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 and environmentally responsible.
The project will enable VET learners and teachers to apply nature-inspired thinking to real-world problems in design, technology and sustainable development through hands-on learning, digital collaboration tools, and interdisciplinary training content. By integrating biomimicry into education, the project enhances technical and problem-solving skills and promotes a mindset that values ecological intelligence and systems thinking. In a world that urgently needs sustainable solutions, this project empowers the next generation of professionals to create with nature, not against it.
The Creative Learning Technologies Research Group organised the third consortium meeting in Volos on April 10 and 11, 2025. Educational and research organisations from Romania, Turkey, Spain, France, and Portugal attended the meeting to discuss the proposed digital learning intervention see more