A Teacher Career Platform that is here to stay
by Laura Wanckel and Chrissi Fischer
The Project: Tackling key issues in STEM Education
The 3C4Life project, which ran from 2021 to 2024, has made significant progress in enhancing STEM education across Europe. Over the past three years, the project has addressed key challenges such as the shortage of qualified STEM teachers, high attrition rates, and the growing demand for professional development in the STEM fields. The project brought together 12 partners from six European countries—Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the Netherlands—fostering collaboration between educational authorities and research institutions to bridge the gap between research, practice, and policy.
Providing Support through an Online Platform
At the core of 3C4Life’s success is the development of the Teach4Life platform, a comprehensive all-digital platform designed to support both pre-service and in-service STEM teachers. The platform provides many resources, including professional development materials, career guidance, and collaborative opportunities. Teachers can access videos, task resources, and innovative workshops to enhance their teaching skills, explore diverse career pathways, and connect with peers across Europe. This collaborative environment encourages mutual learning and support, enabling teachers to grow professionally and navigate their careers with greater confidence.
3C4Life also addressed broader challenges in European STEM education. With a significant portion of teachers nearing retirement and the profession facing high burnout and attrition rates due to low salaries and social status, the need for effective support systems is more urgent than ever. The Teach4Life platform addresses these issues by providing a supportive and innovative environment for professional development, helping to retain and empower STEM educators across Europe.
Leaving a lasting impact
The project’s results have been impressive. Over 1,800 teachers participated in field trials, and data consistently demonstrated improvements in teacher motivation and self-efficacy after using the platform. Qualitative feedback highlighted how the platform reinvigorated teachers’ enthusiasm for their careers and expanded their understanding of the many opportunities available. Moreover, the platform successfully integrated collaborative practices through digital communities of practice, where teachers could exchange experiences and strategies. Several partner countries have already integrated the Teach4Life platform into their teacher training programs, marking a critical step towards long-term sustainability.
Here to stay: Maintaining and adapting Teach4Life
As the project concludes, the focus now shifts to scaling up and ensuring the platform’s sustainability. The Teach4Life platform will continue to expand, with plans for localization into additional languages and further integration into national education systems. The partnerships formed during the project will play a key role in maintaining the platform’s relevance and accessibility, ensuring its impact on STEM education for years to come.
Looking ahead, we invite teachers, policymakers, and educational institutions across Europe to join this innovative movement. By adapting and promoting the Teach4Life platform, we can continue revolutionising professional development and teaching practices in STEM education. Together, we can empower the next generation of STEM teachers and ensure that STEM education in Europe remains forward-thinking, inclusive, and impactful. For more information and to stay connected, visit http://www.teach4life.eu and subscribe to our newsletter for future updates.
You can also contact us at ICSE – University of Education Freiburg, where the project leaders, Dr. Oliver Straser and Laura Wanckel, are available for further inquiries.
