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From Ideas to Action Through eTwinning Projects and Design Thinking

From November 6 to 8, the National Agency for European Educational Programs and Mobility hosted a three-day eTwinning conference in Struga. Bringing together educators from across North Macedonia, the conference’s goal was to inspire new approaches in collaborative educational projects. The SmartUp team, represented by Design Thinking experts Milena Ignjatova and Ljubica Ruzinska, facilitated a series of hands-on workshops titled “Creating eTwinning Projects Using Design Thinking“. 

The goal

The main goal of the workshops was to equip participants with practical skills in design thinking, allowing them to tackle real-world challenges in education. Through this methodology, attendees were guided to: 

  • Analyze current issues and obstacles in their educational environments and work collaboratively to identify specific areas for improvement. 
  • Use design thinking methodology to transform ideas into structured, implementable solutions within eTwinning projects. 
  • Explore various ICT tools that support teamwork and project management, strengthen their capacity to collaborate effectively in a digital environment. 

Impact

The conference brought together 45 participants from diverse educational institutions who worked in nine teams, each creating a national eTwinning project. Guided by the SmartUp team, participants gained valuable insights into design thinking and experienced firsthand how to incorporate it into their educational practices. Through interactive exercises, collaborative problem-solving, and the development of detailed action plans, educators built practical skills that can be applied to future projects. 

This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of the design thinking process but also provided them with practical tools and strategies to foster student-centered learning and innovation within their schools. Thanks to the collaborative efforts and guidance provided during the workshops, each team successfully launched a project on the eTwinning platform, contributing to a growing network of educational resources. 

Partners

This activity was implemented by SmartUp – Social Innovation Lab, in partnership with the National Agency for European Educational Programs and Mobility, under the eTwinning programme.