Europeiska priset för innovativ undervisning

Every year, the Commission defines a thematic area that projects must address to be considered  for selection for the European Innovative Teaching Award.

In 2024, the EITA annual theme is ‘Well-being at school‘ in connection with implementation of Pathways to School Success initiative.
The annual theme explores building a systemic, whole-school approach to well-being and mental health in schools. 

The whole-system, whole-school approach to well-being and mental health focuses on universal strategies for all children as a major goal of education. In addition, students at risk of, or experiencing, mental health issues benefit from targeted interventions, in collaboration with mental health professionals and family.

The approach also underlines the importance of addressing the mental health and well-being of teachers and staff and their training needs. Implementation of such an approach in schools requires a comprehensive and coordinated effort across all levels of the education system (from policy and governance to individual schools, classrooms and students), and across policies (including health, social policies, migration, justice).

The innovation characteristics

The EITA will be awarded based on the following criteria. Each criterion should be assessed  on a scale from 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent):

In what ways are the teaching and learning approaches elaborated and implemented in the project innovative?

Methodologies:

• Multidisciplinary approaches.
• Key competence development (knowledge, skills and attitudes).
• Linking formal, non-formal and informal learning.
• Inclusion, participation, cooperation.
• Learners’ active role in the learning process.
• Cooperation with external stakeholders.

Environments:

In what ways do learning environments involved in the project support innovative teaching and learning approaches?

• Schools as enablers of innovation.
  
• Building a positive school climate.
• Sustainable use of available resources.
• A whole school approach.
• Cross-sectoral cooperation.

Teachers:

In what ways do teachers/educators involved in the project influence the innovative teaching and learning processes?

• Teachers’ agency as innovators.
• Teachers’ well-being.
• Teachers’ competences.
• Teachers’ cooperation and peer learning.

Impact:

What is the impact of the innovative teaching and learning processes elaborated and implemented in the project?

• Direct impact on the target groups.
• Inclusion of participants with fewer opportunities.
• Spill-over effect (to other students, teachers, schools, local communities).