The kick-off meeting of the “STEM for Inclusive Schools” project was held on March 12, 2024, in Galați, Romania. This meeting marked the official start of the project, with representatives from various partner institutions coming together to discuss the project’s objectives, tasks, and future work plan. The meeting was chaired primarily by Marc Beutner, with various partners contributing throughout the day.
Agenda Highlights
09:00 – 09:30: Welcome Coffee
- An informal welcome session where participants had the opportunity to meet and greet each other in a relaxed atmosphere before the official start of the meeting.
09:30 – 10:00: Warm Welcome
- Chair: Marc Beutner
- The meeting officially began with a warm welcome from Marc Beutner, representing the coordinating partner. Marc provided an overview of the meeting schedule and set the tone for the day, encouraging collaboration and open communication among the partners.
10:00 – 10:30: Partner Introductions
- Chair: Each partner
- Each partner introduced their institution with a brief presentation (5 minutes), highlighting their role in the project and their expertise.
10:30 – 10:45: Coffee Break
10:45 – 11:00: The Core Idea of the Project
- Chair: Marc Beutner
- Marc provided a detailed overview of the “STEM for Inclusive Schools” project, explaining its rationale, purpose, and aims. He also outlined the role of each partner as outlined in the proposal, provided an overview of the intellectual outputs, and introduced the project website. The session concluded with a Q&A discussion.
11:00 – 12:00: Status Update on Tasks
- Chair: Each partner
- Each partner presented a short update (5 minutes) on the tasks they have completed so far, including any challenges or outstanding issues, in preparation for the upcoming first Transnational Project Meeting (TPM).
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch Break
Afternoon Workshop
13:00 – 13:45: Insight into WP 1 – Project Management
- Chair: Marc Beutner
- The session covered important aspects of project management, including reporting requirements and the use of the PROM online finance and project management tool. Dissemination and exploitation strategies were discussed, focusing on the project website, social media, publications, and risk analysis.
13:45 – 15:30: Insight into WP 2 – STEM Activities Design and OER
- Chair: Leading partner presentations
- This session provided a detailed insight into Work Package 2, including data collection and field research (SIEC), the upcoming LTTA 1 in Germany (UPB), and the design and construction of Open Educational Resources (OER) led by Successos. Upcoming events such as TPM2 and piloting activities were also discussed.
15:30 – 16:30: What’s Laying Ahead
- Chair: Marc Beutner
- This session provided an overview of Work Package 3 and 4, focusing on the next steps, project timeline, and upcoming responsibilities. There was also a discussion about meeting dates and coordination for future tasks.
16:30 – 17:00: Evaluation
- Chair: Marc Beutner
- The day concluded with a workshop evaluation, where participants reflected on the discussions, provided feedback, and assessed the meeting’s outcomes.
20:00: Social Dinner
- The meeting was followed by a social dinner, offering an opportunity for networking and informal discussions among the partners.
The meeting successfully set the stage for the implementation of the “STEM for Inclusive Schools” project, with partners aligned on tasks, timelines, and collaboration strategies.