Károli Gáspár University, located in Budapest, Hungary, is a renowned institution of higher education with a rich history and a commitment to academic excellence. Named after the famous Hungarian Protestant pastor and theologian Gáspár Károli, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.
The university traces its roots back to 1855 when it was established as the Hungarian Reformed Theological University. Over the years, it has evolved and expanded its academic offerings to encompass fields beyond theology, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Today, Karoli Gaspar University is a comprehensive institution with faculties and departments dedicated to areas such as theology, law, arts and humanities, teacher training, social sciences, economics, and information technology.
István Zsigmond (PhD in psychology) is college associate professor at Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary. He is graduated in psychology, and special psychopedagogy, with an MD in Institutional Communication and Educational Management. His research activity is oriented toward developing and testing new educational methods, aimed at improving learning-centered communication in classroom settings. He has 18 years of experience in teaching psychology and related disciplines like educational psychology and developmental psychology. He has also experience in elaborating and accrediting training courses for in-service teachers. He has worked as a monitoring and facilitating expert in several school-development programs in Hungary and Romania. He also has five years’ experience in monitoring national-level EU projects (PHARE program) working as Local Implementation Agent for external monitoring companies. He is the author of 4 books, 8 book chapters and 29 scientific articles.
Ágota Fehér is educator at the Faculty of Teacher Training of the Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary. Her research field is talent management: in relation to the history of education, related to the history of the Reformed College of Debrecen, as well as in relation to emotional skills, in the light of personality development. In the course of her research, she also aims to examine the role of faith in the development of abilities, thus the theoretical and practical enhancement of talent management in the work of teachers.
Lilla Koltói (PhD in psychology) is university assistant professor specialized in social and counselling psychology. Her research area is professional socialization and professional identity formation. In her courses she deals with development of students’ generic and professional competences. She is a member of several university research teams in which students’ competencies, socialization is studied. At university she organizes peer counselling. She is the author of 3 books, 3 book chapters and 24 scientific articles.
Mihai Eminescu National Pedagogic College located in Targu Mures, Romania, is a prestigious educational institution with a focus on providing high-quality education in the field of pedagogy. Named after the renowned Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu, the college has a rich history and a strong reputation for academic excellence.
Established with the aim of training future educators, Mihai Eminescu National Pedagogic College offers comprehensive programs and courses that prepare students for careers in teaching. The college caters to both secondary school students seeking a solid foundation in education and aspiring teachers who wish to enhance their professional skills.
Professor Szilágyi András has been an employee of the Mihai Eminescu National Pedagogical College in Târgu Mureș since 2005 in the computer science department. Since 2012, he is also the vice director of the institution. He is a member of various national and international competitions, a member of the Board of Directors. He participated in various education reform projects, community projects, European integration projects, other international projects: Comenius CO2connect 2009-2010, Erasmus MGDs 2014-2015, Nature Lessons 2013-2016. He wrote the Monograph of the Pedagogical High School, 2008 with ISBN and the revised edition from 2012. He participated in national and international conferences, including: the International Conference of Pedagogical Projects in Kecskemét, 2011, the conference HEART 2019 – Kecskemet, the International Conference The role of social partnership in school learning – 2017, INEC 2019.
Melinda Sajgó, I have been working as a teacher of pedagogy at the Mihai Eminescu Pedagogical High School in Târgu Mures since 2015.
I graduated the Faculty of Education of the Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Pedagogy-Hungarian Language and Literature. I worked as a Hungarian teacher and subject supervisor from 2000 to 2014.
My professional interests are based on the continuous renewal of pedagogical thinking, the change of approach in the field, and the study of different forms of education – formal and non-formal education. I work as a pedagogical practice leader to develop innovative educational approaches. As a professional manager of several educational projects and extracurricular activities, I am investigating the effectiveness of innovative teaching methods in collaboration with our partners (foundations, associations, primary schools). In recent years, I have spoken out on the need for child-centred, competence-based, experiential education in forums, at international conferences and in theses.
Burgas Free University is a prominent educational institution located in Burgas, Bulgaria. It was established in 1991 as the first private higher education institution in the country. The university is renowned for its commitment to providing quality education and fostering an environment that encourages academic excellence, innovation, and professional development.
Burgas Free University (BFU) is established in the biggest industrial and cultural centre in the south-eastern region of the country. BFU has four faculties – Faculty of Business Studies, Faculty of Legal Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering. BFU provides training of more than 4,000 students /full-time and part-time/ in 19 Bachelor’s and 40 Master’s degree programmes.
Assoc. Prof. Krasimira Mineva, PhD is a lecturer of Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities at BFU. She has participated in more than 15 research projects and has published 2 books and more than 35 publications. She has got appropriate experience thanks to participation in the international project “I Tech: youth do digital science “ under the Erasmus+ programme, Strategic Partnerships for Youth (KA2). The Project results were published in the research article: Jecheva, V., Toshkov, A., Kotzeva, T., Mineva, K. (2019). Fostering Youth to Digital Skills through Educational Resources. Proceedings of 12th annual International Conference of Education. (Seville 11-13Nov 2019 , ndexed in Web of Science).
Prof. Maria Aleksieva PhD is a lecturer at Burgas Free University and the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. Her scientific interests are in the field of pedagogy (mainly in primary school pedagogy), psychology, Information Technology, educational management and journalism. She is the author of more than 130 publications in the field of pedagogy and journalism: monographs, studies, reports, textbooks, e-learning and distance learning, blended learning and teaching aids. She has participated in the successful implementation, as a coordinator and a key expert in more than 30 educational projects under programs such as PHARE, Lifelong Learning, MATRA, European Funds, Erasmus+.
Prof. Milen Baltov, PhD is himself an example of the transition from a business consultant to an academic and researcher. He was a WG leader and a Management Committee member for several COST – financed with EU 8th FP Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programme actions. They include “The Effective Design and Delivery of Megaprojects in EU”, „А pan-European Network for Marine Renewable Energy”, “The EU in the new complex geography of economic systems: models, tools and policy evaluation”, “REthinking Sustainability TOwards a Regenerative Economy”, “Multi-disciplinary innovation for social change”, and “Circular Economy in a Built-Up Environment”.
Prof. Baltov was an assembly member to the Mission Board for Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters, and co-chairing the Group of Seniour Stakeholders for the Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (BS SRIA).
At the moment, Prof. Baltov is a Rector of the Burgas Free University and a representing Bulgaria in the Programme Committee for the European Innovation Council and Innovation Ecosystems, under the EU Horizon Europe Programme.
Dr Veselina Zhecheva is an Associate Professor in Computer Science at Burgas Free University, Burgas, Bulgaria since 2010. She obtained two MSc. degrees, respectively in Computer Science and Economics at Sofia University in 1995 and the PhD degree from National Laboratory of Computer Virology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in 2005 in the field of information security of e-commerce systems. Her research interests include information security, software engineering, e-learning, e-mentoring, etc. She has over 50 publications primarily in the field of information security, teaching/mentoring practices, software development, etc. She is an editor and reviewer of several featured conferences and journals and a member of the Union of the Bulgarian Mathematicians and the Association of Information Society Development. Dr. Veselina Zhecheva participated in several international projects both as coordinator or expert.
Assist. Prof. Gergana Kirova is a lecturer of English at the Foreign Languages Department of Burgas Free University and Erasmus+ administrator. She has worked intensively on labour related issues and social issues, inclusive education and innovative learning methods. She has been involved in the development of the curriculum and the syllabi of the various courses in foreign languages at the University. She has participated in over 20 national and international projects and training courses in the field of distance learning for foreign language teachers, the transformation of a traditional lecture course into an online one through the use of various LMS (Learning management systems). She is experienced in developing e-learning courses for the teaching of English as a foreign language, teaching English for specific Purposes (ESP).
The University of Coimbra (UC) is a Portuguese public HEI with more than 700 years of experience in education, training and research. UC is a large complex structure with three campuses, 24,000 students, of which 18,5% are international students, and 2,724 academic and non-academic staff members highly active and committed to the quality of research and education. UC is a member of several university networks worldwide (Coimbra Group – CG, Utrecht Network, European University Association , SYLFF Network, Association of Portuguese Language Universities, Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, Ibero-American University Association , Mediterranean University Association, Coimbra Group of Brazilian Universities, Tordesilhas Group, etc.), and its activities are carried out in close cooperation with international partners and stakeholders, including collaborative research, business partnerships, and cultural, scientific and technical exchange.
Piedade Vaz Rebelo is assistant professor at the University of Coimbra, expertise on Educational Psychology, Teacher Education. She participates in international and national projects, either as coordinator and participant, namely, she coordinated the research project: QueSTions, aiming to characterize students questioning and metacognitive processes when reading scientific texts. She is responsible for disciplines at the Teacher Education Master Courses, Educational Sciences bachelor, master and PhD courses. She is author of several papers and chapters books in international and national publications. She is also an External Evaluator of Schools, collaborating as expert with the Education Inspectorate.
Graça Bidarra, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Coimbra, expertise on Educational Psychology, Socio-cognitive processes, Teacher Education and Inclusive education. She is responsible for curricular units at the Educational Sciences Bachelor Master and PhD Courses and at the Teacher Education Master Courses, supervising theses and researches on those scientific areas. Participation in international and national projects publishing papers in national and international journals.
The János Selye University was established by the National Council of the Slovak Republic. The University commenced its activities in the first academic year starting in September 2004 and from the very beginning, it offers applicant the possibility to study at three faculties: Faculty of Education, Faculty of Economics, and Faculty of Reformed Theology. Its establishment represents a historical milestone in the history of tertiary education both in Slovakia and the European Union. The aim of the Faculty of Education of J. Selye University is to enhance the professional level of educational work at kindergartens, elementary schools, and secondary schools in Slovakia. Maintenance of international relations is carried out based on cooperation agreements and general contracts with foreign partners. In the area of sciences and research our university has not only a number agreements and contracts but it also significantly participates in scientific and research grants at the level of departments, projects, expert cooperation, and expert activities of international organizations. From its establishment, the J. Selye University has signed and entered into cooperation agreements or general contracts with over 24 tertiary education institutions.
Mgr. Tóth-Bakos Anita has been a teacher of Department of Pre-school and Elementary Education (J. Selye University, Faculty of Education) from 2012. She is author and co-author of 30 publications in all and she has 59 independent citations. Her main research area is music education and music therapy, inclusive education, experience education, game psychology, innovative teaching methods, web based applications in education.
Mgr. Tóth-Bakos Anita participated in numerous research projects, like “Web-Based Applications in Transdisciplinary Training of Teacher Education” , “Internationalization of pre-school and primary education study program for second degree study” or “Web site for teachers and students of schools in Slovakia in Hungarian language”. Currently she is involved in the project „Creativity Development and Creative Teaching of English at Primary and Secondary Schools”.
Mgr. Tímea Mészáros (born 1983) is an assistant professor at Department of Preschool and Primary Education at the Faculty of Education J. Selye University. She graduated in drawing and visual communication and visual culture at the Eszterházy Károly University in Eger (Hungary, 2008, 2021) and in teaching for primary education at the J. Selye University in Komárno (2011). Currently (from 2020) she is completing her doctoral studies in pedagogy at the Eszterházy Károly Catholic University in Eger. In her research, she is primarily interested in the theory of creativity and creation primarily in the context of alternative pedagogical methods. Her publications and research activities concern the following research areas: art education, Waldorf pedagogy.
Mgr. Attila Mészáros (born 1980), Dr. phil., studied German and Hungarian linguistics at Constantine University in Nitra (Slovakia) from 1998 to 2003. After research stays in Hungary and Germany, he completed his doctorate in 2008 at the Technical University of Chemnitz in the field of German linguistics, the subject of his thesis: knowledge transfer in computer-related journal articles. His research focuses primarily on contrastive discursive linguistics and knowledge transfer, especially in the field of teaching German as a foreign language.
European University Cyprus (EUC) was founded in 2007 and developed out of Cyprus College, which was established in 1961. Today, EUC operates five Schools, namely, the School of Humanities, Social and Education Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Sciences, the Medical School, and the School of Law, with the mission to educate students for successful careers and life achievement, to understand and serve the needs of society, and to create knowledge through research and innovation. EUC has participated in more than 250 projects funded by a number of programs and organizations such as the Horizon2020, Erasmus+, 7th Framework Program, Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013, Directorates General of the European Commission, the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, United Nations, European Space Agency, governmental bodies and others. In the last 3 years, the University has accumulated more than 5.5M euros in research funding. Research activity is primarily carried out by a number of research centers, laboratories, and other kinds of specialized settings such as clinics and innovation centers (http://euc.ac.cy/en/research/research-centers). EUC is one of about 500 organizations in Europe which have been awarded the EU’s ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge.
Eleonora Papaleontiou-Louca is an Educator and an Associate Professor of Psychology at the European University Cyprus. After receiving her Bachelor Degree in Education, she gained a scholarship from Leventis Foundation she continued her postgraduate studies and received a Master’s in Education from Reading University, U.K. with specialization in language and communication. She also received her PhD in Developmental, Educational and Cognitive Psychology from Cardiff University, U.K. She is currently working in a second PhD in Psychology of Religion at the Kapodistrian University of Athens. Eleonora Papaleontiou-Louca has published 6 books and has also published various articles in Greek and International Journals and has participated in dozens of international and local conferences. Dr Papaleontiou-Louca has also given many lectures and radio and television presentations in topics of her specialization. and presents her own radio-program on Pedagogical and Psychological Issues
Dr. Constantina Demetriou is currently working as a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the European University. Dr. Demetriou started her studies at City University of London, UK, where she got the BSc Psychology. Following her bachelor’s degree, she obtained an MSc in Mental Health Practice at the University of Manchester, UK and then she finished her PhD at the University of Roehampton, London, UK. Her PhD was focused on developmental psychopathology. She also completed a Post-Doc at the University of Cyprus, focused in bullying and cyberbullying. Dr. Demetriou focused area is clinical psychology, especially developmental psychopathology. Moreover, she is an active member of the Centre of Applied Research and Assessment in Child and Adolescent Wellbeing at the University of Roehampton, where she is participating in several cross-cultural projects. Finally, she published several articles in journals of child and adolescent psychopathology and two book chapters on anxiety disorders in children.