Ilia State University (ISU), located in Tbilisi, Georgia, is one of the flagship public research universities in Georgia that strives for academic excellence and integrity in teaching and research. ISU’s recognition at home and abroad, amongst many of its partners worldwide is due to ISU’s unique institutional capacity that is reflected primarily, in the quality of academic staff recruited successfully throughout Georgia and beyond and secondly, in the strong focus on and commitment to research and in its distinctive ability to initiate an open, unbiased public policy discussion. Over a short period of time, ISU has emerged as one of the leading reformers in Georgian higher education system and has managed to evolve into one of the most selective universities and prestigious study destinations in the country. ISU was established in 2006 as a merger of six different institutions, each having a long history and a diverse institutional profile. ISU has four Schools – Arts and Sciences, Business, Law, and Engineering ‐ each offers distinctive training in their respective direction at three levels. ISU has about 10,000 students at all levels. Ilia State University unites 25 Research Institutes, Centres and Laboratories dispersed across the country. The diverse profile of these research institutions and laboratories create a unique opportunity for research and practice on the topics relevant to Georgia’s role and contribution to the international community. ISU community is dedicated to provide high‐quality education and facilitate rigorous research through innovative initiatives and policies.

The University of Limerick is an independent university established in 1989 and in this time has grown to 12,000 students, 17% of these are international students and 1,400 staff. It has a strong teacher education programme and is the largest provider of science teachers by the concurrent model. The Chemical Education Research Group (CERG) and Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre are located in the Dept. of Chemical and Environmental Sciences (CES) and work with the National Centre for STEM Education (EPI*STEM), which is based at UL and since 2007 has developed its brief to conduct research, provide research‐based support to the teaching of science at all levels and running CPD courses for teachers. The SSPC and CERG bring considerable expertise in science education, the promotion of science and curriculum development, and contacts with schools and industry. The SSPC has a committed Education and Outreach programme, and as such has developed school and industry connections and partnerships, with the goal of enhancing and improving science education. UL has extensive experience in science teacher training, in leading work packages and in the management.

Gazi University was founded in 1926 as the first teacher training institution in the new Republic’s capital Ankara. Since then, it has grown to be the largest teacher training institution in Turkey. With more than 4000 faculty members Gazi University is among the largest research institutions in Turkey as well. Currently, more than 60,000 undergraduate and 10,000 graduate students are pursuing degrees at GU. Also more than 9000 students are enrolled in 9 departments and 26 programmes of The Gazi Faculty of Education. It has a total of 16 faculties and 6 institutes for graduate studies. Gazi University has participated in FP6 and FP7 Framework Programmes as coordinator and partner and also keen to take part in Horizon 2020. More than 1300 teacher candidates graduate each year. The programmes cover a wide range of fields from classroom teaching to IT technologies in education, science, mathematics, arts, social studies, history, language, and teaching of the handicapped. Faculty members constantly become involved in the Ministry of National Education’s projects to develop and enhance education in Turkey, including projects in Curriculum development, textbook writing for courses, and in‐service teacher training. They also coordinate and undertake graduate education through the Institute of Education and hence get involved in research in various fields of education in general, and science education in particular.

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Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU) is an important educational, scientific and cultural centre of Georgia. It has a 80‐year‐long history. The main priorities of our university are: integration in the international educational networks, sharing the experience of leading foreign universities; improving the curricula, taking into consideration the needs of the employers while preparing the specialists; integration of academic and scientific‐research activities. BSU comprises 9 faculties. It also embraces the 3 Research Institutes. At present about 6 000 students study at the vocational, Bachelor, Master and Doctoral programmes. The academic potential, traditions and the geographical location of BSU determine the priorities of its scientific‐research activities. BSU is a multi‐functional educational and scientific institution where a unified space of academic and professional education and research is created with the cooperation of students, professors, teachers and researchers. A number of scientific‐research projects of international and national significance have been accomplished on the university base. The university has close partnership relations with the leading higher educational institutions within and outside the country. BSU is considered a desirable host for the international scientific conferences and symposia held in various fields of science. Apart from this, the academic and scientific faculty of the university actively participates in scientific conferences and exchange programmes in different countries of the world.

Artist-Team

Prof. Dr. Marina Koridze, Prof. Dr. Rusudan Khukhunaishvili, Tea Koiava

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OACE is one of the leading Academic Teachers Colleges in Israel with more than 5,500 students, 600 academic faculty and 200 administrative faculty. Oranim grants Bachelor and Master degrees as well as teaching certificates, and offers professional development for in‐service teachers. Four Faculties grant undergraduate and graduate degrees: The Faculty of Education and Teaching offers B.A. and B.Ed. degrees in Early Childhood, Elementary School, Secondary School and Special Education. The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities offers B.A. and B.Ed. degrees in a range of disciplines in Humanities, Social Studies and Art.  The Faculty of Science, in conjunction with Haifa University, grants B.Sc. degrees in Biology, Math, Physics and Computer Science, and a B.A. in Math. The Faculty of Graduate Studies offers 9 Master degrees in Inter‐Disciplinary Studies, Educational Counselling, Youth at Risk, Language Teaching (English, Arabic, Hebrew), Educational Leadership, Science Education for High School, Mathematics and Science Education for Elementary School, Early Childhood Education and M.Teach.

Many faculty members are active participants in the global network of teachers and educational leaders. They publish in a range of disciplines in academic journals, and participate in conferences and research seminars. Many Oranim graduates continue to advanced degrees, and graduates are in demand in all fields, in schools, youth movements, educational institutions, regional and national government, non‐ profits, art, technology, science and industry. Oranim boasts a diverse student body, with Jewish and Arab students of all ages, ethnicities, religions, and socio‐economic backgrounds. Oranim’s mission is to shape Israeli society and to improve the quality of life in Israel by training educators who are leaders in their communities. Oranim offers educators guidance and support through a wide network of connections between communities. Oranim strives to serve as a national and international centre of knowledge, inquiry, and discussion, developing innovative educational ideas and methods. Through dialogue and ongoing mutual relationships, Oranim seeks to strengthen the sense of connection between the diverse cultures in Israel, and between Israel and the world at large.

Our college is the largest academic institution in the Arab sector in Israel. The college is the central institute for training of teachers in Israel in most fields and the only Arab college which educates teachers for middle schools. Today, there are about 3500 students "pre‐service and in‐service" who are studying at the college and there are over 200 lecturers. Recently, the college launched 4 M.Ed. programmes: linguistic‐ cultural education, teaching & learning, learning disabilities and science education. The last programme is intended to help science teachers to improve and develop their knowledge and skills in different aspects of science education, to provide them with the relevant pedagogy in their work, and to equip them with the necessary skills that are required in their career as science teachers and leaders of the field at schools and the education system in general. Our college is very active in the field of science education and we have organized several science conferences and workshops, i.e., New Horizons in Science Education 2009, celebrating the international chemistry year 2011 and the SALiS training at 2012, New Horizons for Teaching Science 2013, and Science Education and Green Chemistry for Sustainable Future 2015.

One of the most active centres and departments in our college is the unit of research and assessment which is intended to improve the research work at the college not only for lecturers but also for trainees. Also the professional development department for in‐service is very active and hundreds of trainees attend our special courses for action research, entrepreneurship and Initiative.

Artist-Team

Prof. Dr. Muhamad Hugerat (Manager), Dr. Ahmad Basheer (Local Coordinator), Dr. Naji Kortam, Dr. Riam Abu-Mukh, Dr. Naim Najami, Mr. Salem Saker, Dr. Fadeel Joubran, Dr. Naela Asadi and Mr. Sami Abu Sharkia

The Ateneo de Manila University is a Catholic and Jesuit institution located in different campuses in Metro Manila, Philippines. It offers basic education, undergraduate, graduate and post graduate programmes. The whole student population is approximately 18,000, with approximately 700 faculty and staff. Basic education, graduate and undergraduate programmes are offered at the Loyola Schools: Grade School, Junior High School, and Senior High School for the Basic Education and the Gokongwei School of Management, the School of Science and Engineering, the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences for the undergraduate and graduate programmes. Post graduate studies are offered at the Ateneo Professional Schools: School of Business, School of Government, School of Medicine and Public Health and the Law School. There are also Centres and Institutes within the organization like, Centre for Asian Studies, Ateneo Centre for English Language Teaching, Institute of Philippine Culture, etc. The President heads the university and there are seven vice‐presidents. Each School is administered by a Dean. The Departments under each School are run by the Chairs. Under the current administration there are three priority areas to chart the direction of the future: mission and identity, nation building and environment and development.