The IAU Office of Astronomy for Education invites proposals for teacher training and professional development workshops by 30 April, to be hosted in 2026-27 as part of its Teacher Training Programme (TTP).
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) is pleased to announce the launch of its annual Teacher Training Programme (TTP). Researchers and practitioners in astronomy education are invited to collaborate with the OAE National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs), local astronomers and local teachers, and submit proposals to host teacher training workshops.
Through the programme, the OAE aims to support and recognise the professional development of teachers, with the ultimate goal of improving astronomy education for students around the world. The proposals should be structured according to the Astronomy Teacher Training Transparency Standards (AT3S), which aim to assist organisers in planning and executing the TTPs successfully. The standards are not merely a set of rules, but a framework of guidelines designed to ensure transparency.
For the 2026 call for proposals, the OAE is expanding opportunities for participation in the TTP by offering two options to accommodate applicants with different needs and resources:
1. Endorsement: Intended for those who have already secured funding elsewhere and would like to have their project reviewed and endorsed under the OAE TTP.
2. Funding: Aimed at applicants who are seeking funding of up to € 2,000 for their workshop, in line with the previous TTP program. There is limited funding from the OAE, making this option more competitive.
How to apply
Both options require a full application to be submitted based on the OAE TTP guidelines. Collaboration with at least one local NAEC, one local teacher, and, where possible, a local astronomer is mandatory for both options. This team will work together to create and conduct a teacher training workshop tailored to their specific preferences, where teachers will be empowered with the astronomy knowledge and skills they could use in their classrooms.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the clarity and completeness with which they address each standard. Transparency is essential; applicants are expected to clearly articulate their decisions, underlying rationale, and anticipated outcomes.
Please submit your proposal via the online application form. The deadline for applications is April 30, 2026.
Collaboration with a NAEC team member is a prerequisite for submitting proposals. Teachers and/or astronomers interested in leading a workshop are encouraged to connect with a NAEC in their country for potential collaboration. The OAE currently has NAECs in approximately 120 countries worldwide. Associate NAECs will be treated equivalently to NAECs; however, they require co-signature from a NAEC team member within their country.
For more information on the eligibility criteria, rules, and advice to fill out the application form, please see the FAQ page.
Teacher Training Programs in 2025
In the previous year, the OAE proudly supported 18 TTP workshops worldwide. We extend our sincere appreciation to the OAE Center Italy and the OAE Center India for their dedicated financial support toward primary school astronomy teacher training and, respectively, Teacher Training Programs (TTPs) in the Indian region.
The OAE would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following countries, their NAECs, and respective teams that received TTP grants in 2025:
Primary School Level
- Brazil (Ana Cecília Soja, Erivelton da Costa Thiago Santiago)
- Croatia (Danijela Takač, Igor Naglić , Vernesa Smolčić)
- Greece (Maria Ampartzaki, Margarita Metaxa, Vasiliki Giannakou, Eleftheria Simitzi-Della)
- Lebanon (Jean-Pierre Saghbini, Marc Bou Zeid, Carole Lteif)
- Philippines (Ma. Rosario Ramos, Francis M. Emralino, Kristine Jane Atienza)
- Romania (Elisabeta Ana Naghi, Iulian Stancu, Catalina-Ana Miritescu)
Middle School Level
- Bangladesh (Ujjwal Kumar Deb, Farseem M. Mohammedy, Tanim Chowdhury, Shafayet Rahman)
- Italy (Andrea Cottinelli, Roberto Veltri, Castiglione Anita Zanella, Riccardo Marai)
- Mexico (Raúl Mújica García, Juan Carlos, Mario Rodríguez Martínez, Víctor Hugo Méndez Bedolla, Diana Cruz Alvarado)
- China (Cuilan Qiao, Lei Liang, Yingchen Mao)
- Israel (Ayelet Weizman, Majd Thabit,)
- India (Virendra Yadav, Aasheesh Raturi, Kusum Kandwal)
High School Level
- Ghana (Sarah Abotsi-Masters, Albert Forson, Sarah Buamah)
- Kenya (Tabitha Alango, Lekshmi Rajagopal, Mavelyn Motari)
- Ethiopia (Nebiyu Mohammed, Wanos Nega, Mirjana Pović)
- Italy (Giannandrea Inchingolo, Sara Zarrinchang, Marina Canali, Andrea Cottinell, Mariachiara Falco)
- Slovenia (Dunja Fabjan, Andrej Guštin, Andreja Gomboc)
- Malta (Simeona Mamo, Kurt Catania, Connor Sant Fournier, Edward Duca, Noel Harmsworth, Audrey Vella Bondin, Mario Muscat)
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