The EIT Climate-KIC Young Innovators 2020 Cyprus programme aims to train teachers on strengthening the skills of their students, aged 12-18, related to climate innovation. 
 
The Young Innovators 2020 Cyprus is supported by the EIT Climate-KIC Young Innovators official programme and co-funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The programme is coordinated by the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), in collaboration with the Cyprus Energy Agency (CEA) and the Center for Systems Solutions (CRS, Poland).
 
Participants  Teachers from both the public and private sector are invited to participate in the programme. They may come from specializations such as in Environmental Education, Science, Geography, Chemistry, Biology, Design and Technology or/and have particular interest in environmental issues.
 
Programme objectives EIT Climate-KIC Young Innovators 2020 Cyprus aims to support students, aged 12-18, in developing 21st century skills and competencies related to climate innovation under the umbrella of Problem-based Learning. Among other competencies, the programme promotes:
 
● Systems thinking and analysis

● Critical thinking

● Creative problem solving

● Entrepreneurship for social and climate innovation

The programme  The programme has two stages.
 
Stage 1. The participating teachers will get involved in a sequence of online seminars. Initially, the online social simulation “New Shores” will be used, designed by the Centre for Systems Solutions, which simulates the inhabitants’ life on a mythical island trying to run it to a sustainable future. In addition, the Visual toolbox, designed by the EIT Climate-KIC, will be used. This has been developed to make complex environmental issues more understandable, through the systems analysis of the various factors, concluding in sustainable solutions.
 
*The online seminars are expected to take place June - July. The exact dates will be announced at a later point
 
Stage 2.  Expert coaches of the programme in collaboration with the participating teachers will design two or three pilot workshops, ninety-minutes long (depending on school’s availability). As an introductory activity, students will get familiar with the social simulation “New Shores” and then they will be called to analyze a given local problem using the Visual toolbox. The local problem can come from the school, from the municipality or a company.  The programme will conclude with the Young Climathon event, where students will present their actions plans.
 
*The pilot workshops as well as the final event are expected to take place in September - November 2020.