The INVITED consortium met in Ljubljana on 4–5 December 2025 for two intensive working days. Partners from Spain, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia came together with a clear focus: finalising the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), refining the Professional Development modules, and taking concrete decisions on the upcoming INVITED conference and research outputs.
The first day centred on the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) scheduled to take place in Warsaw in March 2026. As host institution, the University of Warsaw presented key organisational arrangements, including logistical support for participants as well as opportunities for cultural activities alongside the academic programme.
In the afternoon, attention turned to planning the INVITED Conference, to be held in October 2026. The consortium agreed on an online format, structured around research-focused sessions in the morning and practice-oriented contributions in the afternoon. A preliminary programme was discussed, with room for adjustment once speakers and contributors are confirmed.
The second day focused on the quality and long-term sustainability of the Teacher Education Module (TEM) for in-service teachers. Partners were joined online by virtual exchange expert Shona Whyte, who provided detailed, constructive feedback on all module components, helping to ensure coherence, clarity, and pedagogical soundness across the programme.
Research and dissemination activities were also addressed. A special issue on Virtual Exchange, coordinated and edited by Pedro Ferez and Yvette Coyle (University of Murcia), is currently in preparation, and partners reviewed procedures for tracking BA and MA theses linked to the INVITED project.
After two days of intensive discussion and decision-making, the meeting concluded on a lighter note with a surprise visit from St. Nicholas, who brought sweets and tangerines for the participants, an informal but fitting end to a highly productive consortium meeting in Ljubljana.
