uP-sTEAm project featured at the XIII international conference on University teaching and innovation

On 11 July 2025, Èlia Tena Gallego from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona had the opportunity to present the UPSTEAM project at the XIII International Conference on University teaching and innovation (CIDUI), held in Barcelona. Her presentation focused on the outcomes of Work Package 2, emphasizing the role and potential of non-formal STEAM education within the initial training of primary teachers. Drawing from a recent field experience, she explored how future educators perceive out-of-school STEM activities and how their personal STEM identity influences these views. The presentation also highlighted how structured reflection on such experiences can reshape student teachers’ self-perception and enhance their confidence in designing and implementing inclusive, real-world STEM activities outside the traditional classroom. The session sparked thoughtful discussion on the importance of integrating non-formal education into teacher training as a way to foster more engaging, relevant, and accessible science learning for all. Thanks to the UPSTEAM project, we are reimagining how to embed inclusive and inspiring STEM practices into the foundation of teacher education.