ERTA - European Robotics Teachers’ Academy – Educational Robotics for STEM Skills, Arts and Humanities, Computational Thinking, Creativity, Emotional Intelligence, and Inclusion in Preschool and Early
Description
The European Robotics Teachers’ Academy (ERTA) is a European education partnership that promotes a holistic approach to the use of Educational Robotics (ER) in preschool and early primary education. By bringing together Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) providers, schools, public bodies and expert organisations from six countries, the project aims to support teachers in using ER not only for STEM learning but also for developing students’ creativity, emotional intelligence, computational thinking, and supporting their inclusion.
ERTA will establish a European Community of Practice and codesign a training programme for teacher trainers, followed by a tailored training programme for pre-service and in-service teachers. These programmes will be supported by blended learning resources, a structured mobility scheme, and co-created teaching materials.
The goal is to provide teachers with practical and accessible tools for using ER in ways that connect different disciplines and skills in preschool and early primary education. Through classroom pilots and training activities, ERTA will test, evaluate and refine its approach, leading to the development of policy recommendations, along with a micro-credentialing framework to support wider uptake. The project will conclude with a European Policy Forum on Educational Robotics, encouraging dialogue and action to embed ER in teacher education systems in Europe.
ERTA is co-funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement No. 101249425). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Basic information
Coordinator
EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN (DE) https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/80946
Partners
- STIMMULI FOR SOCIAL CHANGE O.E. (EL)
- UNIVERSITAT ROVIRA I VIRGILI (ES)
- PANEPISTIMIO PATRON (EL)
- UC LEUVEN (BE)
- UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA (ES)
- UNIVERSIDADE ABERTA (PT)
- The Regional Center for Supporting the Process of Inclusive Education – Sofia City (BG)
- Agrupamento de Escolas de Oliveira de Frades (PT)
Programme
Erasmus+ (programme-erasmus-plus)
Project Acronym
Target groups
education authorities, policy makers, researchers, trainee teachers, university students, university lecturers
Topic
Computer science, Electronics, Engineering, Information technology, Technology, Education, Other
Start year
2026
End year
2028
Contact person
Ino Korompoki, ino.korompoki@stimmuli.eu
ERTA’s research activities focus on mapping the current state of Educational Robotics and Computational Thinking in initial teacher education and continuing professional development across participating European countries. The project examines existing curricula, training practices, competence needs, institutional approaches, and barriers affecting the integration of robotics into teacher education.
The research combines desk-based analysis, national mapping, stakeholder consultation, and comparative assessment to identify gaps, transferable practices, and emerging priorities. Particular attention is given to teachers’ pedagogical, digital, and technical competences, as well as to inclusion, accessibility, interdisciplinary learning, and the sustainable adoption of robotics in educational settings.
The resulting national and comparative reports will provide an evidence base for the design of the ERTA training framework, professional development activities, educational resources, and policy recommendations. These outputs will be relevant to researchers working in teacher education, educational technology, STEM education, Computational Thinking, professional learning, and education policy, while also supporting future research and cross-country collaboration in the field.
Papers
ERTA offers teachers and teacher educators practical opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills in Educational Robotics and Computational Thinking. The project develops training courses, teaching resources, classroom activities, lesson plans, and methodological guidance that support the meaningful integration of robotics into different subjects and educational levels.
The materials are designed for use in both initial teacher education and continuing professional development. They will combine pedagogical approaches with hands-on activities, helping educators select and use appropriate robotic tools, design inclusive learning experiences, promote problem-solving and creativity, and connect robotics with interdisciplinary and real-world learning.
Teachers will also be able to participate in workshops, pilot activities, peer-learning opportunities, and the ERTA Community of Practice. Through this European network, educators can exchange experiences, access adaptable resources, share classroom practices, and collaborate with schools, universities, researchers, and other professionals interested in Educational Robotics.