On 28 September, participants tuned in to the live broadcast of the opening day of the event, which included the first onsite eTwinning Prize Ceremony of 2023. During the ceremony, the teachers responsible for three of the prize-winning projects of 2023 were publicly awarded and acknowledged (age categories 12-15, 16-19 and IVET).

The day was hosted by Vladimir Sucha, Head of the European Commission’s representation in Bratislava; Rute Baptista, Professional Development Manager, Central Support Service of eTwinning; Professor Ing. Jozef Ristvej, Vice-rector for International Relations and Marketing at the University of Zilna; and the representative of the Slovak Ministry of Education.

In the first keynote, Olívia Hurbanová, Chief Thought Provoker, HighBrõws, highlighted the synergy between intellectual humility and positive scepticism, emphasising their roles in fostering self-reflection and collaboration.

The first day ended with a networking activity that introduced teachers to Slovak culture with a gamified approach, inviting them to explore various locations in the historic centre, solve riddles, record videos and take pictures.

On the second day, workshops covered important topics such as communication, career education, AI and entrepreneurship in students. During the second workshop session, the prize-winners presented their projects and shared tips and tricks with the participants.

On day 3, a partner-finding session focused on eight different themes including digital skills for the future, STEM education and career pathways, inviting teachers to discuss ideas for eTwinning activities that they could implement with their pupils.

Finally, a panel discussion with teachers attending the event ensued, centring on pedagogical innovation. The session resulted in a fruitful discussion on common myths, barriers and strategies for fostering pedagogical innovation in the classroom.

Overall, the onsite course strengthened connections among eTwinning teachers and forged new partnerships. It encouraged collective reflection on integrating future-proof skills into the learning process in a more sustainable and inclusive way.