In Europe, previous research has highlighted the difficulty of the transition from initial teacher training to teaching in schools, demonstrated by significant teacher attrition across the continent: around 30% of newly qualified teachers leave the profession within 1–5 years (Federicova, 2020). “Digital Academy in Teaching Practice for a Seamless Transition from Pre-service to In-service” (DigitalTA) is a European Teacher Academy project launched in 2022 and completed in June 2025. It aimed to improve the practical training of student teachers and newly qualified teachers in EU countries, facilitating their transition from academic studies to professional practice with the support of digital media. To achieve this objective, and based on the definition of a European approach to this transition period, the project team began developing a common framework for teacher induction, along with a digital platform to host a learning community for teachers. The platform, grounded in reflective practice, connects providers of initial teacher education (pre-service education) with institutions responsible for continuing professional development (in-service education). The project ended in June 2025, and its outcomes were particularly noteworthy, demonstrating the relevance of the developed tools: 1,192 users from 27 countries, 251 educational institutions participated during the pilot phase, 9 published papers, 11 international conferences and 58 local events were held, with more than 16,000 participants and 92,000 impacts recorded across both physical and digital spaces. The DigitalTA project, led by the European University of the Atlantic (Spain), united teams from five European countries, training centers, schools, and institutions like ATEE and the University of Barcelona, fostering collaboration to improve teacher education and innovation across Europe.
Finalist
EU Project of the Year Award
Supporting European newly qualified teachers against professional attrition- DIGITALTA project-UNEAT
Finalist EU Project of the Year Award
European University of The Atlantic - Spain
"DigitalTA: Teacher Academy Supporting Transition "
Engage on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/digitalta/(Official DigitalTA LinkedIn account)
https://www.facebook.com/DigitalTATeacherAcademy(Official DigitalTA FB account)
(Official DigitalTA Youtube account)
Summary
Key People
Josep Alemany
Project Co-coordinator
Faculty of Social Sciences ,
European University of The Atlantic
Dr Thomas André Prola
Project Co-coordinator
project Deaprtment ,
Iberoamerican University Foundation
Dr. Arturo Ortega
Project Manager
Project Department ,
Iberoamerican University Foundation
Milena Davalos
Financial manager
Financial Department,
Iberoamerican University Foundation
Ruth Congregado
Dissemination leader
Communication Department,
European University of The Atlantic
Dr. Agniezska Szplit
Researcher
Faculty of Education ,
University Jan Kochanowski
Maria Fuentes
Teacher trainer
Teacher continuous training center from Segovia,
Teacher continuous training center from Segovia
Dr. Orla McCormack
Researcher
Faculty of Education ,
University of Limerick
Dr. Jan Ardies
Researcher
Faculty of Education ,
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Anvers
Iza Krzak-Borkowska
Teacher trainer
Teacher continuous training center from Kielce ,
Teacher continuous training center from Kielce
Dr. Iva Koribska
Researcher
Faculty of Education ,
University of Olomouc
Salvador Banderas
Tecnological Leader
Educational technologies,
Iberoamerican University Foundation
Acknowledgements
Government of Cantabria (Spain)
Association for Teacher Education in Europe ATEE (Europe)
University of Barcelona (Spain)
National University of the South (Argentina)
Images
DigitalTA Team
Final conference with teachers
Presenting our Outputs to Europeans
Stakeholders meeting in Czech Republic
Students participating in DigitalTA activities in Belgium
A presentation for Newly Qualified Teachers (Belgium)
DigitalTA: a bridge for teacher transition
Building the project from our differences
The team: a group of peers looking a better future for teacher training
Working with students
Certificate of participation to a experienced teacher
Working with students at UJK (Poland)
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
From Doubt to Purpose: Paco’s Journey Through DigitalTA
Paco Elviro always dreamed of being a teacher. But when he stepped into his first classroom, that dream was crushed by confusion, loneliness and fear. He expected guidance but instead, he found silence. “You think that this world of education is quite cooperative…and it’s not always going to be like that.”
Each day brought frustration, self-doubt and questions he was too afraid to ask. Was it normal to feel this lost? With no direction from local colleagues and the pressure to prove himself to those who would eventually evaluate him, Paco began to wonder if he truly belonged in the profession he had once loved.
Then he discovered DigitalTA.
The platform helped Paco calm down and process what he was experiencing. For the first time, Paco had space to understand his own growth, to organize his thoughts and realize he wasn’t alone.
Paco also saw a bigger purpose. As artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape the classroom, DigitalTA offered a space to explore these tools. While some colleagues remained hesitant or prohibitive, the platform connected him to like-minded educators–some even in places like the Czech Republic–who embraced change and inspired him to innovate.
When no one nearby could help, DigitalTA connected him to teachers across Europe who understood his fears and offered support without judgement.
Now, Paco stands in front of his students as a confident educator who knows he belongs.
DigitalTA helped Paco become the teacher he dreamed of being.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
Through the Digital Teacher Academy project, we have learned that successful collaboration begins with trust. Believing in your team and giving people the space to grow is the foundation of a strong, committed group. One of the key takeaways from this experience has been the importance of small achievements—celebrating these moments creates a sense of shared purpose and long-term motivation.
From a management perspective, the project taught us to think globally while acting locally. Coordinating with partners across Europe pushed us to develop a more strategic and inclusive mindset. We learned to listen, to adapt, and to lead by example—striving every day to be the best version of ourselves not just as professionals, but as human beings.
Importantly, we never lost sight of our central mission: to improve social life through our actions. Whether by developing practical tools for teacher training or supporting the emotional well-being of educators, every initiative was rooted in a shared value system focused on care, empathy, and sustainable impact.
We leave this project more connected, more inspired, and more committed than ever to the people behind every classroom.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
Our project concluded in June 2025 and led to an international program for teacher well-being.
The TEACHER WELL-BEING PROGRAM will be launched in October 2025, for International Teachers' Day. It stems from the collaboration agreement between the European University of the Atlantic and the Social Action Department of the Ibero-American University Foundation (FUNIBER), as well as the partners of the Digital Teacher Academy project, and will run for the next three years. It is a comprehensive approach focused on professional care to increase teacher well-being and reduce attrition from the teaching profession.
Thanks to the participation of the digitalTA platform ambassadors, the program will ensure the continuation and sustainability of the project. These individuals not only promote participation but also create meaningful content, moderate online forums, and lead discussions that energize and engage others.
The program offers essential support resources for its successful implementation:
- The "Teacher Care Toolbox," developed in collaboration with FUNIBER's Social Action Department, with the goal of socially transferring the results of the research conducted and offering resources that promote teacher well-being.
- A monthly Teacher Well-being seminar program.
- The DigitalTA Platform website.
- The DigitalTA learning community.
