Year: 2025

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Thessaly (DECE), and specifically the Creative Technologies Learning Lab research team (http://ctll.e-ce.uth.gr), is coordinating a new research action that harnesses the power of biomimicry — the practice of learning from nature to solve human challenges — to promote innovation in vocational education and training. Drawing inspiration from tried and tested in time models, processes, and strategies of the natural world, project Let’s Mimic: Biomimicry Design for Sustainability in VET, funded by the Erasmus+ program through the Greek National Agency IKY, aims to equip vocational training trainees with the creative and practical skills needed for the green transition. Biomimicry encourages students to explore how nature designs for efficiency, resilience, and sustainability, helping them develop innovative solutions that are both progressive…

The Final Conference of project DigitCreche on innovation in the creative industries in the Western Balkans took place at International University Europa Prima in Skopje, North Macedonia, on April 3, 2025. The project is implemented at the University of Thessaly by the Creative Technologies Learning Lab research team of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (http://ctll.e-ce.uth.gr). The conference highlighted the project's activities to promote innovation in the creative industries, such as film, digital games, drawing and painting, animation, typography, etc. Project outcomes include targeting educational content, a digital learning platform, mobility of students and teachers to participate in international high-intensity training in universities in the Western Balkans and the European Union, webinars, podcasts, and dissemination actions. In addition to the University of Thessaly, universities and educational organisations from Bosnia…

Today we had the pleasure to work with students from the High School of Dimini, a school in rural Magnesia. Fifteen students and their teacher Ms. Apostolia Kotzagiotou visited the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Thessaly. By applying innovative design methods, the students collaborated in teams to introduce innovative solutions for the United Nations Sustainability Goals (UN SDGs). Innovation methods explored by students include design thinking, a profoundly anthropocentric design method to introduce solutions to complex challenges through exploration, ideation, evaluation, and prototyping; biomimicry, a process of designing solutions inspired by nature's forms and processes, such as organisms and ecosystems, to solve human challenges in sustainable ways; and multi-species design, an emerging approach that considers the needs, prospects, and well-being of both human and non-human…

Let’s mimic aims to integrate biomimicry into Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs to enhance sustainability, innovation, and practical skills among students. Biomimicry, the practice of emulating nature’s time-tested strategies and patterns to solve human challenges, offers a unique and effective approach to vocational training. By incorporating biomimicry into VET curricula, Let’s mimic fosters a new generation of skilled professionals adept at creating sustainable solutions and innovative designs inspired by nature. The project ensures that VET programs are sustainable and relevant, supporting young people to develop green and environmental skills linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project analyses the skills and competences need for adopting biomimicry practices in VET. Students engage in biomimicry design through problem-based learning approaches supported by a digital learning platform designed on biomimicry…

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Thessaly (DECE), specifically the Creative Technologies Learning Lab (http://ctll.e-ce.uth.gr ) research group, organised educational activities to design innovative solutions that apply digital technology to sustainability. The action took place in DECE's computer laboratory. Approximately 20 students of IEK Dimitra, accompanied by their teachers, attended the event under the supervision of Volos Branch Coordinator Mr. Dimitris Tsoustoulakis see more

A multiplier event was organised on January 29, 2025 for project eDea, which develops digital solutions for fostering innovation. The event was attended by 21 students and their teachers from the school, who used the eDea digital platform to generate innovative ideas for sustainability see more

An event on game design for nature-based solutions and environmental sustainability was organised on January 16, 2025. The event was attended by 25 students from the Experimental High School of Volos in the context of project BuildAsNature see more

The Creative Technologies Learning Lab research group organised a multiplier event for project eDea, which develops digital services for promoting innovation. The event was attended by 30 students of the Gymnasium of Iolkos that used eDea solutions to generate sustainability solutions see more