APLICANT NEEDED Re:Imagine the world – Social Innovation Education and Blue pedagogy for early innovators

Changes in our society are happening at a faster rate and the world is becoming more Volatile, Uncertain, Ambiguous and Complex (VUCA) (Bennett and Lemoine, 2014). In 2022 for the first time OECD released PISA creative thinking assessment of students to measure the capacity to engage productively in the generation, evaluation and improvement of ideas that can result in original and effective solutions, advances in knowledge, and impactful expressions of imagination. OECD surveys on emotional and social skills in 2021 reported lower creativity and curiosity than their 10 year old counterparts. Prof. Gunter Pauli created the Blue Education pedagogy approach through Gunter's Fables to synthesize academic knowledge, arts, emotional intelligence, systemic thinking, and the ability to implement in real life: https://www.theblueeconomy.org/en/fables-of-gunter/

This pedagogy suggests to use art and cultural expression as a main driver to synthesize and comprehend Intelligence of Nature through Gunter’s Fables in the educational system while supporting children’s inner abilities to understand, respect and love the web of Life.

In this context, teachers need to develop and adapt their competencies profile for the 21st century (Caena and Redecker, 2019) and create space for learning while guiding students and supporting their cognitive development. For lifelong learning it is equally important the development of social skills and personal development as well as cognitive skills and communication. This may trigger the diversification of the curriculum in early childhood and care (ECEC) to include play, exploration and interactions as well as preparing teachers for the 21st century. This priority is also highlighted in two of the five key components of the EU qualitative system for early childhood education 1. Definition of appropriate curricula and 2. Training of staff in charge of early childhood education.

Social Innovation Education (Garefi et al, 2018) provides an educational model which empowers children to design their own social innovation projects using design thinking and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. In this project-based learning model, young people work in teams to achieve a common goal which can support the development of social skills and competencies such as (empathy, collective efficacy, creative problem solving etc.) Furthermore, this method is compatible with Blue economy pedagogy.
The project aims to support teachers and ECEC staff to prepare young children for their 21st century by providing a comprehensive set of tools and resources. Namely it provides:
• An educational model for ECEC including an appropriate curriculum tested in multiple contexts
• Training and resources for staff in charge of early childhood education and staff
• Gamified educational tool (interactive storytelling book or board game) for educators, parents and ECEC staff focused on developing SEL skills through art incorporating SIE and Blue Economy pedagogy