Methodologies for Teamworking in Eco-Outwards Research
Principal Investigator in the UK: Dr Ale Okada (OU)
Co-Investigators: Prof Dr Kieron Sheehy (WELS); Dr Kaustubh Adhikari (STEM)
Funders: European Commission
Period: DEC 2024-NOV 2027
Partners:
Center for Social and Economic Research, Poland (Coordinator)
Nord Universitet, Norway
Universita Degli Studi Di Verona, Italy
European University – Cyprus
Jyvaskylan Yliopisto, Finland
Kastamonu Universitesi, Türkiye
Ilia State University, Georgia
Asociacion Para La Gestion Del Centro Europeo, Spain
Hacettepe Universitesi, Türkiye
RosRoskilde Universitet, Denmark
SYNYO GmbH, Austria
Universidade Do Estado Da Bahia, Brazil (Associate)
The METEOR project is designed to enhance the transversal skills of Early Career Researchers and PhD Students (PECR), to create a more inclusive and dynamic research ecosystem. Rooted in the principles of Open Science and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), and with connections to Open Schooling, METEOR aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) to advance knowledge exchange, collaboration, and research impact.
Using the CARE-KNOW-DO approach (Okada & Gray, 2023), METEOR fosters teamwork and the development of engaging, purpose-driven transdisciplinary project proposals linked to Agenda 2030. By addressing local and global societal challenges, the project promotes inclusive, future-oriented postgraduate education, whilst empowering researchers with the tools to create meaningful change.
To ensure an enriching and engaging learning experience, METEOR integrates an ‘optimal flow’ approach through groupwork, making research training not only effective but also fun and inspiring. Through innovative methodologies and interactive activities, METEOR will equip participants with the skills needed to navigate complex research environments and contribute to a more collaborative and impactful research culture.
Early career researchers and PhD students will be empowered through peer mentoring groups by ‘caring’ about transformative research, developing transdisciplinary ‘knowledge,’ and taking responsible research into ‘action’ to drive innovation at national and international levels.
METEOR’s goals in Europe.
- Work with university administrative and supervisory systems to:
- Create Peer Mentoring Groups (PMGs)of 4-6 PhD/ECR (target 300 individuals, 75 groups)
- Develop a suite of online courses and related F2F events to enhance skills and increase collaboration, support and research impact, for PhD/ECR and related supervisory staff.
- Support and assess PMGs in preparing proposals based on groupwork, across institutions and national borders, with overall themes based on transformative research principle, aligned with the UN SDGs, and focused on concrete societal and scientific impact rather than conventional metrics.
- Influence Institutional and governmental policies relating to the researcher development process.
METEOR Impact
The METEOR program aims to help PhD students and Early Career Researchers reflect on their research and writing activities and extend their goals outwards, beyond the research process itself into the wider world.
- Individual Impact: The PhD process is designed to meet various objectives. At the individual level, completing a PhD and engaging in subsequent research activities can lead to higher lifetime earnings, but conventional PhD training is focused on academic goals rather than employability.
- Systemic Impact: From a systemic perspective, PhDs can be a measure of institutional or national R&D progress. METEOR will shift researcher education and training towards a collaborative model that mirrors real-world practices in industry, academia, and NGOs.
- Direct Impact: As a Coordination and Support Action, METEOR will act as a demonstrator. The project’s direct impact will include impact studies, new funded proposals, policy recommendations and professional training models.
Indirect Impact: The indirect impact of METEOR will be realized over a longer period. We will develop advanced econometric models to predict its long-term impact on individuals and institutions. The METEOR Doctoral School (MEDS) will continue the work of the project in the long-term, providing the basis for an open community of researchers skilled in international, interdisciplinary and eco-outwards innovation
The UK M E T E O R Team:
Dr Alexandra Okada (Principal Investigator) (PI) is an Assoc. Professor and Senior Researcher in Global Education and Digital Transformation at WELS Faculty, and a UNESCO and EU advisor. With 25 years of experience in Education, Science, and Technology, she has led 10+ international projects across Europe, Africa, and South America, advancing intercultural collaboration, transnational mixed methods, and data-driven decision-making. She developed the CARE-KNOW-DO approach, led the Open Schooling Declaration, and conceptualized Science Connection, benefiting more than 18,000 educators and 50,000 learners in research and innovation for sustainability. CONNECT – engaging future oriented science in Europe & Brazil and
Catch-up – Foundational Literacy, Numeracy and Social-Emotional Learning
Prof. Dr. Kieron Sheehy (Co-I) is a Professor of Education (Innovative Pedagogies) at WELS Faculty. His interests include inclusive and special education and educational psychology. Kieron will lead the OU’s work on innovative education initiatives to foster transversal skills in challenging and inclusive settings, supporting the UK framework. He is currently the leader of ASSIK inclusive disaster risk reduction education in Indonesia.
Dr Kaustubh Adhikari (Co-I) is a Lecturer in Statistics at the STEM Faculty. His interests include biostatistics. Kaustubh will lead the OU’s work on policy and impact efforts underpinned by quantitative analysis. He will mentor working groups in emerging approaches and supporting evidence-based policy and impact. He is also leading the Open Societal Challenge Project GRACE.
Dr Alison Glover is a Researcher for the Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Programme at the OU in Wales. Her interest centres on school education for Sustainable Development. Alison will lead the OU’s work on training, including online resources and evaluation, supporting WP3. Her current project is The Curriculum for Wales formative evaluation for the Welsh Government.
Dr Margaret Ebubedike is a Researcher in International Education at the Centre of Global Development. Her research focuses on gender equality. Margaret will lead the OU’s work on implementation, including online events, face-to-face workshops, and assessment. She is currently the project lead for the three-nation Girls Rehabilitation, Empowerment, Agency, and Transformation (GREAT) research
Dr Jane Doka is a Researcher in International Education at the Centre of Global Development. She recently completed her doctoral research focused on marginalized students’ agency, schooling, and Vocational Education and Training. Jane will lead communication and implementation strategies. Her current project is OPENSTEM Africa – Co-developing technology-based practical science teaching and learning.
Stephanie Edwards is a Research Administrative Assistant with extensive experience at OU WELS. She has organized various academic events and managed finances and administrative reports for multiple funded projects. In METEOR, she will support event coordination, travel arrangements, and administrative reporting. (under review)
Teresa Davidson is a Research Manager at OU WELS, with an extensive portfolio of proposals and projects she has managed, including financial oversight for major funders such as UKRI, the European Commission, and others. In METEOR, she will support financial reporting, budget management, and EU portal procedures to ensure the effective implementation of METEOR at The Open University, UK. (under review)
Expert Collaborators:
Dr Inma Alvarez Puente is the Director of Postgraduate Research Studies in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies. Her research interests include intercultural competence in language education, teacher professional development, and technology enhanced education. She is also interested in performing arts research, specifically in how these arts are documented and disseminated. She has been part of EMPOWER, an action programme to support new modes of teaching and learning in European higher education institutions, and is currently working on issues around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in research and postgraduate education.
Dr. Joanne Josephidou is Associate Head of School, Research, and Knowledge Exchange at WELS, School of ECYS, and Programme Lead for Early Childhood. Her research focuses on appropriate pedagogies for the youngest children (0-5) in education, including gender issues and babies’ and toddlers’ access to nature. In METEOR, Jo will serve as an advisor to the OU UK team on Research and Knowledge Exchange. (under review)
Lee Woodham is a Research Manager at OU WELS, with an extensive portfolio supporting project teams in post-award management for UK and international funders. In METEOR, he will oversee documentation and assist with budget management to ensure the successful completion of the project at The Open University, UK. (under review)
Owolabi Paul Adelana is a PhD researcher specializing in Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED) at WELS Faculty, The Open University, UK. His research focuses on advancing innovative solutions and addressing ethical considerations in applying AI to educational contexts. His research interests include Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED), the ethics of AI, STEAM and STEM education, integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into educational practices, and innovative strategies for teacher professional development (TPD).
References
Okada, Alexandra and Gray, Peter Barry (2023). A Climate Change and Sustainability Education Movement: Networks, Open Schooling, and the ‘CARE-KNOW-DO’ Framework. Sustainability, 15(3), article no. 2356. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032356
Okada, Alexandra; Panselinas, Giorgos; Bizoi, Mihai; Malagrida, Rosina and Torres, Patricia Lupion (2024). Fostering Transversal Skills through Open Schooling with the CARE-KNOW-DO Framework for Sustainable Education. Sustainability, 16(7), article no. 2794. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072794
Okada (2025) CARE-KNOW-DO to Map Knowledge in Education
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-54677-8_4