Six months after the 4th ECML-EC Summer Academy, eight transnational projects are now underway, initiated by the international networks formed during the Academy. In a follow-up online meeting on 6 February 2026, 23 of the 30 participants from different countries across Europe, together with 5 experts, presented these projects and discussed their ongoing development.

The ECML-EC Summer Academy is an annual professional development initiative for teacher educators in foreign languages, organised within the framework of the ongoing cooperation between the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) and the European Commission. The 2025 edition, entitled “Inspiring Innovation in European Language Teacher Education”, was held at the ECML in Graz, Austria, from 30 June to 4 July, bringing together participants from 28 countries. The intensive programme enabled them to network internationally, share best practices, and develop sustainable follow-up projects.

The 2025 programme addressed key developments in language teacher education, including plurilingual education, digital literacy, AI in language-friendly environments, innovative methods in teacher education research, and teacher competences. Participants engaged through presentations, workshops, and discussions, and developed projects for sustainable follow-up. An additional session at the University of Graz on digital storytelling proved particularly noteworthy and inspired a number of collaborative projects.

The eight projects cover diverse topics, reflecting the themes explored at the Summer Academy. Notable examples include:

• Using AI tools to generate curriculum-linked post-primary materials to support the language learning of newly-arrived migrants, with teachers jointly testing, refining, and disseminating AI-based learning materials.
• Digital storytelling on the use of AI, collecting teachers’ experiences and turning them into evolving online narratives (see an example).
• Plurilingualism and pluriculturalism as a teaching resource, an international training initiative integrating pluralistic approaches, collaborative strategies, and digital tools.

These projects demonstrate how networks formed during the Academy are translating into initiatives that continue to support innovation in language teacher education across Europe.

The call for the ECML-EC Summer Academy 2026 is now open (deadline: 20 April 2026). One nomination per country is accepted. Interested teacher educators are invited to contact their national nominating authority.

For more information, visit: www.ecml.at/summeracademy