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The SALTO E&T TCA RC has reached out to Lidija Kralj based on the recommendation of one of our experts, Arjana Blazic, and then was added to our Expert Pool. 
We have worked with Lidija within the Digitalisation Long-term Activity with great enthusiasm and professionalism. Her expertise is extremely valuable - it is very much worth considering her as a contributor at TCA events and other Erasmus+ related activities. 

You can also watch the webinar on our YouTube channel that Lidija held in January 2024 about Artificial Intelligence in education in the framework of Digitalisation LTA 2021-2024.

Please, talk about your professional background. What topics are you an expert in? What do you think you can offer to the Erasmus+ community?

My professional background is teaching mathematics and computer science, I have been working in primary and secondary schools and in higher education for 26 years. I worked in the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education where I initiated digital education and learning analytics innovations as well as a comprehensive curricula reform as leader of several international and national projects. I am an author of Croatian curriculum for informatics, cross-curricular topics, ICT, and lots of digital learning resources and textbooks. Since 2021, I have been collaborating with the European Commission as a member of expert working groups for artificial intelligence and data in Education&Training, digital education and safer internet, and with UNESCO and the Council of Europe working groups addressing AI and education. My main areas are artificial intelligence and data in education with a focus on ethics; implementation of digital pedagogy; proper and meaningful use of digital technology, emerging teachers’ competencies and how to develop them; analysis of educational contexts in the European Union.

I do wear multiple “hats” as a result of my curiosity and continuous hunger for learning and I’m always happy to share what I have learnt, and support others in the process of growth.

What is your professional connection to the Erasmus+ Programme?

I have been involved in the Erasmus+ Programme since 2011 when it was still called Comenius. My first project was about safer internet (my dearest topic for more than 15 years). Since then, I have applied for, coordinated or participated in several Erasmus+ projects, KA2 and KA3, Forward-looking projects and Teacher Academies. The main topics of those projects are digital well-being, agile approach and the use of digital data for teaching and learning, playful learning, technology empowerment, safer and better internet, teaching approaches and methodology.

But my first connection with projects on EU level was eTwinning, with the first collaborative meeting back in 2007 even before Croatia joined the eTwinning family. I organised and implemented more than 50 eTwinning projects and have been one of the first Croatian eTwinning ambassadors, I’ve even received a special award dedicated to the 10th eTwinning anniversary. 

What roles have you had in connection with Training and Cooperation Activities? (facilitator, expert, trainer, etc.) What National Agencies have you worked with? What topics have you represented as a speaker at TCA events?

So far, I have worked with the Croatian, the Slovenian, and the Hungarian National Agencies, delivering workshops, online courses, presentations and lectures, as an expert and trainer. Also, I’ve held webinars and podcasts for Code Week and European School Education Platform, written articles for Digital Skills and Jobs, led a Squad at the European Digital Education Hub, and delivered lectures, presentations and keynotes at several international conferences, including keynote at the European Education Summit in 2021 and a panel at UNESCO Digital Learning Week.

What E&T sector(s) could benefit from your expertise? School education, vocational education, higher education, adult education? Maybe youth as well? Do you have cross-sectoral experience?

Cross-sectoral experience is one of my strengths as I have been working at all levels of education and at the government level. I would say that I am more experienced in school and vocational education, a bit less in higher ed and youth, and if we talk about adults I’ve mostly worked with teachers and parents.

Do you have a memorable experience to share from a TCA?

The most memorable experience for me is the aha effect – there are more “freaks” like me - when participants and speakers discover how powerful their collaboration is and how easily they find a common language.

Why do you like working with TCA participants, E+ beneficiaries?

Working with enthusiastic professionals in education is always a special gift, we could enjoy discussions about different topics, joint discoveries and sharing experiences. I like creating opportunities for people to hear each other, find missing links, enjoy collaboration and – more than anything – take the professional network with them when they get back home. 

I am still in touch with people I met on that very first eTwinning meeting (it was 17 years ago).

The Expert Pool is a database of professionals recommended by National Agencies. It includes trainers, facilitators, quality assurance experts, researchers, event service providers, and other specialists who can support your activities.

For National Agencies/SALTOs:

• You can invite experts to the Expert Pool through the Activity Management Panel --> Expert Pool --> NAcode Invitations + Expert Invite.
• Copy the generated link and send it to the expert via emial. Using the link, they will be able to register and publish their profile in the Expert Pool.