Pivotal milestone: multiplier event University of Patras

On Tuesday, November 13th, 2024, from 09:00 to 14:30, at the Department of Computer Engineering & Informatics at the University of Patras (Campus, Rio 26504), the Multiplier Event (presentation and dissemination) of the D-PBL project took place with great success.

The UPatras team organized a half-day offline event on November 13th, 2024, which was a pivotal milestone for the D-PBL project. This event, aimed at presenting the project and the results so far, targeted the local and regional academic community from other HE institutions. The event, held at the Department of Computer Engineering & Informatics at the University of Patras, featured presentations, workshops, and discussions, offering stakeholders insights into how to make education and training systems truly fit for the digital age. Key highlights included workshops allowing participants to experience the environment, engage with the platform content, and interact with the Learning Plan. The event successfully facilitated collaboration and feedback, advancing the project’s objectives in educational innovation.

In the event, 58 national participants attended, exceeding the milestone of 25 participants mentioned in the proposal. Of these, 23 participants were from the University of Patras, while the remaining 35 represented other HEIs, particularly professors, who actively participated in the Multiplier Event of the D-PBL project. The event included keynote speakers who are experts in Education in the Digital Age (EAD) and innovative pedagogical practices in higher education, presentations of the project results, and hands-on experimentation space for professors.

This diverse group of attendees included participants from Greek higher education institutions, representatives of local and national authorities, and other stakeholders, reflecting a broad spectrum of engagement.

The event, as outlined in its program, offered a comprehensive exploration of the D-PBL project, its methodologies, and outcomes. The day began with registration at 09:00, followed by a welcoming presentation at 09:30 by Professor Michalis Xenos, highlighting the progress and work of the Software Quality and Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory to date. At 10:00, Mrs. Marianna Stamati introduced the D-PBL project, outlining its aim, framework, and objectives. This was followed at 10:30 by a presentation on Project-Based Learning Methods by Professor Michalis Xenos.

Participants then took a short break at 11:00, enjoying a light lunch and engaging in informal discussions. The event resumed at 11:15 with keynote speeches related to EAD, delivered by Prof. Maria Rigou and Mrs. Nora Kouvara. At 11:45, piloting participants presented the results of the project’s piloting phase, offering valuable insights. At 12:15, Angelos Fotopoulos presented the D-PBL Platform, providing an in-depth overview of its design and functionality. This was followed at 12:45 by a workshop led by the UPatras team, which actively engaged participants in collaborative activities.

The day concluded with an open discussion at 14:00, moderated by the UPatras team, allowing participants to reflect on the significant findings and share perspectives. The event officially closed at 14:30, marking the conclusion of a productive and insightful Multiplier Event. The D-PBL consortium emphasizes the value of face-to-face events, as they foster stronger relationships among participants, encourage collaboration, and build enduring links with colleagues from other institutions, representatives of authorities, and businesses.

Program

09:00	Registration
09:30	Welcome	Professor Michalis Xenos
10:00	Presentation of the DPBL project	Mrs Marianna Stamati
10:30	Presentation of Project Base Learning Methods	Professor Michalis Xenos
11:00	Break –   Light lunch, informal discussions
11:15	EAD related keynote speakers	Prof. Maria Rigou, Mrs Nora Kouvara
11:45	Results of the piloting	piloting participants
12:15	Presentation of the D-PBL Platform	Angelos Fotopoulos
12:45	Workshop	UPatras   team
14:00	Open Discusion	UPatras   team
14:30	Closing of the Multiplier Event