of evaluation of the accessibility of the Heritage was carried out.
Robotics 4 vet
Increase VET quality and attractiveness through 3D printing and robotics for a better insertion to labour market
Strategic Partnership for vocational education and training that was implemented over a span of two years, by a team of 12 teachers from Romania, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Turkey, Portugal .
Project aims:
- Facilitate students’ professional training in the field of robotics and 3D printing for a better insertion in the labour market.
- Increase students’ interest for building robots.
See more: Robotics4vet
SEXINLIFE
Improving the Sexual Education for people with intellectual disability
The general objective was to exchange good practices among professionals Centers that work with people with intellectual disability, to share knowledge, resources and tools on sexual education for people with intellectual disability, which allows to increase the quality of life of this group and their families, thus guaranteeing its active inclusion in society.
Project Objectives:
- To exchange good practices among the professionals working in the field of intellectual disabilities and to share knowledge, resources and tools on the topic of Sexual Education aimed at people with intellectual disabilities, which in turn will help provide a better quality of life to this vulnerable group and their immediate families but also guarantee its active participation in the society.
- Support people with intellectual disabilities and their families by providing professionals working in the field with the necessary tools to implement new methodological approaches in regards to teaching and learning, as well as training guidelines and empirical knowledge.
Download SexInLife Manual: SexInLife Manual
See more: www.facebook.com/sexinlifeproject
LIDS
Learning Important Digital Skills
Lids project overall object was to disseminate good practices at European level through the training of trainers, who can provide digital skills, particularly in the use of social networks applied to the world of commerce, to disadvantaged adults.
Project Results
LIDS Manual and Curriculum as a digital book in WORD- and PDF-Format containing comparative studies in Europe on methods of approach and on necessary content of learning digital skills in the use of ICT for disadvantaged adults.
LIDS Training Course Lessons in PowerPoint-Format for organizations staff on how to relate and approach disadvantaged adults and help them to use digital tools applied to the way of work. Each partner develops specific topics on the digital skills that should be learned.
Results of the Project (lids.eaiu.org/index.php/results-of-the-project)
See more: http://www.lids.eaiu.org
DIM
Multilingual Dictionary
DiM Project consists in a multilingual dictionary on line for students and teachers of school and organization that deals with language training for foreign students. It was designed by CPIA of AVELLINO. CPIAs (Provincial Centers for Adult Education) are schools set up by the Ministry of Education which provide services and activities for adult education as a contribution to personal, cultural, social and economic growth of all citizens. They are located throughout the Italian territory. DiM (Multilingual Dictionary) was born to support the teaching and the learning of Italian language for foreign students. Mostly of our students are immigrants especially.
DIM presentation: https://youtu.be/VhPGJZ4DNFQ
See more: www.dimproject.net
PARENTING STAND-UP
The project aimed to increase the level of involvement and commitment of parents through sharing of experiences/best practices between partner organizations and specific cooperation/communication activities between staff and parents.
Among the project’s objectives was to create a common parent involvement program and a booklet which to include working methodologies and learning activities in the direction of parent-child-organization cooperation.
Download Parenting Stand-Up Booklet: Parenting Stand up Booklet
Parental Involvement Guide: Parental Involvement Guide
IFCHEESE
Innovative Focus on Natural Mountain Herbal Flavored Cheese by Protecting Traditional Production Methods
IFCHEESE project aimed to research, study and document the unique natural mountain herbal-flavored cheese by preserving traditional techniques with an overall aim of giving young women the opportunity to have an income in order to reduce migration as well as preserving and transferring traditional knowledge to the next generation.
Open Gates to the Knowledge of Entrepreneurship
The project aspired to shape the skills and competencies necessary for students so that they get integrated as active citizens in the labour market at EU level and to make students and teachers respond to the challenge of finding new answers based on new ideas in an educational context. The project also aimed to strengthen teachers' capacity to advise and guide students in choosing their career, including entrepreneurship.
The general objective of the project was the exchange of best practices among partners, the development of entrepreneurial skills, intercultural and support critical thinking and vocational counselling. Project’s activities facilitated students' transition from school to the labour market and increased the capacity of teachers to plan and stimulate creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
Download OPEN GATES COUNSELING GUIDE & OPEN GATES VOCATIONAL GUIDE
The Odyssey revisited: Teaching European values in a divided continent
A long journey with ODY
From Cyprus to Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, ODYSSEUS (ODY) engages himself in a long trip to reach the Promised Land, Sweden. Along with him, IMS students will transform from passive observers to active participants in their own educational trip, placing themselves into a credible world to discover their identity.
In the aftermath of the mounting refugee influx, Europe must live up to its values and bow to the problems of those in need. The aim of this project is to bring these values forward, inculcate them into our students and at the same time help students develop competence in a variety of skills and disciplines.
Through the creation of a comic in which ODY is the main character, the project promises an interdisciplinary activity. The aim is not to regurgitate dry knowledge but take the students on a journey of self-discovery. It will be broken down to five areas of learning: English Language, Geography, ICT, Citizenship, Cultural History.
Download ODY comic
Augmented and Virtual Reality in Education
ARIE
The main objectives of the project are:
1. Construction of educational scenarios using AR tools within a STE(A)M educational approach.
2. Exchanging educational scenarios with participating schools.
3. Communicating the procedure and outcomes to the educational community.
In terms of students:
1. Trigger motivation, attention, critical thinking and knowledge of Secondary school students, including underachievers.
2. Improve students’ digital literacy.
3. Improve students’ communication skills.
Raising STEAM in Education
The Erasmus + Project “Raising STEAM in education” aims to include the acquisition of content-related abilities and knowledge of the STEAM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) through the development of an innovative methodology, targeting at a holistic and multidisciplinary education. To make this goal possible, our schools from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Poland and Slovakia have developed a series of innovative activities that not only will reinforce the transversal competences but also facilitate studying difficult subjects and contribute to the development of creativity and unconventional thinking.
The "Raising STEAM in Education" project is open for co-operation with various academic and scientific institutions as well as different professionals, including artists, who will share their expertise and specialist knowledge with both the students and the teachers involved in the project, aiming to adopt some non-formal ways in education.