ISLE Newsletter #3 – Join the 1st Academy Annual Policy Meeting The meeting will be organised in hybrid format, allowing participants to attend either in person in Florence or online via Zoom. Participants will explore current challenges related to learning environments, equity, and teacher professional development, while identifying opportunities for collaboration and policy innovation. The ISLE project, Collaborative Learning Communities for Redesigning Primary Education Towards Innovative & Sustainable Learning Environments, is pleased to announce its 1st Academy Annual Policy Meeting.
Tervetuloa ISLE:n toiseen uutiskirjeeseen! Tässä numerossa jaamme jännittäviä uutisia ISLE International Networkin käynnistämisestä, tarjoamme päivityksiä meneillään olevasta tutkimuksestamme ja kutsumme sinut osallistumaan tulevaan ISLE-esittelywebinaariimme. Yhdessä rakennamme osallistavampia, innovatiivisempia ja kestävämpiä oppimisympäristöjä perusopetukseen kaikkialla Euroopassa.
Tervetuloa ISLE-projektin uutiskirjeen ensimmäiseen numeroon! Tässä ensimmäisessä numerossa esittelemme projektin tarkoituksen ja jaamme jännittävät ensiaskeleet yhteistyöllämme kohti innovatiivisempia ja osallistavampia oppimisympäristöjä kaikkialla Euroopassa.
University of Jyväskylä representatives presented the ‘Collaborative Learning Communities for Redesigning Primary Education Towards Innovative and Sustainable Learning Environments (ISLE)’ project at the EDUCA Fair 2026.
Members of the University of Jyväskylä ISLE project were actively involved in Finland’s leading education and training event, EDUCA.
Members of the University of Jyväskylä’s ISLE project took an active role at EDUCA, Finland’s largest education and training fair. The project was represented by teachers and teacher trainers Markku Hilpinen and Dr Hannu Moilanen from the University of Jyväskylä Teacher Training School, as well as researcher Dr Tiina Mäkelä from the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER), University of Jyväskylä.
The EDUCA Fair annually brings together nearly 20,000 Finnish and international educators, school leaders, researchers, policymakers, developers, and company representatives. The main theme of the 2026 event was the right to teach and the joy of learning.
Key national stakeholders, including the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ), the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), were strongly represented. During panel discussions featuring party leaders, including Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz, educators in the audience actively voiced their views on current educational policy challenges, particularly the growing inequalities within the Finnish education system.
Dr Tiina Mäkelä presented the ISLE project at the Speakers’ Corner, highlighting research conducted by the Innovative Learning Environments (ILE) research group. In addition, project members promoted ISLE at the University Teacher Training Schools’ exhibition stand.
The fair also provided an excellent opportunity to invite Finnish teachers to participate in the ISLE survey, which focuses on quality, equity, and inclusion in innovative and sustainable learning environments, encompassing psychosocial, pedagogical, and physical dimensions.
The ISLE consortium is pleased to announce the successful completion of its field research phase across seven partner countries from November 2025 to February 2026: Cyprus, Finland, Sweden, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Latvia. This milestone marks a significant step forward in gathering evidence to inform the development of innovative and sustainable learning environments in primary education.
The research combined qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure a comprehensive understanding of current practices, challenges, and needs. In each country, partners conducted 10 individual interviews with key stakeholders, alongside two focus groups with teachers and headteachers. Participation exceeded expectations, gathering more than 150 people contributing to the national research.
Also, an online survey targeting teachers and headteachers further strengthened the evidence base with over 400 responses in all seven countries.
The diversity of the data gathered will directly inform ISLE’s next steps, supporting the co-creation of practical tools and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening inclusive, high-quality, and sustainable primary education systems across Europe.
The national consultation sessions across all partner countries have been completed successfully. As part of WP2 and the development of a Collaborative Framework, each partner organised three consultation sessions involving a policymaker, an education expert, and a primary education practitioner from December 2025 to January 2026.
These sessions provided an important platform to present the pre-final version of the Collaborative Framework and to gather structured feedback. Participants engaged in constructive discussions, shared practical insights from their educational contexts, and reflected on the relevance of innovative and sustainable learning environments within their national systems.
The documentation captures key recommendations, identified challenges, and opportunities for strengthening inclusive and high-quality learning ecosystems. This input will play a crucial role in finalising the framework in a way that reflects current needs. The consortium extends its sincere appreciation to all participants for their valuable contributions and continued engagement with the project’s vision.
On 25–26 February, the ISLE consortium gathered for its 2nd Transnational Partner Meeting in Riga, Latvia, hosted in a hybrid format with representatives participating both face-to-face and online. The meeting brought together partners from all participating countries to review progress, strengthen coordination, and plan the next phase of implementation.
The University of Cyprus (UCY), as Project Coordinator, led the discussions on the progress of Work Package activities and the definition of clear next steps, with contributions from all partners. Attention was given to the presentation of initial findings from the field research conducted in each partner country. Representatives shared the key themes emerging from interviews, focus groups, surveys, and consultation sessions, highlighting both common trends and country-specific insights related to innovative and sustainable learning environments in primary education.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to the development of the ISLE e-Handbook and e-learning courses coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä. Partners worked collaboratively to define the overall structure, thematic modules, and pedagogical approach of these key outputs. Roles and responsibilities were clarified to ensure a coordinated and efficient development process. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to delivering high-quality project results.
On 15–16 May 2025, the ISLE consortium held its 1st Transnational Partner Meeting (Kick-off Meeting) in Nicosia, Cyprus, hosted by the University of Cyprus (UCY). The meeting was organised in a hybrid format, enabling partners to participate both face-to-face at the University House Anastasios G. Leventis, University of Cyprus Campus, and online.
The meeting brought together representatives from all participating organisations to launch the project implementation phase, establish a shared understanding of the project objectives, and strengthen coordination among partners. As Project Coordinator, the University of Cyprus led the discussions focusing on the overall project framework, including the rationale, main objectives, implementation timeline, and expected deliverables across the different Work Packages.
A central part of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation and unpacking of Work Package 2, which focuses on the establishment of an International Network of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) providers and stakeholders. Partners discussed the objectives, activities, and expected outcomes of this work package, as well as the initial steps for engaging relevant stakeholders across the partner countries.
Further discussions addressed the activities of Work Package 3, which aims to map current policies and identify system needs related to the redesign of learning environments in primary education. Partners discussed the methodological approach and initiated the process of obtaining the necessary permissions to conduct the research activities in each partner country.
A significant part of the meeting also focused on Work Package 4, which concerns the development of a School-wide Professional Development Programme. Partners collaborated to establish working groups, discuss the structure of the programme, and initiate the development of the project’s e-learning platform, coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute.
In addition, PARAGON-eduTech presented the project’s Dissemination and Sustainability Plan under Work Package 7, outlining the communication strategy, dissemination channels, and key activities planned to ensure the visibility, impact, and long-term sustainability of the project results. Partners discussed their roles in supporting dissemination efforts and agreed on initial steps to promote the project across national and international educational communities. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment among partners to work collaboratively towards the successful implementation of the project and the delivery of high-quality project results supporting the development of innovative and sustainable learning environments in primary education across Europe.
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