Summer Academy for teacher educators working in the field of languages
Inspiring Innovation in European Language Teacher Education

The 5th edition of the ECML-EC Summer Academy took place from 29 June to 3 July 2026 in Graz, Austria. A key component of the ECML’s cooperation with the European Commission, this year’s Academy brought together 28 highly motivated language teacher educators from 25 European countries and 8 international experts. The Academy provided a vibrant environment for professional exchange, intercultural reflection, and the exploration of innovative approaches in language teacher education.

The programme featured a range of activities and interactive discussions addressing key developments and challenges in European language teacher education, such as language plurality, digital literacy and autonomy, assessment practices, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the identities and competences of language teacher educators. The Academy encouraged both individual growth and collaborative advancement, with a special focus on fostering partnerships and teamwork among participants.

Cultural and social activities complemented the professional programme, including a guided tour of Graz and an evening in the Styrian vineyards. Moreover, at the University of Graz, participants – welcomed by Hermine Penz at an event hosted by the Austrian Association of the ECML – engaged with valuable perspectives on collaborative partnerships and language awareness in CLIL/ICLHE.

This collaborative spirit was carried forward throughout the week, inspiring participants to initiate follow-up projects and ensuring that the exchange and cooperation established during the Academy will continue well beyond the event itself. With the ECML preparing its 8th medium-term programme (2028-2031) and a call for project proposals to be launched in 2027, the Summer Academy proved to be an opportune moment for participants to consider and develop collaborative ideas for future European language education projects.

The ECML-EC Summer Academy successfully forged connections among language teacher educators from across Europe, advancing plurilingual and intercultural education to strength our democracies, quality, inclusion, and intercultural dialogue in education.

"It was a very inspiring week indeed, both because of the programme itself and because of the colleagues we met, interacted with and collaborated with.
We refreshed and updated our knowledge and experience of the importance of language and language teacher education
in the maintenance and development of a democratic, open, plurilingual and pluricultural Europe."

Summer academy participant, 2026

For more information about the Summer Academy, please visit: www.ecml.at/summeracademy

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

The 4th edition of the ECML Summer Academy, entitled “Inspiring Innovation in European Language Teacher Education”, took place from 30 June to 4 July 2025 at the ECML premises in Graz, Austria. Organised as part of the ongoing cooperation between the ECML and the European Commission, this initiative brought together 30 language teacher educators from 28 European countries, along with 8 international experts. The event offered an intensive and, living up to its title,  ‘inspiring’ week of exchange and professional development.

The Summer Academy has established itself as a successful format, offering a unique opportunity for teacher educators from across Europe to connect, to learn with and from each other, and to reflect on their professional expertise and experience within an intercultural context.

The 2025 programme focused on key developments in language teacher education. Topics included the role of teacher education in the context of linguistic and cultural plurality, the use and integration of ECML resources, digital literacy and language-friendly environments in times of artificial intelligence, current approaches to research in teacher education, as well as the identities, values and competences of language teacher educators.

Participants explored these topics in depth through a varied programme of presentations, interactive discussions and workshops. The academy not only fostered professional learning, but also supported the development of sustainable follow-up projects, ensuring that exchange and cooperation continue beyond the event. Participants worked on individual and collaborative project planning aimed at long-term impact.

Cultural and social activities complemented the professional development programme. Highlights included a guided walking tour of the beautiful city of Graz, an evening in the Styrian vineyards, and a special session at the University of Graz, hosted by the Austrian Association of the ECML. There, participants were welcomed by Professor Hermine Penz, with an engaging presentation by Eva Bauer on digital storytelling, which encouraged discussion and reflections on its classroom applications.

The Summer Academy provides a unique opportunity for intercultural and transnational exchange. It supports the European language education community and promotes quality, innovation, and inclusion in language teacher education.

For more information about the Summer Academy, please visit: www.ecml.at/summeracademy