MetaCivicEdu

🌎 On Saturday, 14 March 2026, CYENS – Centre of Excellence presented the outcomes of the classroom implementations carried out in Cyprus as part of the MetaCivicEdu Project during the European STEAME Academies Conference 2026, which took place at the Aliathon Resort in Paphos, Cyprus.

💬 The presentation highlighted how innovative educational approaches integrating Metaverse and Civic Education were applied in the classroom, showcasing the impact of the MetaCivicEdu initiative on student engagement, critical thinking, and digital citizenship.

💥 The conference provided an important platform for educators, researchers, and policymakers from across Europe to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore new pathways for the future of STEAM education.

⭐ We are pleased to share the successful completion of a Hybrid Multiplier Event in Cyprus organized in the framework of the MetaCivicEdu project.

👀 The event brought together 29 educators who attended in person, along with additional participants who joined online, creating a valuable space for sharing ideas and discussing innovative approaches in education.

📅 The workshop took place on Wednesday, February 18th at the Primary School of Oroklini in Larnaca, while also being streamed live via Zoom to allow wider participation.

During the event, participants were introduced to the MetaCivicEdu project, its objectives and key outcomes, while exploring how emerging technologies and digital tools can support engaging and creative learning environments.

👏 A sincere thank you to all educators who participated—both in person and online—and contributed to the exchange of ideas. We look forward to continuing to promote innovative approaches that enrich teaching and learning in Cyprus and beyond.

On 16 February 2026, The Heritage Private School in Limassol hosted a dynamic and insightful workshop in collaboration with CYENS Centre of Excellence, showcasing the pilot implementation of the MetaCivicEdu learning scenario, which took place during the Spring Semester of 2025. This workshop served as a platform to share the valuable experiences and outcomes derived from the integration of the metaverse into a civic education curriculum for primary school students.

The focus of the workshop was to highlight the practical application of this innovative educational approach. Teachers who led the pilot program provided an in-depth look into the learning design, classroom orchestration, and the effective engagement of students. They discussed how the three-phase implementation was structured, which included pre-class activation, an immersive metaverse experience, and guided reflection. Throughout the session, special attention was given to how immersive technology was seamlessly integrated into traditional teaching practices to help address complex civic topics, such as the exploration of gender stereotypes, in a more engaging and meaningful way.

In addition to the presentation of findings, participating educators were given the unique opportunity to experience the metaverse-enriched learning environment firsthand. They assumed the role of students, engaging with avatars and navigating the metaverse scenario, which allowed them to critically reflect on the pedagogical benefits as well as the practical challenges of facilitating immersive civic learning in a classroom setting.

The workshop underscored the project’s core message: while immersive technologies like the metaverse offer powerful and engaging experiences, it is the intentional design of learning activities and the informed facilitation by teachers that ultimately make civic education both meaningful and impactful. This experience exemplified how technology can enhance, but never replace, the essential role of teachers in shaping educational outcomes, especially in the realm of complex and sensitive civic topics.

Our 3rd project meeting took us back in Athens, as our kick-off meeting, one year ago. Another opportunity to get away from online meetings and cameras and to really focus and spend some quality time together, working on our project priorities. We met again close to the sea, at the same venue as last year, with more or less the same people in attendance. All our project partners were there, including teachers from the participating schools. 

We kicked off day 1 with a short session on our project management topics (WP1) focusing on the quality assurance of our deliverables. Next in line was the discussion about our pilots (WP4) and more specifically about the training workshop that was planned for day 2 of our Athens meeting. 

Following up from WP4, we focused on our dissemination activities and we analyzed our progress so far, doubling down on the plan for the upcoming months especially having more mature project outcomes. After a small break, we discussed the work of WP2, focusing more on our learning scenarios and the ongoing work there. 

For the closing of day 1, we saw and discussed on the final version (release) of our metaverse platform and environments. We provided some last-minute feedback to our partners from AETMA Lab, and closed the day.

For day 2, we were welcomed to Avgoulea-Linardatos schools, in Peristeri. Our esteemed project partner opened their computer laboratory for us where we had the opportunity to work with the teachers of our project, see their scenarios in action, via our metaverse environments, and train them on how they can make the best use of the tools that the project has created, to deliver their scenarios to their pupils. 

Day 2 was a hands-on day for all of us, having the chance to experience the outcomes of the project in action, allowing us to comprehend and appreciate the value that these outcomes bring to civic education in general.

Till next time!

UPDATE

Stay tuned for more events from our project!

After some months of online meetings, time came to meet again face to face, this time in Limassol, Cyprus, with all our amazing project partners from the MetaCivicEdu project. CYENS was our host this time, hosting all of us at a lovely venue in downtown Limassol, where we had the opportunity to meet for an exciting two days of discussions and reflections on the project progress. 

We started our meeting discussing on our scenarios, reflecting on the progress for the creation of metaverse-enabled counterparts of our "traditional" scenarios. It was in this meeting where we finalized our community in Zenodo, where our scenarios can be accessed. If you would like to get your hands on their last version, feel free to head there to download them.

In the same meeting, we got a first glimpse at our metaverse environments (or worlds) that are created on spatial.io from our colleagues from the AETMA lab, of DUTH. We tested the environments and piloted the scenarios internally, pointing out what we liked and what not, so that the platform could be prepared for the pilots that would come early 2025.

During our second day, we talked a lot about the upcoming pilots and planned ahead, arranging practicalities but also reflecting on the core of the pilots, that is the teachers and the scenarios themselves. During the last session of the day we discussed our dissemination activities and realigned our actions and plan for the last couple of months of 2024.

General Information:

MetaCivicEdu supports a consortium of partners across several European countries, aiming to foster inclusive educational environments that enhance civic understanding and engagement through advanced metaverse technology. The project is committed to making educational systems more inclusive and effective, thereby preparing a generation of students who are well-informed and active participants in their communities.

Discover more about MetaCivicEdu: Website | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram

Meet the Team: Sonia Andreou
Discover the innovative mind behind MetaCivic Edu's AI and Creativity research.

Welcome to another edition of our “Meet the Team” series! Today, we are excited to introduce Sonia Andreou, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Cyprus Interaction Lab of the Cyprus University of Technology and the EdMedia Group of CYENS Centre of Excellence.

About Sonia Andreou

Sonia Andreou is deeply invested in exploring the potential of AI, particularly in the realms of AI for Good and Creativity. Her research interests also include Human-Centered/Interaction Design and Learning Experience (LX) Design. Her work aims to push the boundaries of how technology can enhance learning and creativity.

Role in MetaCivic Edu

In MetaCivic Edu, Sonia is part of the CYENS team leading WP4: Pilot Case Studies and Validation. Her role is crucial in ensuring the successful demonstration of metaverse-enhanced learning scenarios.

Vision for MetaCivic Edu

Sonia hopes to inspire the widespread use of innovative learning methods through the metaverse. She aims to report on successful metaverse-enhanced learning scenarios that can be easily adopted, adapted, and enriched by educators, thereby better engaging students and enhancing educational outcomes.

Passions and Interests

Sonia is passionate about creativity and how it shapes the world around us. She is driven by the potential of new ideas and experiences to transform learning.

With Sonia Andreou’s contributions, MetaCivic Edu is well on its way to making significant strides in educational technology. Stay tuned for more introductions to our incredible team members!

Stay Connected with MetaCivic Edu
Follow our journey as we continue to innovate in the field of educational

Meet the Team: Symeon (Simos) Retalis
Exploring the vision and passion behind MetaCivic Edu's innovative leadership.

Welcome to another edition of our “Meet the Team” series! Today, we present Symeon (Simos) Retalis, a visionary Project Coordinator from the University of Piraeus Research Center (UPRC).

About Symeon (Simos) Retalis

Symeon Retalis is a leading figure in the field of learning experiences design. His work focuses on creating engaging and effective learning experiences, particularly for primary students, with a strong emphasis on civic engagement within the metaverse.

Role in MetaCivic Edu

As the Project Coordinator, Symeon plays a pivotal role in steering MetaCivic Edu towards its goals. His leadership ensures the project’s alignment with its mission to enhance educational practices through innovative technology.

Vision for MetaCivic Edu

Symeon is excited about exploring new ideas for designing learning experiences that foster civic engagement in the metaverse. He aims to develop practical, engaging scenarios that can be used to enrich primary education.

Passions and Interests

Symeon is passionate about learning experiences design and cherishes spending time by the sea with his wife and daughters. His favorite quote is: “According to Aristotle, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’” He also enjoys listening to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”

Words of Wisdom

“All I know is that I know nothing.” – This phrase, originating from Plato's dialogue "Apology of Socrates," reflects Symeon's humble approach to knowledge and learning.

With Symeon Retalis guiding our project, MetaCivic Edu is poised to break new ground in educational technology. Keep following our series to meet more of our extraordinary team members!

Stay Connected with MetaCivic Edu
Follow our journey as we continue to innovate in the field of educational technology. Join us in shaping the future of learning.

Meet the Team: Eleni Mangina
Discover the visionary mind behind MetaCivic Edu's advancements in AI, robotics, and immersive technologies.

Welcome back to our “Meet the Team” series! Today, we are delighted to introduce Eleni Mangina, a prominent academic from University College Dublin, whose work in artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual/augmented reality is making waves in the scientific community.

About Eleni Mangina

Professor Eleni Mangina has been a cornerstone of the UCD School of Computer Science since 2002. Her scientific interests span applied artificial intelligence, robotics, and immersive technologies, reflecting her dedication to advancing these fields. Beyond her academic achievements, Eleni is an adventurer at heart, enjoying winter swimming, and showcasing her musical talents by playing the double bass.

Role in MetaCivic Edu

As the Principal Investigator for MetaCivic Edu's enhanced teaching scenarios with metaverse activities and XR Ethics, Eleni's leadership ensures the integration of cutting-edge AI and immersive technologies into educational practices.

Vision for MetaCivic Edu

Eleni envisions creating metaverse-enriched learning scenarios that serve as Open Educational Repositories (OERs), making innovative educational resources widely accessible.

Passions and Interests

Eleni’s persistence is fueled by courage, compassion, and a commitment to research integrity and authenticity. Her favorite quote is: “Science is not just a subject; it is a way of thinking. There is problem solving, critical thinking, proper research, and guidance by evidence. In a world that evolves, science also never stays still, and the progress of science is dependent on EdTech (Educational Technology).” Additionally, she enjoys the movie Tootsie (1982).

We are proud to have Professor Eleni Mangina as part of our team, bringing her vast expertise and unique perspective to MetaCivic Edu. Stay connected for more team introductions!

Stay Connected with MetaCivic Edu
Follow our journey as we continue to innovate in the field of educational technology. Join us in shaping the future of learning.