SPARK Project Partners Meet in North Macedonia for the Kick-off Meeting

The partner institutions of the Erasmus+ KA210 project “SPARK: Empowering Talent in Gifted Students” (Project Reference No: 2025-2-MK01-KA210-SCH-000375837) came together in Skopje, North Macedonia, for the project’s first face-to-face meeting.

The kick-off meeting was held from 29 June to 2 July 2026, bringing together project representatives, school leaders, teachers and experts from Türkiye, North Macedonia and Romania. The meeting provided an important opportunity for the partners to establish a common understanding of the project, share good practices and plan the upcoming activities together.

Establishing a Common Project Framework

The programme started with a presentation introducing the North Macedonian education system, followed by detailed discussions on the structure, objectives and responsibilities of the partner institutions.

The project coordinators reviewed key aspects of project management, budget planning, financial procedures and reporting requirements, with particular attention to ensuring compliance with Erasmus+ rules and procedures.

During the meetings, the partners also finalised the Partnership Agreements and the Quality Assurance Agreement (QAA), establishing common standards for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

Planning the First Teacher Training

One of the main focuses of the meeting was the preparation of the project’s First Structured Teacher Training Programme.

The partners discussed the main training themes, learning objectives and content, ensuring consistency across the partner countries. Particular attention was given to the integration of innovative approaches such as AI, STEAM, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in education for gifted and talented students.

The partners also examined the technical requirements for the online training sessions and discussed the effective use of digital collaboration tools, including TwinSpace and Microsoft Teams.

Risk management, quality assurance and financial transparency were also addressed to ensure the smooth and sustainable implementation of the project.

Building Stronger Partnerships Through Cultural Exchange

As this was the first face-to-face meeting of the partner institutions, strengthening communication, mutual understanding and teamwork was an important part of the programme.

Alongside the intensive academic and project-management sessions, the participants had the opportunity to discover the cultural and natural heritage of North Macedonia. Visits to Skopje Square, the historic Kale Fortress, the Old Bazaar and Matka Canyon provided valuable opportunities for informal communication and cultural exchange.

These shared experiences contributed to strengthening the relationships among the partner institutions and creating a positive foundation for future collaboration.

Looking Ahead

The kick-off meeting concluded with the presentation of participation certificates and a strong sense of commitment to the next stages of the project.

The SPARK project aims to strengthen the capacity of educators and develop innovative, inclusive and student-centred approaches for supporting gifted and talented learners. Through cooperation between institutions from Türkiye, North Macedonia and Romania, the project seeks to promote the exchange of good practices and contribute to more effective educational opportunities for gifted students.

The successful kick-off meeting in Skopje marked an important first step in this international cooperation. The SPARK partners are now looking forward to continuing their joint work, learning from one another and creating meaningful outcomes for teachers, students and schools across the three partner countries.

Türkiye – North Macedonia – Romania
Together, we SPARK talent!