Category Archives: News & Events

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DAISSy-HOU call for the Survey on Shaping the Future of STE(A)M Education

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logo-seerIf you are a pre-service teacher, in-service teacher, principal, director, or school manager, this is your time!

The “STE(A)M Education European Roadmap project-SEER” European project, currently undergoing with the DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) as the Greek partner, supports the expansion of STE(A)M education in Europe, and it needs the  insights into the current state of STE(A)M education across all levels and types of education.

Specifically, the main aim of the SEER project is to provide a set of roadmaps to pave the way for the policy and institutional changes, which are necessary for the large-scale implementation and mainstreaming of STE(A)M education in Europe.

Within this framework, a respective survey has been launched, aiming at shaping the roadmap for STE(A)M education and shed light on the needs of teachers and educators.

More precisely:

  • The questionnaire is available in English, Greek, German, Dutch, and Italian
  • The survey is on the air until 31st December 2023
  • The participation is done simply by filling in the respective form, here.

The SEER is a three-year project, co-funded by the European Commission through the EU Horizon Program (HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ERA-01-70 – HORIZON-CSA). It is implemented by a consortium of six (6) partners in six (6) European countries (Belgium, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Netherlands, Italy) with the DAISSy-HOU as the Greek partner, being involved in all project deliverables and having the responsibility for the analysis of the needs and the impact for STEAM education.

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

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DAISSy-HOU at the 3rd Transnational Partners’ Meeting of the “LEARN.INC” EU Project, in Cannakale (Turkey)

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logo-learnIncOn 12th and 13th September 2023, the 3rd Transnational Partners’ Meeting (TPM) of the “LEARN.INC-Learning Incubator for Project-based Teaching and Training through Research” EU project, took place at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi (COMU), in Cannakale (Turkey). The event marked an important milestone in the project’s ongoing commitment to advancing project-based education and empowering educators in the four (4) partner countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey).

The 3rd TPM of the “LEARN.INC” project, hosted by Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi, the Turkish partner, brought together a diverse group of participants from the partner institutions, representing a broad spectrum of expertise and experience within the education sector. The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek partner, sharing valuable long-term related experience was actively involved within all sessions of the two-day TPM. Fruitful discussions and knowledge exchange during the meeting, marked the progress of the deliverables based on the project’s core objectives.

More precisely, the two-day TPM involved twelve (12) partner representatives on-site and additionally four (4) representatives on-line, so that all five (5) project partners, from four (4) countries, take part, namely: Lucian Blanga University of Sibiu- LBUS (Romania), Hellenic Open University-HOU (Greece), COMU (Turkey), Research & Training Point- RTP (Bulgaria), and University of Sofia – UniSofia (Bulgaria).

During the first TMP day, the team members carried out a comprehensive overview of the activities completed so far, highlighting the project achievements and strategies for success. Each University partner presented the main accomplishments for the first eighteen (18) months of the project implementation, as well as the forthcoming activities planned to be completed. Key topics of discussion also included the communication and dissemination strategies, as well as the quality assurance measures to ensure excellence in outcomes and impact. The project management and financial oversight procedures were assessed, as part of the project’s ongoing monitoring and evaluation plan.

Within the same framework, the consortium focused on a few of the main project topics, such as the proposed content of the training modules and their application in the virtual platform. It also led to reviewing specific administrative and financial issues, the monitoring of quality aspects as well as the sharing and promotion of activities, including the communication strategy concerning the recent period of the project implementation.

This was followed by partners’ presentations regarding the evolvement of project activities based on their responsibilities. The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU was represented by Mrs Vasiliki Takouli, Project Manager and Administrator of DAISSy, who delivered a speech regarding the structure of the methodology for the creation of an Open Access Archive of Digital Courses (OPENARC), a series of 12 common online courses in MOOC format. All the content will be derived from the two previous work packages, will be made digital, in various media (videos, presentations, etc.) and will become a resource for learning and teaching in the collaborating HEIs. She explained the concept and put questions to be considered by the partners for the next implementation steps. Then she participated actively in the elaboration and the agreement on certain aspects about the related LEARN.INC upcoming activities.

The second TPM day was dedicated to a visit at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi, a meeting with Prof. Dr. R. Cüneyt ERENOĞLU, Rector of COMU, where discussion evolved about the project activities and achievements as well as opportunities for further cooperation between the partner institutions, including through new projects in the field of education and research. Following the official part, delegates visited the facilities of COMU and learnt more about the study programs offered by the University.

The 3rd TPM of LEARN.INC was successful! The partners joined the two-day sessions with interest and team spirit, bringing added value perceived by all participants.

The LEARN.INC is a three-year project, co-funded by the European Union, under the Erasmus+ Programme, aiming at enhancing education quality and empowering educators to employ challenge-based methods for innovative teaching and learning in academia.

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For more information on the LEARN.INC project and other activities of DAISSy:

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“Smart work and open learning”: DAISSy-HOU organized with success the Multiplier Event of the “Working Smart” EU project (22.9.2023, Patras)

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logo-workingsmartThe DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) organized with success the multiplier event on “Smart Work and Open Learning“, which took place in person on Friday 22nd September 2023, in Patras (“My Way” hotel). It is a dissemination event about the results of the “WorkingSmart: Smart working and Open Learning” European project, implemented by DAISSy-HOU, as the Greek partner, that marks the completion of the project activities.

The WorkingSmart project aims to challenge EU SMEs to consider the empowering culture created by new technologies and smart working with different approaches to work and life styles between women and men. The project will define the profile of the Smart Work Manager/Advisor and train him/her to be able to address resistance to change within and outside EU organizations, primarily resistance not (only) to the technical dimension of change, but also to the social and cultural dimension of change (personal relationships) that will accompany digital change.

The multiplier event was addressed to entrepreneurs, managers and executives, employees and freelancers and was very popular, attracting the interest of more than forty (40) participants, members of the project’s target groups and areas of activation.

The sessions were launched by a welcome address by Christos Pierrakeas, Professor of the University of Patras, Deputy Director of DAISSy, and a presentation of the activities of the Research Group, emphasizing on its vision and mission.

Then, Vasiliki Takouli, Project Manager of DAISSy, presented the Working Smart project and analyzed its actions, objectives and results, as well as the specific role of DAISSy, which developed part of the educational material and also contributed to the creation of the professional profile of the Smart Work Manager/Advisor, being one of the main objectives of the project.

Accordingly, Hara Kokkinou, DAISSy Researcher, presented the professional profile of the Smart Work Manager/Advisor, analyzing the way of creating and thinking based on the desired profile as well as its goal.

This was followed by a presentation by Rizo Chaliabalia, DAISSy Researcher, on the Working Smart online platform and the training material, included in the project results, to be used for the training of candidates wishing to familiarize themselves with remote working. It is noteworthy that, during the updating of the training material, ten (10) representatives of the stakeholders took part in this process and contributed to the documentation by providing constructive comments.

Εmphasis was put to the interconnection of WorkingSmart with Agile2Learn, a related European project that is also being implemented by DAISSy-HOU as the partner in Greece, which was presented by Katerina Nikolakopoulou, Researcher of DAISSy, analyzing its content.

The sessions were finalized by reflecting on the activity, that led to a fruitful discussion on the introduction of distance working and the ways of motivating SMEs to integrate it, into their operating framework. The atmosphere was pleasant and the comments were positive, regarding both the usefulness of such projects and the willingness of active participation, in future initiatives of this kind.

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University is thankful to the participants and all those companies that contributed to the success of the dissemination event, through their continuous support.

The WorkingSmart is a two-year project co-funded by the European Union, under the Erasmus+ programme. It is implemented by a consortium of six (6) partners from five (5) countries (Spain, Italy, France, Slovenia, Spain, Greece) with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU as the Greek partner.

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For more information about the WorkingSmart project and other DAISSy Research Group activities:

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DAISSy-HOU actively participated in the 4th Transnational Partners’ Meeting of the “NEFELE” EU Project in Maastricht (Netherlands)

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On 19th and 20th September 2023, the “European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU)” hosted the fourth Transnational Partners’ Meeting (TPM) of the “NEFELE-NEET prevention in Educational systems through positive Future vision Enhancing Learning and teacher Education” EU project, that took place in Maastricht (Netherlands).

The TPM was attended in presence by representatives of the partners i.e. the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU), the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, (SUPSI) and SMARTED (SM).

The NEFELE project aims at modelling innovative methodologies for middle school pre-service teachers that can support adolescents’ career construction and a positive vision of the future. Specifically, NEFELE provides curricular frameworks based on career development and positive psychology through tools (such as Massive Open Online Course-MOOC, digital game and OER Shared Platform), in order to orient teachers’ supportive behaviours.

On the first TPM day, the sessions started by focusing on the state of the art and open issues of the NEFELE MOOC. Specifically, the partnership discussed the certification process of the MOOC, which is developed under the responsibility of the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, being the Greek project partner. DAISSy-HOU participated in the TPM and was represented by Achilles Kameas, HOU Professor, Director of DAISSy, Vasiliki Takouli, Project Manager and Administrator of DAISSy, as well as Rizos Chaliabalias, Senior researcher of DAISSy.

Emphasis was put to the presentation of the final version of the MOOC, delivered by Vasiliki Takouli, who explained in detail its content, the way of operation and the benefits for the trainees and the tutors. More precisely, the MOOC units cover the following topics: current threats and challenges of the labour market, competences needed for career transitions, career development and the role of teachers in students’ career transition, positive psychology and the use of technologies and tangible user interfaces in the educational context.

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Then, the SMARTED project partner presented the gamification approach of the NEFELE game and explained the steps for creating scenarios and the game to be useful in the classroom to enhance adolescent career exploration.

On the second TPM day, the meeting focused on the NEFELE OERs (Open Educational Resources) shared platform, the project deliverable scheduled in these months. The main idea is to create a WebApp on career guidance to promote career decisions in students and help other people (teachers, parents, career practitioners) find helpful information on career paths, to support adolescents.

NEFELE is a thirty-month (1st December 2021-31st May 2024) project, funded by the Erasmus+ EU program, implemented by a consortium of six (6) partners from five (5) countries (Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Greece) with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, being the Greek partner.

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

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DAISSy-HOU coordinated the Training of Trainers Workshop of the “LEARN.INC” EU Project, in Patras (Greece)

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On 6th ,7th and 8th September 2023, the DAISSy Reasearch Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) coordinated the Training of Trainers Workshop (Tot) of the “Learn.Inc-Learning Incubator for Project-based Teaching and Training through Research” EU project, that took place in Patras (Greece) and was supported by all project partners.

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, equipping educators with innovative teaching techniques and digital readiness is essential. The LEARN.INC project is committed to empowering educators with innovative teaching techniques, digital readiness, and transversal skills development. In the wake of this idea, a Training of Trainers workshop was implemented at the headquarters of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) in Patras (Greece), which highlighted the significant benefits for participants and the broader community.

During the workshop, educators representing the LEARN.INC partners, i.e. Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (Romania), Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski (Bulgaria), Research & Training Point Foundation from (Bulgaria), Hellenic Open University (Greece) and Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Turkey), who were exposed to a range of innovative pedagogical techniques, allowing them to create more engaging and interactive learning experiences. These insights, coupled with a focus on digital readiness, equipped educators with the skills and tools necessary to effectively leverage digital technologies in their teaching practices.

One of the workshop’s key emphases regarded the development of transversal skills, including problem-solving and critical thinking. Trainees were encouraged to explore challenge-based research and practice, enhancing their own skills while gaining valuable tools to help their students excel in an ever-changing job market.

Moreover, the workshop fostered networking and collaboration among participants from diverse backgrounds. This networking not only facilitated knowledge sharing but also opened doors for future partnerships, further enriching the educational ecosystem.

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Beyond these strengths acquired by the participants, the impact of such initiatives extends to communities and stakeholders. The enhancement of education quality through well-prepared graduates benefits local communities by producing individuals better equipped to meet the demands of the modern job market. Communities also benefit from the potential for dynamic community programs and initiatives that result from engaging with educators exposed to innovative teaching methods and digital tools.

In essence, the LEARN.INC Train of Trainers workshop serves as a beacon of hope for education communities. It emphasizes the importance of continuous professional development for educators and ensures that they remain at the forefront of innovation in education. As the world evolves, so must our teaching methods and approaches, and workshops like this play a pivotal role in making that a reality.

The three-day Tot involved ten (10) partner representatives on-site as well as six (6) additional representative on-line, so that all project partners take part.

The LEARN.INC is a three-year project, co-funded by the European Union, under the Erasmus+ Programme. It is implemented by a consortium of five (5) partners from four (4) countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey) with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU being the Greek partner.

For more information on the Learn.Inc project and other activities of DAISSy:

 

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DAISSy at the 2nd Transnational Partners’ Meeting of the european project: “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of Management EDUcation, training and professions“

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The “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of Management EDUcation, training and professions, EDIFY_EDU“ is a three-year project (01.09.2022–31.08.2025) co-funded by the European Union (EU). It is implemented by twelve (12) partners in six (6) EU member states, which are, in A/Z order: Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland (Coordinator) and Italy, and three Associated Partners in Belgium, Germany and Italy.

The 2nd Transnational Partners’ Meeting (TPM) of the EDIFY-EDU project, was hosted on the 12th-14th September 2023, by AALTO University in Finland, and it provided a favorable opportunity for the partners to exchange on the progress of the deliverables, check the sharing of the tasks and agree on the next steps of the project implementation.

The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, the Greek academic partner, actively participated at the TPM represented by Ms Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager, who delivered a detailed presentation on the EDIFY-EDU upcoming E-learning platform, for which DAISSy serves as the Leader partner on its design, implementation, maintenance and evaluation. The presentation emphasized on the platform’s structure and main elements by drawing attention to specific sections such as the, online learning space, resources and materials formats, “co-working space” dedicated to foster cooperation between participants, as well as the “consultation room” encouraging the communication between the trainers and the tutors/ mentors.

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The TPM was completed by agreeing on the next steps and confirming the upcoming deadlines linked with the respective deliverables and the roles of all the partners.

Stay tuned and find out more about the EDIFY_EDU project and other activities of the DAISSy Research Group at:

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The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU invites to the Multiplier Event of Good Practices on the “Innovative Agile Teaching and Learning approaches, for Primary & Secondary Education Teachers” of the “Agile2Learn” project

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logo-agile2learnThe Hellenic Open University and the DAISSy Research Group invite to the multiplier event on “Innovative Agile Teaching and Learning Approaches, for Primary & Secondary Education Teachers“, which takes place on-site on 22nd Friday 2023, at 18.00-20.00 (EEST), at “My Way” hotel, Patras (Greece). The action concerns the completion of the “Innovative Agile Project-based Learning (Agile2Learn)” European project, and it is organized in collaboration with the Regional Center for Educational Planning (PEKES) of Western Greece.

The event aims, among other things, at promoting the good practices resulting from the participation of teachers of Primary and Secondary Education Schools in the Agile2Learn project, during the school year of 2022-2023.

The first part of the multiplier event includes brief speeches on the activities of the DAISSy-HOU as well as on the content of the Agile2Learn EU project. Then, short presentations (of 5′-7′ minutes) are scheduled on-site and/or online, to be delivered both by the teachers who participated in the Agile2Learn training program and/or those who applied the project educational tools in their class, and by the teachers who attended and successfully completed the “Teachers’ Short Training Program – Advancing Agile Learning Competences”, which was implemented by the HOU in collaboration with the PEKES of Western Greece.

Successively, there will be short speeches regarding related projects of DAISSy-HOU, whose interconnection with Agile2Learn leads to multiple results.

During the last part of the event, a Certificate of Completion of the implementation of the Agile2Learn will be awarded to each teacher, who participated in the project.

More precisely, regarding the multiplier event for the dissemination of the Agile2Learn good practices:

  • Participation in the event is free of charge and open to the public.
  • The detailed agenda accompanies this invitation.
  • Online participation is possible through the electronic zoom platform.

The Agile2Learn project was co-funded by the European Union, within the Erasmus+ Program. It was a two-year project that was implemented by a consortium of five (5) partners from four (4) countries (EPMA – Agentura pro Evroske Projecty & Management Sdruzeni (Czech), UTH – University of Thessaly (Greece), HOU – Hellenic Open University (Greece), Consorzio Ro.Ma. (Italy) and Helliwood – Forderverein fur Jugend und Sozialarbeit e.V. (Germany), with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, as one of the two Greek partners.

For more information about the Agile2Learn project and other activities of DAISSy:

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DAISSy Research Group of HOU invites you to the ALL DIGITAL Summit 2023

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The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University, an active member of the ALL DIGITAL network in Greece, invites you to join the ALL DIGITAL Summit 2023. The event will take place on September 25-27 2023 in Zagreb, Croatia, with a number of sessions also available online. For more information and to register: https://all-digital.org/all-digital-summit-2023/. Deadline for online participants’ registration: 21.09.23

The event is entitled “Skills for Digital Tomorrow” and deals with topics around the field of digital skills in various sectors such as culture, innovation and education. ALL DIGITAL Summit 2023 is targeted to policymakers, local authorities, academics, experts, education and training organizations and any person interested in the digital skills for shaping a better digital tomorrow.

A detailed description of the event’s content is available on the website and includes the list of confirmed speakers and the programme of works.

The DAISSy Research Group of HOU has been an active member of the ALL DIGITAL international network for years, with its Director, Ms. Achilles Kameas, participating in its Board of Directors and in the organization of the event itself. DAISSy will play an active role in the ALL DIGITAL Summit 2023, with speeches, workshops and participation in the international marketplace.

Stay tuned and find out more about the activities of DAISSy:

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DAISSy Research Group at the International Seminar “Skills for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion – Requirements for a fairer, more diverse and inclusive labour market”

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edify-edu-logoThe International Seminar on “Skills for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion- Requirements for a fairer, more diverse and inclusive labour market”, which was organized in a hybrid mode on September, 13th, 2023 (13.00-15.30, EEST) in Espoo (Finland) by Aalto University, within the framework of the “Equality, Diversity, Inclusion For improving the qualitY of Management EDUcation, training and professions (EDIFY-EDU)” european project, triggered the interest of experts and practitioners, representatives of authorities, institutions, business and academia, active citizens, and more generally stakeholders interested in the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles and their application in the labor market.

The Seminar included guest experts’ speeches, panel discussions and video presentations, which addressed not only the skills gap in the Business Management education regarding competencies on workplace in EDI, but also collected valuable inputs from the experts to be integrated into the content of the EDIFY-EDU training program to follow. Through a vivid exchange on the observations from the project’s research in five partner-countries (DE, FIN, GR, IR, IT), it achieved its target on leading the way for next actions towards a fairer, more diverse and inclusive labour market.

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek Academic partner of the EDIFY-EDU project, supported the organization of the Seminar, and it was represented in person in the event by its members, Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager & Researcher, and Mr. Kostas Mantzos, Researcher. Mr. Mantzos also participated in a Panel Discussion and emphasized on the main findings of the national report on the skills gap in the business management education regarding the EDI competencies at the workplace in Greece.

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Stay tuned and find out more about the EDIFY_EDU project and other activities of the DAISSy Research Group at:

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DAISSy-HOU announes an extended deadline for registering to the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on financial literacy in the digital age for young people and youth workers

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youth-l-logoThe DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) announces an exdended deadline for registering to the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) financed by the “Empowering the youth through Financial Literacy” European project, in order to increase financial literacy through innovative, easily accessible and understandable non-formal education methodologies as well as practical activities.

The respective MOOC has been developed under the responsibility of DAISSy-HOU, is open to all and includes educational material, presentations, relevant informative material, practical manuals, as well as self-assessment questions. Specifically:

It is free of charge and is provided in English, through the online educational platform of the project, developed by DAISSy-HOU.

Participants who successfully complete the MOOC, receive a Certificate of completion.

It has a total duration of 21 hours and includes six (6) thematic units, as follows:

  • Section 1. INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL LITERACY
  • Section 2. BUDGETING
  • Section 3. FUNDING
  • Section 4. INVESTMENTS
  • Section 5. TAXATION
  • Section 6. ENTREPRENEURSHIP

It requires the expression of interest by submitting the respective form until (new deadline) Monday 25th September 2023.

The “Empowering the youth through Financial Literacy” is a two-year project funded by the Erasmus+ European program and aiming to enhance the professional employment of young people, supporting them in acquiring financial knowledge and developing skills for a smoother integration into the labour market. It is implemented by a consortium of five (5) partners representing five (5) European countries (Greece, Belgium, Spain, Poland, and Georgia), with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, as the Greek partner.

For more information about the Empowering the youth through Financial Literacy project, as well as other actions of the DAISSy-HOU: