European Commission Named 112 Innovative Teaching Winners
The 2026 Skills for Life awards recognize Erasmus+ projects for excellence in foundational education.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Education — General
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The European Commission has announced the 112 winners of the 2026 European Innovative Teaching Award. This year's edition, titled Skills for Life, focuses on addressing urgent deficits in literacy, mathematics, and science skills.
Why it matters
By highlighting projects that prioritize basic skills, the commission aims to address educational gaps across the European Union. This recognition supports the goals of the Action Plan on Basic Skills adopted in 2025.
The 112 winning projects include 16 in early childhood education, 28 in school education, 23 in vocational training, 22 in adult education, and 23 European Language Label projects. Winners were selected from 27 participating member states.
The players
European Commission
This is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions.
Erasmus+
This is the European Union's funding program intended to support education, training, youth, and sport in Europe.
The details
The European Commission selected the winning Erasmus+ projects in close cooperation with national agencies to foster better teaching methods. The projects were grouped into five categories to address core learning challenges in literacy, mathematics, and science.
Timeline
The European Innovative Teaching Award was first launched in 2021.
The commission adopted an Action Plan on Basic Skills in March 2025.
The 2026 award winners were officially announced in September 2026.
Culture Shift
This initiative reflects a broader shift toward prioritizing foundational academic competencies over general educational expansion. The awards follow the strategic objectives established by the Action Plan on Basic Skills.
Educators and institutions involved in these winning Erasmus+ projects may receive enhanced resources and visibility for their teaching methods. Teachers across the participating member states can expect new support materials following the release of the commission's upcoming Education Package.
The takeaway
These awards provide a roadmap for educators looking to integrate modern pedagogical techniques into their existing curricula. Teachers can look for successful models among the 112 winners to improve student engagement in literacy and science.
What happens next
The commission plans to release an upcoming Education Package designed to further support teachers and member states in implementing these educational strategies.
Further reading
For more information on the latest academic policies and international initiatives, visit Education — General.
Live Poll
Do you believe schools should prioritize basic literacy and math skills above other extracurricular activities?
