From Vision to Practice: Building Skills for the Twin Transition

Launched in 2022 under the Erasmus+ KA220 programme, Circular STEM – Boosting Circular Economy Competences for STEM Teachers brought together a dynamic consortium of six partners from across Europe. Their shared goal? To train secondary school teachers (ages 13–18) in how to embed circular economy principles into STEM curricula using learner-centred, entrepreneurial, and digitally enriched methods.

The project's relevance could not be more urgent. As the European Green Deal pushes for climate neutrality by 2050, and the digital economy reshapes industry and society, educators face a dual challenge: preparing students for green jobs while fostering digital literacy and innovation. Circular STEM addressed this by providing teachers with the skills and resources to integrate sustainability into everyday STEM teaching.

Key Achievements

Among the project’s most impactful outcomes are:

• A robust Training Methodology that helps teachers create lesson plans interweaving circular economy, STEM, digital, and entrepreneurial skills. Rooted in the European Commission’s GreenComp framework, the methodology promotes a multidisciplinary, learner-centred approach.
• Ready-to-use Training Contents based on real-world sustainability challenges. These materials not only build knowledge but also nurture critical thinking, creativity, and initiative among students.
• The Circular STEM Academy, a free Moodle-based e-learning platform hosting all project results. Teachers can access training materials, templates, and a practical toolbox featuring online and offline resources to enhance lesson interactivity.
• Successful piloting and evaluation, where partner schools tested the training materials in real classrooms. The results confirmed the methodology’s effectiveness: students demonstrated a deeper understanding of sustainability and developed tangible skills in problem-solving, digital collaboration, and systems thinking.

Impact and Legacy

The true success of Circular STEM lies in its lasting impact. Hundreds of teachers across Europe have been trained to use the project’s methodology, and early classroom pilots show strong evidence that students are better prepared to understand and act on sustainability issues. Notably, the project has contributed to bridging the gender gap in STEM by engaging girls in meaningful, real-world learning experiences.

By aligning with key EU strategies such as the Circular Economy Action Plan and Digital Education Action Plan, the Circular STEM project leaves behind a scalable, high-quality model for teacher professional development. Its open-access resources continue to serve as a valuable toolkit for educators committed to shaping the next generation of circular innovators.

Visit our web page: Web https://circularstem.eu/