In October 2026, as part of the LEGENDS project, a Train the Trainer session was held at the Polemidia Open School, bringing together one primary education teacher and three adult educators. The session focused on presenting the project’s results and the educational materials developed through LEGENDS, while preparing participants to deliver upcoming intergenerational workshops involving children aged 12 and adults aged 60 and above. Particular emphasis was placed on fostering meaningful collaboration between the two generations and using digital storytelling as a tool for sharing experiences, preserving memories and highlighting local cultural heritage. Through the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to explore how personal stories and lived experiences can contribute to a deeper understanding of the communities in which they live. The participants also discussed the organisation and implementation…

The Erasmus+ project MindGuard (Project No. 2024-1-NL01-KA220-HED-000255675) was presented at the 5th Global Conference on Education (GCEDU 2026), held on 27 September 2026 at Imperial College London. Representing the Institute of Development (IoD) and the wider MindGuard consortium, Elena Xeni, Senior Researcher, presented the project’s latest research findings and practical resources supporting mental health and wellbeing in higher education. Her presentation, titled “Promoting Wellbeing in Higher Education: A Comprehensive Guide for Students and Academic Staff,” showcased MindGuard’s newly developed 100+ page open-access implementation guide. At the heart of the guide are 26 detailed academic scenario guides, addressing a wide range of challenges affecting students and academic staff. These scenarios cover clinical and psychological conditions, academic performance pressures, as well as social and structural challenges within higher education environments. Each scenario…

The LEGENDS project has reached an important milestone, moving from research and consultation to the practical implementation of its intergenerational approach. Over 250 educators, older adults and young people across Europe participated in questionnaires and focus groups, providing valuable insights into their needs, expectations and digital habits. These findings directly informed the development of the LEGENDS curriculum and helped shape an approach that responds to the realities of intergenerational learning. The research highlighted several factors that can make intergenerational activities more meaningful and effective. Building trust at the beginning of each session is essential, while participants benefit when activities draw on their individual strengths. Older adults bring valuable lived experience and personal stories, while younger participants often contribute greater digital confidence. Participants also emphasised the importance of practical support, including…

Partners of the EU-funded CATALYST project met today, 27 August 2026, at Sjávarklasinn (Ocean Cluster House) in Reykjavík, Iceland, for a Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) focused on reviewing key project milestones and planning the next phase of activities to support disengaged young people across Europe. The meeting brought together representatives from partner organisations, including IFESCOOP, RRIS, AKLUB, WeLearn, Institute of Development (IoD), and YPGD, to assess progress across project management, quality assurance, communication, and outreach activities. A key focus of the meeting was the rollout of the CATALYST Peer Coaching Training Programme, alongside the development and implementation of the Mental Health Toolkit and youth worker modules. Partners also reviewed the transfer of the Career Compass workshop, discussing progress, implementation experiences, and opportunities to further strengthen the project's support for young…

On June 26, 2026, the Institute of Development Ltd hosted the Cyprus National Dissemination Event for the EU-funded Agile Mind Scribe project at the CARDET premises in Nicosia. Organized under Work Package 4 (Implementation & Dissemination), the interactive, in-person session brought together 20 participants and two facilitators, to tackle the recurring challenge of organizational knowledge loss during onboarding, project handovers, and internal workflow transitions. Grounded in Agile methodology, behavioural design, and adult learning principles, the workshop introduced a structured approach to transforming isolated, person-dependent information into continuous knowledge flow. Through interactive conceptual inputs, multi-round sprint challenges, and group reflection sessions, attendees actively engaged with the project's learning loop: Transfer  Apply  Review  Improve  Capture. Participants gained hands-on experience with practical tools such as sprint timeboxing, feedback loops, and knowledge notes, with…

Sofia, Bulgaria — On July 15, 2026, the Agile Mind Scribe consortium convened in Sofia for its 4th and final Transnational Project Meeting. Hosted by project partner Redvertex on behalf of the lead partner, the School of Business Competences (SBC), the gathering marked a highly productive conclusion to the two-year EU-funded project. Partners reviewed the final progress of Work Package 3, evaluated dissemination outcomes, and finalized steps for the project's overall key performance indicators and final reporting. Rather than marking an end, the meeting served as a springboard for future initiatives. Having established a strong synergy throughout the project's lifecycle, the consortium organizations did not say goodbye, but rather "see you again." The partners actively discussed plans to extend their collaboration, exploring new funding mechanisms and project opportunities to build…

The CONNECT component of the CARE + CONNECT initiative is designed to create structured peer-support networks and safe spaces for dialogue within higher education institutions. By fostering mutual support among both students and staff, CONNECT aims to reduce social isolation, break mental health stigma, and cultivate a shared culture of care across campus communities. The framework provides practical training in active listening, empathetic communication, and first-line support. The implementation operates across two distinct tracks: Professional-to-Professional and Student-to-Student. The professional track enhances cross-disciplinary communication, equips staff with emotional intelligence skills, and establishes clear referral pathways for students in need of expert help. Meanwhile, the student track trains peer mentors to offer confidential support, recognize early warning signs of distress, and facilitate interactive "Conversation Cafés". Together, these strands build a sustainable, community-driven…

On 6th of July 2026, MindGuard project consortium had a successful online Master Training of Trainers (ToT) session. Virtually hosted by the University of Nicosia, the intensive four-hour event officially launched the project’s Master Trainer phase, equipping academic experts with the specialized tools needed to foster mental health literacy across European university campuses. Funded by the Erasmus+ program, MindGuard addresses the growing academic mental health crisis by combining participatory frameworks with innovative digital tools. During the training, participants explored the newly finalized MindGuard Guide, built around a practical "Recognise-Respond-Refer" model designed to help university staff navigate 26 common mental health challenges. Attendees also walked through the MindGuard digital ecosystem, including an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) platform designed for safe, scenario-based Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. The session shifted from…

The Institute of Development (IoD) is pleased to announce the publication of the first newsletter of the LEGENDS project (Local Excursions Generating Elderly Narratives for Digital Storytelling), an Erasmus+ funded initiative that promotes digital inclusion, intergenerational learning, and the preservation of local cultural heritage through storytelling. The newsletter highlights the project's progress, including the successful completion of the needs assessment phase, the development and piloting of the first modules of the LEGENDS Facilitator's Toolkit, and the consortium's first Transnational Project Meeting. It also presents the next steps of the project, which include digital storytelling workshops, local excursions, and the creation of an online cultural map showcasing local stories and heritage. As the Cypriot partner, the Institute of Development is leading the implementation of project activities in Cyprus, supporting older adults…

Recent data across European countries highlights a growing mental health crisis among higher education students, with high percentages experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Because roughly 75% of mental health disorders emerge before age 24, early intervention within university environments is vital. However, institutional support often remains reactive rather than preventive, leaving counseling services underfunded and struggling with long waiting lists. CARE + CONNECT presents a data-backed solution combining digital therapeutic tools (iCBT) with structured peer-support systems. Research demonstrates that iCBT platforms can reduce student anxiety symptoms by up to 42%, while peer-mentoring programs significantly decrease feelings of isolation. The project also focuses on institutional capacity building by training academic staff to recognize early distress signals, establishing clear escalation protocols, and embedding mental health initiatives permanently into campus culture and…