One of Portugal’s achievements in SYNAPSES was a large-scale, accredited professional development programme. Over four months, teachers and school heads from cohorts across the country embarked on a deep learning journey combining face-to-face sessions, online learning, and independent work.

Following the SYNAPSES Journey framework and drawing on its resources, teachers didn’t just learn, they created. Alongside their students, they designed and implemented real school projects tackling local challenges: reducing food waste, restoring biodiversity, monitoring light pollution, mapping urban rivers, running clothing swap shops, and developing apps about the SDGs.

Schools across Portuguese educators are now integrating sustainability and citizenship into everyday learning. Students became agents of change. And teachers became leaders.