Local/regional stakeholder roundtable discussion held on , SCSTI, Bratislava Document Version 1.0. Technology in Society, SCSTI

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1 Project Title SEE Science Project Number SEE/B/0048/1.3/X Document Title Local/regional stakeholder roundtable discussion held on , SCSTI, Bratislava Document Version 1.0 Document Origin National Centre for Popularization of Science and Technology in Society, SCSTI Document Date 14. March 2014 Character of Document Partnership Document Related Document(s) (Origin Partner, Date) Target Group - TSAR (SCSTI, ) - SEE Science Joint Action Plan - Local/regional policy recommendations ( ) SEE Science Project Partners Slovak Centre for Popularization of Science and Technology in Society, SCSTI National educational projects Stakeholders of SCSTI Developed by Katarina Teplanova

2 The First NCP S&T Roundtable with Stakeholders held on , SCSTI, Bratislava Considering about preparation of our roundtables, first the role of NCP S&T in the society was taken into account. NCP S&T is the abbreviation of the National Centre for the Popularization of Science and Technology in Society, which is a department of the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information (SCSTI), a significant institution of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport in the Slovak Republic. The role of NCP S&T is to raise awareness of science and technology across the whole of Slovakia as well as abroad, enhance the reputation and social standing of scientists as prime contributors to the economic well-being of the country, explain and elucidate the objectives and outcomes of research, especially within Slovakia, facilitate dialogue between scientists and the wider public and also to boost the interest of young people in science and their involvement in a scientific career. At present, NCP S&T is also responsible for a large national project called Promotion of Science and Technology in Slovakia (from March 2013 to October 2015) the main tasks of which are - development of a Science Centre in Bratislava, - massive PR and accompanying programs, - provision of an informal portal about activities promoting science, and a virtual science centre promoting science education in non-formal way. With respect to NCP S&T role in the society, there is a great range of important potential stakeholders of NCP S&T: Slovak universities, the Slovak Academy of Science, innovative companies, schools etc. The first question was: Whom should we invite to the roundtable in order to get considerable results? According to the following reasons we have decided to invite to the first roundtable National Projects operating under the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport in the Slovak Republic and focusing on education: 1. There is no doubt between expert that Science and Education are in their nature mutually integral, joint in science popularization. But from operational point of view,

3 in-between both fields exists an artificial barrier acting against promotion of science. It is in common interest to overcome it. 2. It is known that current formal education does not reasonably respond interests of individuals, society needs and employment, but its influence to that matters is significant. We expected that conceptions how to get out from this crisis, will be reflected primarily in the actual national projects focusing on education. 3. Ideas about science promotion are used to be linked mainly with informal learning. But, in deed, a significant potential of true science promotion is in non-formal science education with real engagement of people into science. 4. Interconnection between science promotion, and science and technology education represents a necessary framework for development of scientific-technological innovations focusing on relevant scientific background of young generation. From 18 invited national projects, 22 experts from 9 national projects and the SEE Science Project met at the first roundatable of NCP S&T on at NCP S&T in Bratislava, Slovakia, in order to find common conjunctions and common issues for cooperation towards enhancement of own projects quality and effectivity in the frame of following topics: - promotion of S&T in the society, - establishment of effective professions and effective praxes for inteligent, sustainable and inclusive development, in agreement with Europe 2020 strategy, - development of innovations at local and transnational level, - improvement of operational environment and services of science centers as catalysts for innovation, - mutual cooperation, co-ordination and support of different projects by support of NCP S&T s services.

4 List of national projects participating at the 1. roundtable of stakeholders of NCP S&T: 1. PopVaT - Promotion of Science and Technology in Slovakia (NCP S&T SCSTI) 2. Universities as Vehicles for Development of Knowledge Society (SCSTI) 3. Modern Education digital education for general education courses (SCSTI) 4. Electronization of Regional Educational System (Methodology and Pedagogy Centre -Institution for in Service Teachers Education and Training) 5. Methods for Activation in Education, professional and career development of pedagogical employees (Methodology and Pedagogy Centre -Institution for in Service Teachers Education and Training) 6. Promoting Professional Orientation of Secondary School Pupils to Vocational Education - training through the development of polytechnic education aimed at developing work skills and work with talent (State Institute for Vocational Education) 8. Improviing the Quality of Education at primary and secondary schools using computer based testing (National Institute for Certified Educational Measurements) 9. Education of Teachers in the Field of Foreign Languages (Slovak National Institute for Education) 10. PRAKTIK Practical skills for non-formal education in work with youth (IUVENTA Slovak Youth Institute)

5 Conclusions of the First NCP S&T Roundtable with Stakeholders held on , SCSTI, Bratislava The meeting of experts from different national projects was extremly interesting and rated by all stakeholders as very fruitfull. Looking for mutual interconnection of the national projects participating at the 1. NCP S&T roundtable, the results and recommended common steps below were obtained. Main idea behind recommended steps was: Though we have a huge number of addresses, in fact, we have always only one individual with one own head, its experiences, knowledge and skills, and with only one capacity of time. 1. During the roundtable there were discovered mutual connections between expected results and outcomes from the particular projects that enabling and requiring cooperation aimed in a strong synergy effect for addresses. For example, outcomes of several different projects: - e-educational programs focusing on classical scientific issues in school education being developed by school didactics specialists, - short demonstrations of simple experiments being developed according to scenarios proposed by teachers, - attractive e-learning cases based on observation of simple real process, in special format for long-term individual learning in depth, prepared for virtual science centre, - development of vocational training facilities and activities for pupils, in line with technologies applied in Slovak production sectors, are complementary, and learners and teachers could use them together with great advantage. A suitable methodology for teaching / learning has to be developed with new dynamics, in co-operation of schools and science centers specialists. 2. Preparation of tests is highly challenging process. School education reflects the results of the tests but their reflections are always a step backwards. Direct programs in science centers, in stone one and in virtual one, can become strong support. Cooperation should include also new kind of educational research on learning process, involvement of learners into educational process in a joint formal and non-formal educational setting, and in public understanding of science. Also a part of

6 educators praxis during their education can be realized in the science centre, including communication with visitors, development of new exhibits, programs, tests etc. 3. Careful research should be provided in connection of new forms of interactive audiovisual contents. Are all new forms of interactive multimedia effective tools for science promotion and science education? 4. Station of university students at companies during their compulsory praxes in the field of application research and innovation can be utilized also for creation of video clips about modern technologies, interviews with students about their experiences and with professionals from the companies about their careers. The videos can be presented in the science center and on its web side and can help high school students to choose their field of study. 5. At foreign language education there are plenty of opportunities for both, science and language, enabling native language learning based on real situation and spontaneous interest, curiosity, surprise from natural phenomena, experiments etc. Multilanguage programs bringing science in non-formal way and programs of the science centre in different languages are also a challenge. Except upper given interconnections and recommended steps for national projects and/or for their mother institutions, also policy recommendations were formulated These are summarized in a separate SEE Science document called Local/regional policy recommendations developed by SCSTI. The first roundtable of NCP S&T stakeholders has clearly shown links and potential of mutual cooperation between science promotion and science and technology education whereby the outlined cooperation is considered as a relevant reference framework for communication with further stakeholders of NCP S&T.