Every year, the Commission defines a thematic area that projects must address to be considered  for selection for the European Innovative Teaching Award.

In 2023, the EITA annual theme is ‘Education and innovation’ in connection with the European Year of Skills.

The annual theme explores the introduction of existing and emerging technologies in the contemporary education systems. These include in particular artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, programming, virtual reality, entrepreneurship, etc.

The innovation characteristics:

The EITA will be awarded based on the following criteria. Each criterion should be assessed  on a scale from 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent):

In what ways are the teaching and learning approaches elaborated and implemented in the project innovative?

Methodologies:

• Multidisciplinary approaches.
• Key competence development (knowledge, skills and attitudes).
• Linking formal, non-formal and informal learning.
• Inclusion, participation, cooperation.
• Innovative use of digital tools (in particular eTwinning).
• Learners’ active role in the learning process.

Environments:

In what ways do learning environments involved in the project support innovative teaching and learning approaches?

• Schools as enablers of innovation.
  
• Creative use of the learning spaces.
• Sustainable use of available resources.
• A whole school approach.
• Cross-sectoral cooperation.

Teachers:

In what ways do teachers/educators involved in the project influence the innovative teaching and learning processes?

• Teachers’ agency as innovators.
• Teachers’ competences.
• Teachers’ cooperation and peer learning.

Impact:

What is the impact of the innovative teaching and learning processes elaborated and implemented in the project?

• Direct impact on the target groups.
• Inclusion of participants with fewer opportunities.
• Spill-over effect (to other students, teachers, schools, local communities).