On June 18th and 19th, 2024, Athens, a city synonymous with knowledge and innovation, hosted the kick-off meeting for our new Erasmus+ project, UpGameIn. In this two-day, in-person meeting, the four partner organizations from Greece, Italy, and Poland gathered to lay the strategic foundations for an exceptionally ambitious endeavor.
The Mission: Upgrading the Industry from Within
UpGameIn has a bold goal: to upgrade the skills of the gaming and vocational education and training (VET) industries by providing the tools and methodologies to create games that are more inclusive, accessible, and environmentally friendly.
The kick-off meeting was the first, crucial step in turning this goal into a coordinated action plan.
What Did We Achieve in Two Days?
The agenda was packed, but the team’s energy was even greater. During the meeting:
- We Created a Common Understanding: Each partner presented their perspective and expertise, ensuring we all have a deep, shared understanding of the project’s goals, activities, and expected outcomes.
- We Finalized Action Plans: Through collaborative workshops, we refined our plans for dissemination, quality assurance, and risk management.
- We Strengthened Team Bonds: Beyond the formal sessions, the coffee and lunch breaks were invaluable. Getting to know each other personally and building trust is the foundation upon which successful European collaborations are built.
- We Signed and Committed: By signing the partnership agreements, we formalized our commitment to the successful implementation of UpGameIn over the next 24 months.
Ready for Action
The team left Athens with a sense of absolute clarity and shared enthusiasm. With a clear map and a strong, collaborative foundation, we are now ready to start the work of creating our first resource library, focusing on inclusion and accessibility.
The future of gaming is being designed today, and we are proud that Athens was the starting point of this exciting journey.
