From March 8th to 13th, 2026, partners of the PROVE project (Promoting Values Education in South Caucasus Higher Education Institutions) gathered in Greece for a dynamic and enriching study visit.

From Caucasus University, the meeting was attended by Mr. Aluda Goglichidze - Affiliated Associate Professor. Program Head, Mrs. Mariam Kutubidze - Affiliated Assistant-Professor, Mrs. Maia Zibzibadze - Affiliated Associate Professor and Mr. Akaki Kapandze – Director of the Project Management Department.  Program Head.The productive week was dedicated to consortium meetings, intensive training sessions, and school visits. The event brought together academic staff from partner universities to exchange ideas, develop new teaching skills, and explore innovative approaches to values education.

Participants spent the first part of the visit in the city of Florina and finally visited Thessaloniki. The host institution was the University of Western Macedonia (UoWM). The main focus of the event was project implementation, pedagogical innovations using Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the practical application of the VaKE (Values and Knowledge Education) method.

Strategic Planning and Project Milestones:

The visit began with a formal Consortium Meeting , where partners from Georgia, Armenia, Greece, and Austria presented reports on project implementation and midterm reporting:

• Progress Reports: Information regarding progress was shared by representatives from the following institutions: Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University (TeSaU), Caucasus University (CU), Ilia State University (ISU), Yerevan State University (YSU), Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU), University of Western Macedonia (UoWM), Private University College of Teacher Education Linz (PHDL) and Association for Values and Knowledge Education (AVaKE).
• Quality and Sustainability: Sessions led by experts covered crucial topics such as dissemination strategies, external evaluation methodology, and key findings of internal quality assurance.
• Planning: Financial management sessions and the planning of future activities for 2026 highlighted the strategic goals of the project.

Innovative Trainings: VaKE, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Assessment tools:

A significant part of the agenda was devoted to professional development and the integration of technology into education, specifically when using the VaKE methodology, which encourages students to engage with real-life dilemmas, think critically, and reflect on ethical decisions:

• AI in Education: Partners participated in a practical workshop regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence to prepare VaKE dilemmas. Participants discussed specific steps, guidelines, and mistakes to avoid. This session demonstrated how digital tools can support teaching by enhancing creativity and making it easier to adapt materials to different subjects and contexts.
• Assessment and Implementation: Specialized training sessions on assessment issues were led by Jean-Luc Patry, Alfred Weinberger, and Sieglinde Weyringer. Participants were introduced to practical tools that help evaluate not only what students learn, but also how they think, reflect, and engage in ethical issues, supporting deeper learning.
• Parallel Sessions: Representatives from partner universities (Telavi State University, Yerevan State University, Caucasus University, Armenian State Pedagogical University, and Ilia State University) held parallel sessions on the issues of using VaKE in selected courses, within which they shared knowledge and experience with one each other.

From Theory to Practice: Visits to Classrooms and Schools:

During the second half of the week, participants had the opportunity to see the use of the VaKE method in a real learning environment:

• Attendance at the University of Western Macedonia (UoWM) Course of Lecture: Participants attended the course “Critical Thinking in Educational Practice”, which was followed by a guided reflection on the development of digital literacy and school pedagogy. This allowed them to observe how dilemma-based learning promotes discussion and active participation in real teaching conditions.
• Peace Education: A separate session was dedicated to “Peace Education,” where the process of transitioning from a culture of war to a culture of peace within the VaKE framework was discussed, highlighting the role of education in fostering dialogue, tolerance, and social responsibility.
• Intercultural Education in Thessaloniki: The visit concluded in Thessaloniki with a visit to the 6th Experimental, Intercultural school of Eleftherio-Kordelio (formerly known as Evosmos-Kordelio Intercultural School). This experience allowed partners to observe how inclusive and diverse learning environments are supported in practice, connecting VaKE principles with goals such as inclusion, respect, and social cohesion.

Beyond the formal agenda, the study tour fostered an intense sense of collaboration and a common understanding of how values education might be implemented in many institutions and countries. The Study visit provided participants with practical tools, fresh insights, and increased confidence in applying VaKE in their own teaching, all while strengthening the partnership’s shared commitment. This visit is another successful step toward the PROVE project’s purpose of establishing values-based teaching in the South Caucasus’ higher education system through international cooperation and innovative pedagogical tools.

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