March 16, 2025
Nicosia, Cyprus – March 2025
In a vibrant training session held at the Municipal Multicultural Centre, SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education hosted a dynamic piloting event as part of the Education Architects project. The goal? To empower vocational and non-formal educators with the tools and mindset of Design Thinking (DT), helping them navigate today’s diverse, complex educational landscape.
Seventeen dedicated educators and trainers came together for a hands-on exploration of DT—many for the very first time. What unfolded was a journey of discovery, empathy, collaboration, and innovation, wrapped in practical strategies tailored for vocational education and inclusive classrooms.
📚 What Was Piloted?
The piloting tested four core educational tools:
- The Design Thinking Manual – introducing DT’s phases and pedagogy
- Inclusive Communication Supplement – ensuring language and interaction are accessible, empathetic, and respectful
- Teaching Materials & Worksheets – ready-to-use, student-centered activity templates
- Good Practices Database – real-world DT applications from across Europe
Each component was carefully reviewed, with participants offering invaluable insights on usability, inclusivity, and classroom relevance.
✨ Educators’ Impressions: Practical, Powerful, and Ready-to-Use
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive:
- 94% found the materials directly useful in their teaching.
- 71% reported maximum knowledge gain in applying new methodologies.
- The Design Thinking Manual was praised for its clarity and learner-centered approach.
- The Inclusive Communication Supplement sparked reflection on how educators interact with diverse learners—including those with disabilities, neurodiverse profiles, and migrant backgrounds.
Participants emphasized that DT brings fresh air into VET by encouraging empathy, creative problem-solving, and collaborative learning—something they felt was much needed in an often rigid educational system.
💡 Recommendations from the Ground
Educators also had sharp insights for improvement:
- Include more VET-specific examples (e.g., hospitality, engineering, social care)
- Add visuals, checklists, and facilitator tips to increase clarity and accessibility
- Create digital versions for online or hybrid classrooms
- Enhance diversity and inclusivity in personas and learning scenarios
These suggestions align with the broader call for flexible, modular resources that educators can adapt based on classroom needs, learner profiles, and teaching environments.
🔍 Why It Matters
As one participant put it, “Design Thinking made me look at my students with new eyes—less as learners I must instruct and more as people I can co-create learning with.”
This encapsulates the spirit of the Education Architects project: making learning more human-centred, inclusive, and empowering—starting with the educators themselves.
📲 What’s Next?
Following this successful piloting, SYNTHESIS and the project consortium are enhancing materials based on educator feedback. The final educational materials will be made available freely for trainers, VET institutions, and adult education providers.
👉 Keep an eye on the Education Architects website and project social media for downloadable resources, educator stories, and upcoming news!
https://educationarchitects.eu/
