EMPATHY IN THE DIGITAL AGE – MACEDONIAN TEACHERS AT A CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING IN CRETE

A project team from the Institute for Applied Research for Business, consisting of three representatives of the Institute (as project coordinator) and three teachers from Skopje primary schools - “Partenija Zografski”, “Kiril Pejchinovikj”, and “Vera Ciriviri Trena” (associate partners in the project) - participated in an international capacity-building event held in Heraklion, Crete (Greece), from 22 to 26 September 2025.

The event, which brought together 32 educators from North Macedonia, Greece, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and Türkiye, was organized by the Institute of Social and Humanistic Studies (I.A.K.E.) from Heraklion, within the framework of the Erasmus+ project “Empathy in the Digital Age: Harnessing Technology for Understanding and Connection (DigiEmpathy).”

Through interactive workshops and expert lectures, participants enhanced their skills in creating supportive and inclusive digital learning environments based on empathy. Four international experts shared their knowledge and approaches to integrating empathy into modern education, covering topics such as transforming theoretical frameworks into classroom practice, digital storytelling, and using creative technologies to foster inclusiveness and greater student engagement.

The training emphasized the importance of understanding and emotional connection in the digital era, highlighting that true learning begins with empathy.
We remain committed to developing innovative and inclusive educational practices, promoting ethical approaches that place both students and teachers at the center of the educational process. The project DigiEmpathy is co-financed by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.