Category Archives: News & Events

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The DAISSy Research Group of HOU co-organized and coordinated two meet-ups in the framework of the online Course “Critical Visual Media Literacy and Fluency”

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CLIP-logoThe DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University (HOU) co-organised two meet-ups for the learners participating in the “Critical Visual Media Literacy and Fluency” online Course, which has been developed and runs within the framework of the “Critical visual media literacy and empowerment (CLIP)” European project, currently undergoing by DAISSy-HOU as the Greek partner.

The meet-ups were held online on November 9thand November 23rd2023, from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm CET, aiming at fostering the connections and peer learning by providing the participants with the opportunity to meet and collaborate in interactive group activities.

Specifically, the meet ups were moderated by Ms. Panagiota Polymeropoulou, Researcher at DAISSy-HOU and member of the CLIP project team.  Ms. Simona Pezzano, Adjuct Faculty Professor at IULM University, also a CLIP project partner, provided a brief overview of the Modules of the online micro-learning Course, that has been developed by the CLIP consortium under the methodology and coordination of DAISSy-HOU, and introduced/ engaged the participants in the group activities. Each one of the two meet-ups, attracted the interest of more than twenty five (25) CLIP Course learners, who joined vividly.

The CLIP is an eighteen-month (18) project co-funded by the ERASMUS+/KA220-HED-Cooperation partnerships in Higher Education Programme of the European Union. It is coordinated by the UNIMED – Unione  Delle Universita Del Mediterraneo (Italy) with IULM-Libera Universita Di Lingue e Comunicazione (Italy), ALL DIGITAL (Belgium) and Hellenic Open University–DAISSy Research Group (Greece) as partners.

For more information on the CLIP project, and other projects and activities of DAISSy:

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Info Day on “The use of digital solutions in vocational training and education” by DAISSy-HOU, within the UPDATE project

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update-logoThe DAISSy research group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) invites to the info day on “The use of digital solutions in vocational training and education”, to be organized within the framework of the implementation of the UPDATE- User-friendly Practical Distance Active Training Experience European project, currently undergoing by DAISSy, as the Greek partner.The activity takes place on Friday 15th December 2023 at 18.00’, in Patras, Greece (“Moxy Patra Marina” Hotel), providing also the possibility of online participation, through the zoom electronic platform.

Specifically, the event is addressed to individuals and representatives of associations, institutions and bodies at local, national and European level. In particular, it is addressed to vocational education and training providers, apprenticeship advisors, vocational training teachers, decision-makers, researchers and education professionals.

To this end, the event focuses on the effective integration of new technologies in the educational process, mainly in practical/manual content, as well as the presentation of the UPDATE project deliverables, which have been developed through the contribution of DAISSy-HOU as partner – in addition, the event will add value to this direction by supporting vocational education and training providers, tutors and teachers.

More precisely:

  • Participation is free of charge and open to all
  • Pre-registration is not needed
  • Online participation is available through the Zoom electronic platform, by using the following link.

The UPDATE aims to strengthen and implement a digital ecosystem for vocational training by collecting and developing digital and technological solutions and enhancing the updating of digital skills of vocational education and training of teachers and trainers. The overall objective of the project is to improve the quality of vocational training provided by VET organisations – with a view to increasing the learning opportunities, integration and training success of trainees, as well as their employability – by enhancing the capacities of trainers and instructors to implement blended and distance learning formats and to apply new technologies to vocational training activities with a high practical content.

The project is implemented by a consortium of four (4) partners representing four (4) European countries (Greece, Italy, Estonia, Denmark). The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University, the Greek partner, participates in all deliverables of the UPDATE project and is responsible for the development of the UPDATE training programme and the electronic learning platform.

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

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Info Day “From linear to circular: Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs” by DAISSy-HOU, within the RE-START project

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logo-restartThe DAISSy research group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) invites to the info day entitled “From linear to circular: Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs”, to be organized within the framework of the implementation of the RE-START – Reinforcing the circular economy model for START-ups European project, currently undergoing by DAISSy as the Greek partner.The activity takes place on Friday 15th December 2023 at 11.00’, at the Auditorium of the Department of Management Science and Technology of the University of Patras (Building DETb, room DETb0.1 – Address: Megalou Alexandrou 1, Patras University Complex, Koukouli area).

Specifically, the event is addressed to students and recent graduates of higher education, regardless of their field of study, business consultants, trainers and any person or institution wishing to get acquainted with the model of circular economy and entrepreneurship. It deals with the transition from the linear to the circular business model and the tools available to achieve this transition.

To this end, the event focuses on the presentation of the circular business model, the RE-START project’s  innovative digital tools and circular entrepreneurship training programme, which have been developed with the participation of DAISSy-HOU in the framework of the project.

More precisely:

  • Participation is free of charge and open to all
  • Pre-registration is not needed
  • Participation Certificates swill be provided

The RE-START is a two-year project co-funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, that aims at encouraging and guiding students in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), recent graduates and potential startupers to develop a circular start-up or transform their business idea into a circular one following the definition of the circular start-ups which characterizes them as business models based on implementing at least one out of the five (5) CE strategies: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Regenerate.

The project is implemented by a consortium of six (6) partners representing five (5) European countries (Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Portugal, Poland). The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University, the Greek partner, participates in all deliverables of the RE-START project and is responsible for the development of the Circular Business Plan Toolkit.

For more information about the RE-START project and other activities of DAISSy-HOU:

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The DAISSy Research Group participated at the International Event ALL DIGITAL Summit 2023

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The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) participated at the 16th ALL DIGITAL Summit 2023, which was held in Zagreb, Croatia, on September 25th, 26th, and 27th, 2023. The International event AD Summit is organized annually by the European organization ALL DIGITAL (AD), a pan-European Network based in Brussels representing member organizations from all over Europe. The AD network collaborates with 25,000 digital skills development centers with the aim of ensuring that every European citizen can benefit from the digital transformation. The DAISSy Research Group has been a member of the AD Network since 2016. 

The theme of the 16th AD Summit 2023 was “Skills for the Digital Future”. The programme included keynote speeches, panels, workshops, and informative sessions with over 200 in person participants, and an even larger number of online participants through live online broadcasts. Policy makers, stakeholders in digital education, trainers, educators, representatives of civil society, and market representatives were actively involved in the sessions attended by the DAISSy Research Group. 

Specifically, DAISSy participated at the sessions:

  • Educational workshop for the European project “CrAL: Creative Audiovisual Lab for the Promotion of Critical Thinking and Media Literacy”, during which Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager of HOU’s team, presented the educational platform developed by DAISSy which operates on its own server for online courses and platforms.
  • Lightning talks, on which Ms. Natalia Spyropoulou, Project Manager of HOU’s team and head researcher, presented the significant results of the European projects “Spice: Special Education STEAM Academy” and “The SEER: STEAM Education European Roadmap”. DAISSy is the Coordinator of the first project, while it is responsible for conducting a pan-European survey on STEAM education in the second one.
  • World Café, on which Dr. Achilles Kameas, Professor at HOU, moderated the table on “Digital Social Innovation” with the aim of generating new ideas.

Additionally, throughout the event, DAISSy was present at the “Marketplace,” where it actively promoted its work.

For more information about the 16th ALL DIGITAL Summit 2023, as well as the recorded speeches, you can visit: https://all-digital.org/all-digital-summit-2023/

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The “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of Management EDUcation” Greek National report is completed by the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU

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edify-edu-logoDAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) has completed the national report on the skills gap in the business management education and the workplace regarding the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) competencies in Greece. The report presents the findings of the research conducted, within the framework of the project “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of Management EDUcation, training and professions (EDIFY-EDU)”, by DAISSy-HOU, as the Greek academic partner, in cooperation with the second EDIFY-EDU Greek labour partner, the Development Entity of the Chamber of Achaia (ACHADE).

Specifically, the findings are an outcome of a thorough research carried out from all project’s national project partners by applying various methods under a specific, common methodology. In Greece, DAISSy-HOU carried out a semi-systematic review of undergraduate business courses (EQF level 6), identifying thirty (30) Programmes/Courses at bachelor’s degree, related to management, business administration, management science and related fields. Furthermore, DAISSy-HOU conducted four (4) focus groups; three (3) with professionals from the labor market with a few of them being also PhD students and one (1) focus group with postgraduate students of Management of Business Administration (MBA) from the Department of Business Administration of the University of Thessaly (UTH). Lastly, DAISSy-HOU interviewed eleven (11) participants, and in addition, ACHADE, the Greek business partner, conducted five (5) video interviews related to EDI, targeting an overview of existing best practices.

Overall, the Greek national report summarizes the competencies identified during the desk research analysis in relation to business management courses but also the competencies recognized as the most important from the qualitative findings of the in-depth interviews and focus groups on EDI topics towards the European frameworks of EntreComp, DigComp and LifeComp.

Specifically, the report highlights the need for an improved undergraduate business education, as outlined by the European Commission, that embeds equality, diversity and inclusion and can contribute to alleviating existing gendered labour market and workplace EDI discriminatory practices. It provides insights into the social impact of existing and emerging labour market laws and policies and discusses the discrepancies between current policies and practices providing a recommended list of competencies needed to address EDI issues at the workplace. These competencies are aligned to the European frameworks (EntreComp, LifeComp and DigComp) and have been considered in the design and development of the upcoming micro credential modules for the EDIFY-EDU Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

The EDIFY-EDU is a three-year project co-funded by the ERASMUS+ Programme 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 (Ireland, Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Greece) and three associated partners in Germany, Italy and Belgium. The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU and the Achaia Chamber Development Entity (ACHADE) are the two partners 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.

Stay tuned and check the executive summary of the Greek National report at: https://www.edifyeduproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GREECE-Executive-Summary-of-the-National-Report.pdf

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

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The DAISSy Research Group of HOU participated at the annual Conference of the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities “I·HE2023: Innovating Higher Education”

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The “European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU)” is “the leading institutional university network for online, open and distance higher education“and in this context seeks innovation in the field of European Higher Education. EADTU organizes an annual conference, which focuses on topics related to new trends and factors affecting global and European Higher Education. More than 25 countries participate in the works of the Conference each year, while last year for the first time it took place in Greece, in co-organization with the Hellenic Open University (HOU), which is a full member of EADTU. For 2023, the Conference was held in Istanbul from 04 to 06 October with the central theme “Accelerating towards a digital and inclusive campus: Empowering Learners: Microcredentials, Generative AI, and Equity”.

The DAISSy Research Group of HOU had an active presence as four scientific papers, the result of its high-level work and international collaborations were accepted and presented at the Conference. The three of them were presented by Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager and Researcher of the Group. The papers were based on the results of European research projects in which DAISSy participates under the Scientific Coordination of the HOU Professor Achilles Kameas, and concerned current and timeless issues related to Higher Education, such as the strengthening of equality, inclusiveness, career development, etc. The list of presentations:

  1. “Accelerating towards an inclusive Management Education: Empowering learners on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion principles”, a collaboration of Ms. Eleni Georgakakou and Prof. Achilles Kameas with Dr. Audrey Stenson and Prof. Josephine Browne from DUN LAOGHAIRE Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Ireland.
  2. “Critical visual literacy in Higher Education: addressing bias and manipulation in the digital era”, a collaboration of Ms Eleni Georgakakou and Prof. Achilles Kameas with Dr. Simona Pezzano and Prof. Andrea Miconi from the Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione (IUML) in Italy.
  3. “Implementing teacher training model in HE to support adolescents’ career planning: The NEFELE Erasmus+ project”, a collaboration of Mr. Ioannis Kalemis and Prof. Achilles Kameas with Alessandra Antonaci (EADTU), Anna Parola (University of Naples), Rosa Banos (University of Valencia), Jenny Marcionetti (SUPSI), Luigia Simona Sica (University of Naples).
  4.  “Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education Institutions: Data informed policy recommendations on gender & LGBT+ educational inclusion”, a collaboration of Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Mr. Konstantinos Mantzos and Prof. Achilles Kameas with Prof. Anna Lisa Amodeo from the University of Naples Federico II and Ms. Camilla Esposito, Sinapsis Center of the University of Naples Federico II.

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For more information on DAISSy projects and actions:

  • Website   : http://daissy.eap.gr/en
  • Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
  • Linkedin   : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup
  • Twitter     : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
  • Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
  • Email        : info@daissy.eap.gr
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The DAISSy Research Group of HOU presented the “EDIFY-EDU” project at the annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation

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edifyedu-postThe 16th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation (ICERI) was held from 13 to 15 November 2023 in Seville (Spain) on “Transforming Education, Transforming Lives“. The Conference provided a unique opportunity to exchange with a wide range of global experts, and also to present the “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of Management EDUcation, training and professions (EDIFY-EDU)” european co-funded project, currently undergoing with the DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) as the Greek academic project partner. 

The International Academy of Technology, Education and Development (IATED) has been organizing ICERI on an annual basis for sixteen (16) years in a row. It is a Conference that has become a prominent global educational event and thus, this year it attracted seven hundred and eighty (780) delegates from sixty (60) countries. 

DAISSy-HOU was actively involved in the ICERI 2023 Conference contributing five (5) scientific papers, a result of the high-standard achievements and international collaborations of the Group. The papers showcased the results of european research projects, which produce innovative methodologies and tools regarding education in the digital era, that are undergoing by DAISSy with prof. Achilles Kameas as Scientific Coordinator. 

With regard to the axis of strengthening the cooperation between Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and the Labour market, the paper and presentation on “A Research Methodology that includes University-Industry Cooperation for the Identification of Stakeholders’ experiences on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in applied Business Management and undergraduate Business Education” has taken place. It was based on the EDIFY-EDU project and developed/ submitted by Ms. Eleni Georgakakou (HOU-Greece), Audrey Stenson (DUN LAOGHAIRE Institute of Art, Design and Technology-Ireland), H. Ikävalko (Aalto University-Finland), Josephine Browne (DUN LAOGHAIRE Institute of Art, Design and Technology-Ireland) and Achilles Kames (HOU-Greece). The EDIFY-EDU project’ presentation was prepared by Ms Audrey Stenson and Ms Eleni Georgakakou, and it has been delivered online also by Ms Audrey Stenson.

The DAISSy-HOU was represented at the ICERI Conference 2023 by Prof. Achilles Kameas, Director of DAISSy, and Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager and Researcher of DAISSy, who attended a number of sessions and elaborated on peer learning and networking-new cooperations.

The EDIFY-EDU is a three-year project co-funded by the ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant of the European Union. It is implemented by a consortium of twelve (12) partners in six (6) EU member-states and it also involves three associated partners.

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

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DAISSy – HOU announces the student competition on the contemporary socio -economic challenges via the “Learn.Inc ” project!

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logo-learnIncThe DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU is pleased to announce the student competition on “Using the digital educational environment to solve modern socio-economic challenges (Challenge Based Learning -CBL)”  to be implemented within the framework of the “Learn.Inc : Learning Incubator for Project- based Teaching and Training through Research” EU project.

In particular, with regard to the CBL student competition of the Learn.Inc project, it is noteworthy that:

  • It is addressed to all postgraduate and post doc students of Greek Universities.
  • It is carried out in cooperation with Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (Romania), Sofia University St. Clement Ohridski (Bulgaria), Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universitesi (Turkey) and Research & Training Foundation Point Foundation (Bulgaria).

The aim of the student competition is to highlight innovative ideas in order to solve cutting-edge problems of socio-economic reality. By bringing learning and formal education closer to the agenda of the society and the local communities, the Learn.Inc project seeks to create a supportive environment for the launch of “bottom-up” initiatives, accessible to both the teachers and the students, so that they all develop knowledge in a flexible way. At the same time, research is a key element of the whole process, where students will follow personalized learning paths that will lead them to their own results and achievements. The need of the students to interface with both private businesses and social organizations, is the impetus of the CBL student competition.

More precisely, the participants of the CBL competition are invited to develop a short idea, so that learning takes place through the identification, the analysis and the design of a solution to a real social, technical  or business problem. Looking for answers to the above stages, students are invited to present their scientific proposals to an Evaluation Committee, consisting of representatives of the Learn.Inc project team and the associated partner institutions.

As a result, the participants in the CBL student competition will have the opportunity to be involved in a creative process of participatory training (in collaboration with other users and groups from the University and business community) in order to develop skills, aiming at experiencing their idea being shaped and transformed into a complete application. A pitching exchange among the various ideas will be part of the competition, to be followed by an evaluation process and an award to the most innovative proposals.

The CBL student competition of the Learn.Inc project includes the following phases:

  • Submission of applications: 23rd November- 4th December 2023 (using the following link: https://www.learn-inc.eu/en/profile )
  • Selection of candidates : 4th to 8th December 2023
  • Implementation of the competition : November to December 2023

The Learn.Inc is a three-year project, co-funded by the European Union, in the framework of the “ERASMUS+/Key Program Action 2 Sector: Partnerships for Cooperation in a field of Higher Education” program. It is implemented by a consortium of five (5) partners from four (4) countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Greece) with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU being the Greek partner, responsible for the implementation of all actions at national level and participating in all project intellectual outputs.

For more information about the Learn. Inc project and other actions of DAISSy – HOU:

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DAISSy Research Group of HOU presented the “EDIFY-EDU” project at the annual Conference of the European Distance Teaching Universities

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edify-edu-logoThe annual Higher Education (HE) Conference of the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU) was held from 04 to 06 October 2023 in Istanbul (Turkey) on “Accelerating towards a digital and inclusive campus: Empowering Learners: Microcredentials, Generative AI, and Equity“. The Conference provided an excellent context for the presentation of the European co-funded project “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of Management EDUcation, training and professions (EDIFY-EDU)” by the DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek academic project partner.

The HE Conference is organized annually by the EADTU, which is the Association of Universities of Europe that provide open distance education and that seeks innovation in the field of European Higher Education. The annual Conference focuses on issues related to the new trends and the parameters affecting HE at  European and International level.

It is noteworthy that more than twenty-five (25) countries participate in the EADTU HE Conference on an annual basis, while last year (2022) it took place in Greece for the first time co-organized by the Hellenic Open University, which is a full member of EADTU.

The DAISSy Research Group was actively involved in the 2023 EADTU Conference contributing four (4) scientific abstracts, a result of the high-standard effort and international collaborations of the Group which were accepted and presented in its framework. The papers showcased the results of European research projects which tackle modern and timeless topics regarding HE which and that undergoing by DAISSy, with Achilles Kameas, Professor of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the HOU and Director of DAISSy, being the Scientific Coordinator.

More precisely and with regard to the axis of strengthening inclusiveness, the presentation on “Accelerating towards an inclusive Management Education: Empowering learners on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion principles” attracted high interest. It was based on the EDIFY-EDU European project and developed/ submitted by Ms. Eleni Georgakakou (HOU), Audrey Stenson and Josephine Browne (DUN LAOGHAIRE Institute of Art, Design and Technology) and Achilles Kames (HOU).

The EDIFY-EDU project’ presentation was delivered in person by Ms Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager and Researcher at DAISSY-HOU, who analyzed its methodology and expected results, focusing on the educational distance teaching tools and the blended learning that are being developed in the context of the project aiming at promoting the principles of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and the acceleration towards Inclusive HE in the field of Management.

The EDIFY-EDU is a three-year project co-funded by the ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant of the European Union. It is implemented by a consortium of twelve (12) partners in six (6) EU member-states (namely and in alphabetical order: Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland and Italy) and it also involves three Associated partners in Germany, Italy and Belgium. The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU and the Achade-Achaia Chamber Development Entity are the two partners which are thoroughly linked for the effective implementation of the project activities in Greece.

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

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The multiplier event of the D-ChallengHE project, organized by DAISSy-HOU, attracted high interest!

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logo-D-ChallengHEThe multiplier event of the «D-ChallengHE – Digital Challenge in Higher Education» European project entitled “Continuing training programs for professional development” attracted high interest and was a success. The action was realized in the context of the awareness event focusing on the “Development of Competences in the digital era“, which took place in person on Friday, October 27 2023, from 18:00 to 20:00 (MyWay hotel, Patras) and was organized by the DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University, the Greek partner of the D-ChallengHE project.

The main objective of the D-ChallengHE project is to highlight the experiences, practices and abilities of teaching and academic staff in Higher Education. In this context, the dissemination of best practices in e-learning, digitization of educational content, training and development of skills for online and blended learning, increased use of digital resources and open and distance education, are included.

The D-ChallengHE multiplier event was an one-hour action, attended by fifty (50) people and split in two parts. More precisely, the first part was dedicated to presenting the D-ChallengHE project, by analyzing its fundamental components (such as: scope, objectives, partnership, etc.) as well as its outcomes achieved so far.

In particular, important information about the D-ChallengHE online learning pilot program for teaching in Higher Education was presented in detail, namely the online learning platform, its structure and indicative content of the courses. The timetable and the learning model were presented, as well as the eligibility criteria for the potential participants and the indicative dates for registration to this learning program.

During the second part of the event, the sessions were focused on the activities of DAISSy-HOU in other European projects, currently ongoing within the sector of skills development, aiming at interlinking them with each other and with D-ChallengHE, so that to achieve multiplier effects.

It is noteworthy that the discussion with the participants at the end of the event, highlighted their positive view of the intended impact of the project, taking into account its educational actions as well. In parallel, a strong interest was expressed in the registration process for joining the D-ChallengHE online learning pilot program for teaching in Higher Education.  In addition, they expressed their willingness to participate in subsequent training opportunities and multiplier events of the DAISSy-HOU, in the future.

The D-ChallengHE is a two-year project, co-financed by the European ERASMUS+ program and implemented by a consortium of six (6) partners in five (5) EU member states (Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Romania and Lithuania), with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU being the Greek partner.

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For more information about the D-ChallengHE project as well as other actions of the DAISSy Research Group: