Category Archives: News & Events

post-seer-1

DAISSy-HOU successfully organized the Infodays for Inclusive STEAM Education

Posted on by

The DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University (HOU) successfully organized the Infodays entitled: “Students and Educators talk about STEM/STEAM Education”

The event was held on 16 – 17 June 2025 at the Conference Hall of the Hellenic Open University at its headquarters in Patras (Building D, 18 Aristotelous str., Perivola, Patras, Greece) and was co-organised by the DAISSy-HOU, the Quality Supervisor of Education PDE of Achaia & Educational Advisor PE70 of Achaia.

Undoubtedly, it was a massive event, given the overwhelming number of participants; more than five hundred (500) people (educators, students, parents) attended the event, celebrating the significance of Inclusive STEAM Education. Most of the participating educators were “graduates” of the educational programme about Inclusive STEAM Education, implemented within the framework of the “Special Education STEAM Academy – SpicE”, a European project coordinated by DAISSy-HOU, and they had the opportunity to present, together with their students, the STEAM activities that they implemented throughout the school year.

The event was a testimony to the transformative impact of the SpicE project and the Inclusive STEAM Education. Specifically, the educators presented the STEAM practices they developed and implemented, under a continuous support provided by DAISSy-HOU throughout their efforts, so as to foster inclusiveness and learning in their classrooms, whereas the children’s enthusiasm about the STEAM projects was clearly evident, since the common message that emerged from all of them was that they wish to “STEAM” again during the next school year!

Furthermore, numerous creations of the children were exhibited at the foyer of the conference hall, highlighting the creative outcome and the active engagement of the children in the STEAM activities.

The educational infodays were supported by the “The STE(A)M Education European Roadmap – SEER” and “Special Education STEAM Academy – SpicE” European projects, implemented by DAISSy-HOU within the framework of developing a roadmap that will contribute to the implementation of integrated inclusive STEAM education in Europe.

 

post-seer-1

 

For more information about these projects of DAISSy-HOU:

 

scale-p4

Active Participation of DAISSy-HOU in the 3rd Transnational-Partners’-Meeting of the SCALe project

Posted on by

logo-scaleThe 3rd Transnational Partners’ Meeting (TPM) of the “SCALe – Smart City ASEAN Learning Network” European project was successfully held in person, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the Phnom Penh International University (PPIU) in the capital city of Cambodia. It served as a coordination meeting among the project partners in the context of SCALe’s implementation, taking into account that the project’s core objective is to develop a series of micro courses focused on smart city skills, which can complement or enhance existing academic programs, or even be combined to create entirely new ones.

The 3rd TPM brought together the project partners so as to discuss a broad range of topics related to the publicity and visibility of SCALe, its financial management, the monitoring of the project’s implementation, its progress, and the planning of future actions.

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek partner of SCALe, was represented at the 3rd TPM by Professor Achilles Kameas, Director of DAISSy and Scientific Coordinator of the project, and Dr. Theodoros Panagiotakopoulos, Project Manager at DAISSy and SCALe Manager. They both participated actively in all TPM sessions, contributed updates on the deliverables under the Research Group’s responsibility, and also expressed suggestions and recommendations regarding the next steps of the project’s implementation. In parallel, DAISSy-HOU fully seized the opportunity to develop new collaborations with universities in Southeast Asia, initiating a series of meetings on the sidelines of the SCALe project events.

It is noteworthy that DAISSy-HOU  plays a multidimentional role in SCALe, since it has contributed to the definition of the required skills that was used into the development of the micro course collection, as well as to the design of the educational methodology for developing and delivering e-learning modules. Furthermore, the Research Group was involved in the development of educational material and coordinated the implementation of both in-person and online workshops, while also being responsible for the evaluation and the drafting of reports related to these activities.

In this context, and upon the conclusion of the 3rd TPM, DAISSy-HOU offered commemorative gifts and expressed its gratitude to the representatives of the local universities that hosted the meeting’s sessions.

Undoubtedly, the 3rd Transnational Partners’ Meeting (TPM) featured a lively exchange of views among the SCALe partners and was held in a spirit of teamworking and mutual respect. It served as a seamless continuation of the successful workshop held on July 21–22, 2025, co-organized by PPIU and DAISSy-HOU, focusing on smart cities and, more specifically, the development of educational programs for acquiring knowledge and building skills related to emerging and future smart city professions in Southeast Asian countries.

SCALe is a three-year project (July 2023 – June 2026), co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, which is implemented by a consortium of fourteen (14) partners across two (2) EU Member States (Greece and Italy) and three (3) Asian countries (Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand), with DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, being the Greek partner.

scale-p5 scale-p4

For more information about the SCALe project, undergoing by DAISSy-HOU:

scale-p1

DAISSy-HOU co-organizes a Smart Cities Workshop for Southeast-Asian Universities within SCALe Project

Posted on by

logo-scaleFocusing on smart cities and particularly, on the development of educational programs aimed at knowledge acquisition and skills building for emerging and future smart city professions in Southeast Asian countries, a highly successful capacity-building workshop was held for the benefit of selected Asian universities. The activity took place in person on July 21–22, 2025, as part of the “SCALe – Smart City ASEAN Learning Network” European project. It was co-organized by the DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek partner of SCALe, and the National University of Management of Cambodia (NUMC). It was hosted at the university’s facilities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with the primary goal of transferring know-how from European to Asian universities.

The workshop serves the main goal of the SCALe project, namely to develop a set of short courses based on smart city skills, which may supplement or enhance existing academic programs, or even be combined, so as to form new ones.

Specifically, the first day of the workshop was dedicated to presentations on technological, structural, and educational topics. Achilles Kameas, Professor at the Hellenic Open University, Director of DAISSy, presented relevant European frameworks, policies, and tools supporting digital citizenship, whereas Dr. Theodoros Panagiotakopoulos, Project Manager and Researcher at DAISSy, delivered a speech on the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) in smart cities.

During the sessions of the second day of the workshop, the developers of the short courses presented their structure and content. The main objective was to ensure a clear understanding of the requirements and pedagogical approach for delivering these courses by the academic and teaching staff of every university participating in the SCALe consortium.

In parallel, DAISSy-HOU fully exploited all possibilities provided by the workshop, in order to strengthen existing collaborations with Southeast Asian universities and to forge new partnerships, aiming at knowledge exchange and the joint development of future initiatives.

SCALe is a three-year project (July 2023 – June 2026), co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, which is implemented by a consortium of fourteen (14) partners across two (2) EU Member States (Greece and Italy) and three (3) Asian countries (Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand), with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, being the Greek partner.

For more information about the SCALe project, undergoing by DAISSy-HOU:

 

scale-p1 scale-p2 scale-p3

logo-admit

DAISSy-HOU launches the implementation of the “ADMIT” European Project

Posted on by

logo-admitThe DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU)  has recently launched the implementation of the European project “ADMIT – Generative AI and LLM in Higher Education”, as the Greek partner .The project aims to create the necessary educational and ethical conditions for leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) to enhance teaching and learning in higher education. Through the development of a comprehensive framework (the “LLM-ed framework”) and corresponding guidelines, the project seeks the smooth integration of these tools into the design and delivery of educational experiences.

Specifically, ADMIT explores in depth the challenges and opportunities arising from the use of such technologies, strengthening the digital readiness of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and empowering all involved stakeholders: students, educators, administrative and technical staff, institutional leadership, and relevant authorities at both national and European levels. Furthermore, the project aligns with the European Digital Education Plan, national digital transformation strategies, and the AI Act.

Throughout the project’s implementation, the impact of LLMs and Generative AI on the educational process will be continuously assessed by monitoring the latest developments in research, innovation, and policy formation. Simultaneously, good practices and leadership initiatives in the education sector will be recorded and mapped, aiming at presenting selected examples as models, on an annual basis. Moreover, well-documented models and guidelines will be developed, targeting the integration of LLMs and Generative AI into teaching design—both at the micro-level of learning activities.

Special emphasis will be put on defining ethical principles and providing guidelines for the responsible use of these technologies, focusing on academic integrity, equality, inclusion, critical thinking, as well as digital and information literacy. As part of enhancing human capacity, open Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs will be developed for the professional growth of educational and administrative staff at the European level, covering topics related to both pedagogical design and the ethical dimensions of LLM use.

Finally, the project will implement a comprehensive communication and dissemination plan to ensure that its results are utilized by national and European educational systems and relevant stakeholders.

The DAISSy Research Group of HOU will actively participate in all project deliverables and, as a key partner, will contribute its valuable expertise in education and technology, while also being responsible for the following:

  • Coordination of Work Package 5 (WP5): This WP leads the effort to categorize and analyze ethical issues arising from the use of generative AI-based LLMs in education. A systematic framework of ethical categories will be developed, addressing topics such as reliability, bias, compliance with European values, academic integrity, and legal aspects such as copyright, privacy, and consent. Additionally, DAISSy-HOU will conduct case studies on the application of LLMs in education to highlight ethical implications and integrate them into the analytical framework. The results of this study will be presented in themed factsheets that will serve as tools for awareness and dissemination.
  • Development of a Guide and a Self-Assessment Tool: As a culmination of WP5 activities, DAISSy-HOU will prepare the “Guide for the Ethical Use of LLMs and Generative AI in Higher Education”, that will include recommendations for institutions, educators, and students, as well as specific policy guidelines. The Guide will be accompanied by a digital self-assessment tool, adapted for use by educators, students, and institutions, allowing HEIs to evaluate their level of ethical AI use in educational practices and identify potential gaps in policies or skills.
  • Participation in Policy Making: Within the framework of the AI Act, the Research Group will contribute to the development of policy recommendations at the European level, actively participating in shaping ethics frameworks applicable across European higher education systems.
  • Participation in Dissemination Events: By organizing and contributing to webinars and events, DAISSy-HOU will promote project results and ensure the active engagement of key stakeholders.

ADMIT is a three-year project (01.01.2024–31.12.2026) funded by the European Union’s “ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant” program. It is coordinated by EADTU (Netherlands), and the consortium consists of twelve (12) partners from ten (10) European countries (UK, Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Netherlands, Turkey, and Finland). The DAISSy Research Group of HOU will ensure the effective implementation of project activities in Greece, while also connecting relevant national stakeholders to maximize the utilization and impact of the ADMIT project results.

Stay tuned and learn more about the ADMIT project: https://admit.eadtu.eu/

dpost-1

DAISSy-HOU participated at the 17th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies

Posted on by

The 17th annual International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN25) was held from June 30th to July 2nd 2025 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain). The Conference provided a unique opportunity for scientific exchanges with a wide range of global experts and for presenting a number of papers showcasing research activities and results of European co-funded projects in which the DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University (HOU) has participated in.

The International Academy of Technology, Education and Development (IATED) has been organizing EDULEARN on an annual basis for seventeen years in a row. EDULEARN is recognized as an important forum that brings together educators, policy makers and other stakeholders who use or are interested in using new technologies in educational practices, with an emphasis on digital technologies. Over 800 educators from around the world attended EDULEARN this year, to share their knowledge and learn from others in their field. Hence the presence of DAISSy researchers in the Conference significantly increased the impact of research conducted by the Group. 

DAISSy-HOU was represented at the EDULEARN25 Conference by Prof. Achilles Kameas, Director of DAISSy, and Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager and Lead Researcher, who attended a number of sessions and elaborated on peer learning and networking activities. The Group was actively involved in the Conference by contributing four (4) scientific papers and posters, which showcased high-quality results regarding the use of innovative methodologies and tools in education that have been achieved by the members of DAISSy in the context of the international projects and collaborations of the Group.

The list of the papers that were presented includes:

  • A SUITE OF MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES AS EDUCATIONAL INSTRUMENTS TO ENHANCE COMPETENCES AND FOSTER AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY, authored by Eleni Georgakakou and Achilles Kameas, showcasing the suite of MOOCs that have been developed by DAISSy-HOU on the themes of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, together with the methodology used to design and develop them.
  • COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT OF SMART CITIES’ EMPLOYEES VIA A SUITE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTRUMENTS, authored by Theodoros Panagiotakopoulos, Fotis Lazarinis and Achilles Kameas, which presented the competence frameworks, occupational profiles, MOOCs and digital content that DAISSy-HOU has developed.
  • ENHANCING DIGITAL EDUCATION ACCESSIBILITY: THE ADEDU PROJECT’S APPROACH TO INCLUSIVE LEARNING, authored by Eleni Georgakakou and Achilles Kameas, which discusses the “Accessible Digital Education” co-funded project and its innovative results on enhancing digital inclusion for people with learning disabilities.
  • MAPPING DIGITAL & GREEN TRANSFORMATION FOR THE POSTAL INDUSTRY: INSIGHTS FROM BEST PRACTICES AND POLICY RESEARCH ANALYSIS, authored by, Christos Bellos, Markos Tsipouras, Ioannis Paliokas, A. Maragkakis, E. Gavala, E. Varvarousi, and Achilles Kameas, which presented research results of the European project DigiGreen Post.

Through its active presence in established international Conferences, such as EDULEARN25, DAISSy Research Group of HOU confirms its international outreach and overall its commitment for realizing its vision towards an inclusive society of engaged people.

 

dpost-1 dpost-2 dpost-3

 

 

logo-adedu-md

DAISSy-HOU invites you to the online Course on “Accessible Digital Education”

Posted on by

logo-adedu-mdThe DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the academic Greek partner of the “Accessible Digital EDUcation (ADEDU)” European project, invites educators and anyone interested to participate in its online Course aiming at enhancing digital education practices for people with learning disabilities. 

Specifically, through this Course, participants will be able to enhance their skills by enriching them with material regarding strategies tailored for students with learning disabilities. Furthermore, they will get the opportunity to, network with peers and experts and provide impactful feedback to help refine the Course content and delivery for future training programs. 

More precisely and with regard to the ADEDU online training Course, it is noteworthy that:

  • It runs in English for five weeks in a self-paced mode, providing full flexibility to the learners.
  • Experienced tutors are facilitating the learners by replying to any relevant question.
  • It includes an Introduction and four Modules, namely:
    1. Identifying learning disabilities in the classroom
    2. Differentiated instruction and personalised learning
    3. Integrating technology in inclusive education
    4. Inclusive classroom management and conflict resolution.
  • The first cycle of the Course will run till the end of August 2025.
  • Participation is free of charge and registration is already open by submitting the respective form. In case the link does not work, you can copy and paste in your browser the address: https://forms.gle/tHntAwMYrjBUcAP4 .
  • By completing the self-assessment quizzes successfully, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. 

ADEDU is a thirty-month project (01.01.2024-30.06.2026) co-funded by the ERASMUS+ program of the European Union. It is implemented by a consortium of five (5) organizations from three (3) European countries, coordinated by “ALL DIGITAL” (Belgium), and having as partners the “European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD)” (Belgium), the “Media Education Centre (MEC)” (Serbia), the “IASIS” NGO and the “Hellenic Open University-DAISSy Research Group” (Greece). 

For any questions about the ADEDU Course, you may email: thanos.loules@iasismed.eu or mediaeducationcentre@gmail.com.

For more information about the ADEDU project, you can visit its website at: https://ad-edu.eu/.

incl-st-1

Impressive participation at the SpicE international conference on Inclusive-STEAM-Education, coordinated by DAISSy-HOU

Posted on by

logo-spiceOver 60 experts, educators, researchers, policymakers and other representatives of the public and private sector, from 17 countries, gathered in Patras, Greece, in person and online, for the International Conference on Inclusive STEAM Education, in the framework of the “Special Education STEAM Academy-SpicE” European project. The two-day hybrid event was implemented on 30-31 May 2025 at the headquarters of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) in Patras, was organized by the DAISSy Research Group – HOU, SpicE Coordinator, attracted more than 700 participants in total, and focused on advancing Inclusive STEAM Education across Europe. SpicE project was implemented under the Scientific Coordination of Achilles Kameas, Dean of the School of Science and Technology of HOU,  Director of DAISSy Research Group, and has marked a milestone in the efforts of the educational community to bridge the gap between STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and special education.

More precisely, SpicE supports the inclusion of students with mild learning difficulties in STEAM education. Its core objective is to strengthen the competences of primary school teachers in delivering inclusive STEAM learning experiences. By equipping pre-service and in-service educators with the right tools and methodologies, SpicE aims to create classrooms that are inclusive, innovative, accessible, and equitable.

The conference offered a dynamic agenda, including plenary sessions by experts, discussion panels, and presentations of real-life use cases by in-service educators. Discussions covered a wide range of topics—from inclusive educational Robotics and AI tools, to digital learning environments, art-based inclusion practices, and teacher training strategies.

The highlights of the conference include:

  • The presentations of the STEAMComp InclEdu Competences Framework, the methodologies for STEAM teacher training from an inclusive perspective, and the SpicE Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), all of which support the training of educators and provide structured guidance for developing inclusive teaching competences in STEAM education.
  • The decision to found the Inclusive STEAM Alliance, presenting the evolution of the SpicE Community of Practice.
  • Showcases of good practices in Inclusive STEAM Education from educators and researchers from (in alphabetical order) Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, India, Italy, Nigeria, Portugal, Spain and Türkiye, and underlining how inclusive pedagogy can be embedded into current curricula.
  • Dedicated synergy sessions with other innovative European projects and networks working for the promotion of Inclusive Education and STEM/STEAM Educations, such as the SEER, ICSE Academy, SENSEI, STEAME Academy, EQUI-T, STEAMbrace, and Road-STEAMer European projects.

A common message emerged during the conference, i.e.  Inclusion and STEAM must be at the heart of innovation in education. By empowering educators and integrating inclusive strategies into STEAM, the SpicE project contributes to build learning environments favoring all students to thrive, regardless of their learning needs.

incl-st-1

More information about the SpicE project of DAISSy-HOU :

edifyedu-p1

Successful organization of the EDIFY EDU Innovation-Quest-Job Fair by DAISSy-HOU and Achade

Posted on by

edify-edu-logoThe DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University and the Achade-Achaia Chamber Development Entity successfully organized the awareness event on “Empowering Inclusive Workplaces through Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI)” as part of the implementation of the “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of management EDUcation (EDIFY EDU)” European project, currently undergoing by DAISSy-HOU as the Greek partner.

The event was organized by Achade-Achaia Chamber Development Entity, also a Greek partner of EDIFY EDU, was held in person on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the PWC Technology and Innovation Hub facilities in Patras, and was supported by the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU.

In particular, the awareness event attracted participants from various sectors, being students, graduates, professionals, employers, business executives, representatives of the academic community, and stakeholders from the Region of Western Greece. Taking into account that the project is about to end,  the main objective of the event was to disseminate the EDIFY EDU results, as well as to highlight Good EDI Practices, connect employers with job seekers and enhance awareness and sensitization regarding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at the workplace.

Specifically, Dr. Danai Katsanta, Executive staff at Achade, Project Manager of EDIFY EDU at the entity, and Professor Christos Pierrakeas, University of Patras, Deputy Director of DAISSy-HOU launched the event by delivering brief introductory speeches.

Subsequently, Mr. Panagiotis Christias, MSc, Achade-Achaia Chamber Development Entity Executive, Financial Manager of the EDIFY EDU project at the organization, highlighted the goals and achievements of the project so far, emphasizing on the importance of EDI issues in business and academic life.

Furthermore, Ms. Panagiota Polymeropoulou, MSc, Lead Researcher of DAISSy-HOU, presented the content of the EDIFY EDU  Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) as well as the Specialization Course offered in Greece to students/all individuals as well as to business executives. This was followed by a thematic discussion, where the keynote speaker Mr. Stavros Kouris, Project Manager & Agile Expert, spoke about the challenges and opportunities offered by applying Inclusion principles in entrepreneurship and professional development. Good Practices and examples from Greece and abroad were presented, aiming at sharing experience and methodologies.

The event concluded by the “Meet Me Over Coffee – Job Matching Edition” activity, where any participant, students included, had the opportunity to talk directly with company representatives, submit their CVs and participate in informal interviews. This activity substantially enhanced networking and established communication channels for future collaborations. The exchange was vivid and creative, sealing the success of the entire initiative and leading to the next steps for the completion of the project’s implementation.

The EDIFY EDU is a three-year project co-funded by the ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant of the European Union and is coordinated by the “DUN LAOGHAIRE IADT-Institute of Art, Design and Technology” (Ireland) with eleven (11) partners in six (6) EU member states (Austria, Germany, Greece, Finland, Ireland and Italy) and three associated partners in Belgium, Germany and Italy. The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU and the Achade-Achaia Chamber Development Entity are the two partners which have been thoroughly linked for the effective implementation of the project activities in Greece, embracing also a number of respective stakeholders aiming at the multiple exploitation of the project results and its impact.

edifyedu-p2 edifyedu-p1

For more information on the EDIFY EDU project, and other activities of DAISSy:

4cf-post1

DAISSy-HOU participated in the Kick-off Meeting of the 4C-FUTURE Project

Posted on by

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) participated in the Kick-off Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) of the 4C-FUTURE European project, which was held onsite on 15–16 January 2025 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The 4C-FUTURE project aims to enhance key 21st-century skills—Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication (the 4Cs)—through innovative pedagogical practices that incorporate game-based and experiential learning. The main goal is to support teachers in developing these skills and applying them in the classroom, thereby improving the learning experience of their students.

During the Kick-off Meeting, the partners:

  • Presented their organizations and respective responsibilities within the project
  • Discussed the timeline and implementation of the deliverables
  • Developed a shared cooperation plan to achieve the project goals

DAISSy-HOU is the sole Greek partner and is involved in all project deliverables. In addition, it is responsible for the development of the 4C-FUTURE digital learning platform, which will include tools for game-based and experiential learning, to be exploited through free access by primary and secondary school educators.

Furthermore, DAISSy-HOU will play an active role in shaping the 4C-FUTURE methodology, piloting and evaluating the learning platform, and ensuring the dissemination of the project results through its extensive communication channels.

The 4C-FUTURE is a three-year project (1.12.2024–30.11.2027), funded by the ERASMUS+ Lump Sum Grant of the European Union. It is coordinated by EPMA (Czech Republic) and the consortium includes five (5) partners from four (4) EU Member States (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece and Portugal). DAISSy-HOU will lead the project’s implementation in Greece and will actively promote cooperation with relevant national stakeholders through its established networks, ensuring broad impact and exploitation of the 4C-FUTURE results, at national and European level.

4cf-post1

For more information about the 4C-FUTURE project by DAISSy-HOU:

idemo-logo

DAISSy-HOU at the kick-off Transnational Partners’ Meeting of the I-DEMO European project

Posted on by

idemo-logoThe DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) participated in the kick-off Transnational Partners’ Meeting (TPM) of the “I-DEMO: Innovating Destination Management through Game-based Tourism” European project, which took place on 26–27 October 2024 in Pisa, Italy.

The main objective of the I-DEMO project is to strengthen the skills of tourism professionals, especially those working in Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), through the integration of game-based methodologies and tools. The project aims at developing a new professional profile and promoting creativity and digital transformation for enhancing the quality of tourism experiences as well as the sustainable development of local destinations.

More precisely, DAISSy-HOU exploited the kick-off meeting and had the opportunity to meet the I-DEMO consortium in person, exchange know-how, and plan the first activities, such as mapping good practices in Europe, shaping the professional profile in game-based tourism, and creating key project tools.

It is noteworthy that the I-DEMO project will develop significant game-based tools in the tourism sector, including a Visual Virtual Map and the I-DEMO Digital Toolkit, featuring good practices from EU tourism destinations. A highlight of the project will be the organization of a European Hackathon, providing space for presenting and evaluating innovative ideas in this field.

The DAISSy Research Group of HOU actively contributes to all project deliverables, ensuring the quality implementation of work packages. Additionally, DAISSy-HOU is responsible for:

  • The design and development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on “Game-based Tourism”, which will be freely available and aims to support skill development for tourism professionals
  • The formulation of the professional profile in the field of game-based tourism

Furthermore, DAISSy-HOU is involved in the data collection and analysis, as well as the dissemination and exploitation activities at the national level.

The I-DEMO project runs for 30 months (1.11.2024–30.4.2027) and is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union under the action “KA220-VET – Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training.” It is implemented by a consortium of seven (7) partners from six (6) European countries (Italy, Greece, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal), with DAISSy-HOU as the Greek partner.

For more information about the I-DEMO project by: