University of Aveiro. Portugal 
The University of Aveiro (UA) is a public institution with a mission to provide and develop graduate and postgraduate education, research and cooperation with society. Founded in 1973, it quickly became one of the most dynamic and innovative universities in the country. Determined not to be left behind in development (social, technological and scientific), the UA has always positioned itself at thre forefront of innovation. Not just by providing degree programmes in advanced scientific and technological areas and developing modern infrastructures and sophisticated equipment, but also investing in the education and recruiting of teachers and researchers with proven track records in the development of research projects and in terms of close relations with the worlds of business and industry. Today UA has about 12 000 students, attending graduate (in 58 subjects) and postgraduate courses (about 150 areas), 950 members of academic staff and 500 non academic.
National and International cooperation are key areas for the UA, taking place through participation in numerous European education and research programmes, including ERASMUS, MUNDUS, ALFA, ALBAN, SOCRARES as will on a bilateral and multilateral basis with partners throughout the word. UA is also a holder of ECTS label.
The UA was the coordinator institution of SySYEM (94343-CP-1-PT-COMENIUS-C21).
The Department of Didactics and Education Technology, where the representative of STE works, provides the scientific and technology knowledge necessary for delivering the wide range of teacher education programmes delivered at the University. The University also has strong connections with the schools in its region, placing and supervising teacher educators at the teaching practice stage of their work, with the support of its Integrated Centre for Teacher Education.
The Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv. Bulgaria 
The University “The Paisii Hilendarski” in Plovdiv is a state institution founded in 1961. For its 44 - year period of development the University has now the reputation of an authoritative institution of higher education which provides thorough theoretical, practical and methodological instruction for young specialists. Approximately 500 lecturers, one-third of whom are full professors and associate professors, work there. 200 of the lecturers possess either PhD or a Dr. degree. The total enrolment is over 11 000 students studying in 8 faculties: Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Education, Philology, Economics, Law. The University of Plovdiv is a member of the SOCRATES, programme bilateral agreements have been signed with approximately 20 different Universities, mainly in the fields of student and teacher mobility, and Inter-University co-operation programmes. The University has experience in collaborative projects in several TEMPUS and SOCRATES projects.
The Faculty of Education is involved in Primary School Pedagogic Courses Pre-School Pedagogic, Social Pedagogy, Special Needs Pedagogic and Physical Education and extra mural education. The Faculty of Education also provides university courses and in-service training for teachers who want to continue their professional development and offers Master programs in Education.
This University was a partner in SySYEM (94343-CP-1-PT-COMENIUS-C21).
Bradford College. United Kingdom 
Bradford college was established in 1832 and has a long and illustrious history. It is now an Associate College of the University of Bradford and provides approximately 30000 students with courses serving both the F.E. sector and H.E. sector. The college employs over 1000 full time staff and approximately 1000 support staff and offers extensive expertise in both the areas of general pedagogy and particularly in science education and ICT education which is lead by members of the Department of Teacher Education. This Department has been very active in the international arena taking on the role of Coordinator for a number of Tempus projects and being an active member of Comenius and Erasmus projects. Bradford College is committed to supporting international activities at a number of different levels not least supporting students from overseas and has developed an reputation of in the pursuit of excellence in learning.
Bradford College was a partner in SySYEM (94343-CP-1-PT-COMENIUS-C21).
Masaryk University in Brno. Czech Republic 
After the First World War Brno became the second city of the Republic of Czechoslovakia in both size and significance. In 1919 three institutions of higher education were founded, among them Masaryk University, which soon became a hub of activity for students, teachers and researchers. Masaryk University in Brno is the second largest university in the Czech Republic in terms of number of students in accredited degree programmes. An ever-growing number of applicants are seeking places. The university’s curriculum is based on disciplines grouped under the faculties of Law, Medicine, Science, Education, Economics and Administration, Informatics, Social Studies and Sports Studies.
The University is well recognised for its experience in education. Faculty of Education plays a crucial role within the context of Czech national education system as the centre of teacher training for all levels of schools and subjects and educational research. Particular objectives are the education of people with special needs, teacher and health, curriculum design and in-service teacher training.
Masaryk University was a partner in SySYEM (94343-CP-1-PT-COMENIUS-C21).
University of Tartu. Estonia 
The University of Tartu (UT), founded in 1632 is the oldest and largest university in Estonia. There are eleven faculties in the university, approximately 3000 researchers and administrative staff and 15 000 students. The Centre for Science Education within the Faculty of Biology and Geography, in the University of Tartu has developed considerable expertise in the area of research into scientific and technological literacy and in science education generally through research projects, running workshops and research conferences and in developing a number of courses in this field. It has been involved in both formal and non-formal education developments and has a strong alliance with the scientists in the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology and Geography, as well as with a newly established Science Centre within the University which runs public awareness events for the general public. The Centre for Science Education staff are heavily involved in public awareness developments in Estonia. The Centre was involved with a project introducing biotechnology in the secondary schools as part of the EU programme - European Initiative for Biotechnology Education (EIBE). The public awareness thrust through lectures is largely through Gene Technology using the expertise of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology. The Institute has participated in a number of European Commission projects - Cooperation in Science and Technology with Central and Eastern European countries (CIPACT 930257), PECO 1993 Copernicus; TEMPUS joint European project 1998-2000 (S_JEP-12421-97); EU Framework 5 programme on new strategies for the treatment of cancer (EUR 221 000) and EU Framework 5 programme on ethical, legal and social targets of human genetic databases (contract under negotiation). It was a partner in SySYEM (94343-CP-1-PT-COMENIUS-C21).
University of Helsinki. Finland 
The University of Helsinki has the widest range of disciplines in Finland and it was established in 1640. The number of faculties is eleven. There are 38,000 degree students and 7,400 staff. The number of degrees taken each year is 4,200, of which 350 are doctorates.
The University concentrates on high-level scientific research and researcher education. Scientific research is also the basis of the teaching provided by the University. The University operations support the development of society, as well as business and industry. University representatives offer their competencies for the benefit of society through a number of positions of trust and expertise.
The University of Helsinki participates in more than half of the national Centres of Excellence in Research, elected by international scientific panels and the university has been invited to be a member of the League of European Research Universities, a co-operation body for the leading European research universities. According to international expert panels, also the teaching provided by the University of Helsinki is of a high European level.
The Department of Applied Sciences of Education is one of the five Departments of the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences and it is one of the largest departments of the University of Helsinki. The department is divided in four different Sections: Class Teacher Education, Subject Teacher Education, Kindergarten Teacher and Early Childhood Education, and Special Needs Education. In addition, the Department has thirteen research centres, which are organised according to different themes.
The Department of Applied Sciences of Education carries out teaching as well as basic and applied research in different fields of education. The Department educates teachers for all educational levels from kindergarten to adult education and is engaged in domain specific research and experimental activities. The activities of the Department build on a versatile scientific, practical and societal expertise as well as on an extensive networking and cooperation at both national and international level.
Adam Mickiewicz University. Poland 
Adam Mickiewicz University was founded in 1919. It is developed into one of the largest academic centers in Poland with over 2,100 faculty members and over 49,000 students. It has 13 faculties, which offer one of the highest levels of education in Poland. Adam Mickiewicz University is one of the best Universities in Poland. The University is well known from the quality of its research and teacher education. The University has a great number of partners from all over the world.
AMU is the first university in Poland, which started to teach science teachers for elementary level – children of age 9-12 after educational reform in 1999. This study is located in Outreach College (campus) in Koscian (50 km on West, from Poznan). The study is based on the results of two European Project for science learning.
Teachers from Adam Mickiewicz University College in Koscian co-operate with teachers from elementary and secondary school. The science students are involved in educational project based on the idea of sustain development. The Project organises centre for teacher education, the centre for interactive learning and centre for selling goods produced by a ecological farm (a part of interactive learning centre).
Teaching IT is important field in the University, not only is a teaching way but as a subject of teaching.
Most teachers in Wielkopolska region (and many of them in Poland) have been educated in Adam Mickiewicz University. One of the most important didactical activity is teacher education for subjects in elementary and secondary schools. The University has a rich tradition in educating science teachers and math teachers.
AMU was a partner in SySYEM (94343-CP-1-PT-COMENIUS-C21).
University of Wroclaw. Poland
The University of Wroclaw was grounded in 1702. In the running academic year there are about 46.000 students studying at the University.
The Teachers' Education Center is new division of the University of Wroclaw that was grounded in 1999. Its main areas are: training in pedagogy and psychology (including practice at school) for all students of the University, that are going to become teachers after finishing their studies; organizing and performing post-graduate studies for in-service teachers; organizing and performing short courses, in areas that are of particular interest of the participants (teachers and others) and experience in web-based delivery of some subjects.
The types of activities carried on at the Centre are: teaching combined with research work, organizing national conferences for teachers and researchers in teaching and editing a national journal on science education, books/didactic materials/conference proceedings.
The Teachers' Education Center was also a partner in SySYEM (94343-CP-1-PT-COMENIUS-C21).
Malmo University, Sweden 
Malmo University / MAH, Sweden is a public institution founded in 1998 as Sweden’s newest venture in higher education. It combines both tradition and renewal as some Faculties already existed as a part of Lund University, established in 1966, and some are quite new academic units. It has presently around 850 staff members and 14000 students. Internationalisation is an essential issue for the University. MAH is a member of the SOCRATES programme; bilateral agreements have been signed with approximately 50 different Universities, mainly in fields of students and teacher mobility, and Inter-University co-operation programmes. MAH also takes part in TEMPUS project and is planning further collaboration with East- and Central European partners. The School of Teacher Education, LUT, is one of six broad and multi-disciplinary schools at Malmo University. Some 7000 students are enrolled in the school for the spring 2005. Within the School of Teacher Education is the Sports Science programs Professional Guidance. Counselling education as well as an array of individual courses. The school is split into five major areas of study: Individual and Society; Play, Leisure and Health; Nature, Environment and Society; Culture, language and Media and School Development and Leadership. The goal is to create a modern school of teacher education that can meet the needs of today’s society and have a broad view of knowledge. Within the five major areas of study are a total of 13 major subject themes which are the school’s professional subjects. The students create their own education by choosing a major subject theme and several minor subject themes. Students will come into close contact with their future profession right from the start. In the first term, students will work in ´´so-called´´ partner schools. Student of Sports Science work in a similar way within sport associations, municipal bodies and sport organizations.
At the School of Teacher Education in Malmo, research accounts for more than half of Malmo University’s research within the humanities and social sciences.
The Regional Development Centre or RUC works mainly with competence development of teachers currently at the school in cooperation with other schools. RUC´s assignment come mainly from municipal bodies in Sweden but it also works on national and international projects for educational institutions: location of institution, composition of school population, insofar as relevant for the project.
