Vitenfabrikken er gjennom Norway Grants med i et samarbeid for å styrke STEM-ferdighetene i kroatiske grunnskoler. I forbindelse med dette prosjektet, ble det arrangert en avslutningskonferanse for prosjektet torsdag 11. april i Zadar, Kroatia. Representanter fra Jærmuseet var til stede. Nedenfor står det mer om resultatene i prosjektet, på engelsk:
Today, in the Multifunctional Hall of the Center for Creative Industries in Zadar, the final conference of the project «Strengthening STEM Skills in Primary Schools in Zadar County – STEM COUNTY» was held. The project leader is the City of Zadar, with partners being Zadar County, the University of Zadar, the Institution for the Development of Competences, Innovations, and Specializations of Zadar County INOVAcija, and the Vitenfabrikken Museum from Norway. Opening speeches were given by Mayor Branko Dukić, County Prefect Božidar Longin, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Croatia Helge Klouman Marstrander, and Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Šime Erlić. The overall project results were presented by the director of the Institution for the Development of Competences, Innovations, and Specializations of Zadar County INOVAcija Katarina Colić, director of the Vitenfabrikken Museum John Arne Frafjord, acting head of the Department of Education and Schooling Joso Nekić, head of the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports Ivan Šimunić, rector of the University of Zadar Josip Faričić, and project manager Ivana Guglielmini.
– I am proud to say that the STEM approach to learning in Zadar has become a common practice. Encouraging students to think in a STEM way began in our city through various European projects involving numerous primary and secondary schools, investing in technological equipment, and introducing a series of extracurricular activities. Today, we have active centers of excellence, organize numerous workshops and student competitions, all aimed at further encouraging young people to research and creatively solve tasks – said Mayor Branko Dukić in his welcome address to all attendees.
County Prefect Božidar Longin also addressed the audience:
– Through this project, our county has become a STEM county. The speed of technological development is no longer measured in years but almost in hours, so it is necessary to adapt our educational system, curricula, and spaces where such disciplines are taught. This is an excellent example of how geographic synergy can be achieved and equal educational opportunities provided to all students, regardless of their regional affiliation.
Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Croatia, Helge Klouman Marstrander, briefly commented on the project:
– The main goal of these funds is to reduce social and economic disparities. Investing in children’s education is crucial because it forms the basis for their future success and gives them the necessary skills to succeed in society. If we influence education differences early enough, we can break down all barriers, promote equal opportunities, and create a better society for all.
Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Šime Erlić was also present:
-The Ministry of Regional Development is implementing this financial mechanism from the Kingdom of Norway and the European Economic Area, but it is actually a financial instrument similar to European funds that functions in a way that Croatia, together with the Kingdom of Norway and the countries of the European Economic Area, defines priorities and areas in which it wants to collaborate and invest funds. One of these areas is STEM, or local development, the program from which this project is funded, which is commendable, as it was also the intention of the Croatian government to develop STEM together and in collaboration with Norwegian partners to a higher level throughout the time ahead of us.
The overall results of this project were also presented by:
Katarina Colić, director of the Institution for the Development of Competences, Innovations, and Specializations of Zadar County INOVAcija:
-The INOVAcija Institution is a partner in the implementation of the project. Within this project, our activities included organizing STEM week and organizing a Science Fair, all aimed at encouraging interest in STEM fields among children and youth.
John Arne Frafjord, director of the Vitenfabrikken Museum, added:
-It was extremely satisfying for us to come here, as well as when your teachers were in Norway. Our idea for contributing to this project was the exchange of knowledge, as well as showing you how things are done in the Norwegian way. At workshops in Norway, attended by 45 teachers from Croatia, we went through various scientific branches, such as mathematics, biology, history, geology, astronomy, chemistry.
Joso Nekić, acting head of the Department of Education and Schooling of the City of Zadar:
-This project is the culmination of the work of the Department of Education and Schooling of the City of Zadar. Our aspiration is the realization of our credo, which is that everyone has a gift and everyone can become excellent.
Ivan Šimunić, head of the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports of Zadar County:
-Most of our projects focus on construction interventions, but in this project, alongside investments, the most valuable investment is in people. One of the values of this project is certainly mobility, as teachers stayed in Norway and exchanged experiences and knowledge.
Josip Faričić, rector of the University of Zadar:
-STEM County is a project in which we as an academic community could participate in two ways: firstly, by actively participating in STEM activities, transferring our knowledge and experience to the primary education system, and secondly, by answering the question ‘how to teach?
Finally, Project Manager Ivana Guglielmini presented the expected results of the project as well as contributions to the result indicators and concluded that all project goals and results were successfully achieved. On that occasion, she thanked the project team, Zadra Nova agency for their support in project preparation, and teachers – project participants who, together, successfully carried out this project for the benefit of 659 elementary school students in Zadar County.
Photos from the event can be found at the link.
Link to Facebook.
Link to Instagram.
The STEM County project is funded under the «Local Development and Poverty Reduction» program, which is part of the Financial Mechanisms of the European Economic Area and the Kingdom of Norway, and is implemented from July 15, 2022, to April 14, 2024.
More information about the financial mechanism: https://eeagrants.hr
More information about the program: https://eeagrants.hr/programi/lokalni-razvoj-i-smanjenje-siromastva/
Media contact:
Ivana Guglielmini, MA in Communication
Assistant Head of the Department of Education and Schooling
e-mail: ivana.guglielmini@grad-zadar.hr