Teachers for Youth Ambassadors (TYA)
The Department of Statistical Sciences at Sapienza University of Rome participates in the European project Teachers for Youth Ambassadors (TYA), an initiative aimed at promoting education for active European citizenship in secondary schools through a three-year programme involving teachers and students in training, collaborative, and civic engagement activities.
The project is structured into several Work Packages (WPs) covering the entire lifecycle of the initiative, from design and training to the dissemination of results. Within this framework, the Department contributes through an interdisciplinary approach, enhancing the role of data and statistical skills as essential tools for understanding social phenomena and fostering informed democratic participation.
Project structure and Work Packages
WP1 – Project management and coordination
WP1 is dedicated to the overall coordination of the project and to the administrative, organisational, and quality management of activities, with the aim of ensuring coherence, effectiveness, and sustainability throughout the programme.
Although not directly involved in management activities, the Department of Statistical Sciences contributes indirectly to the successful implementation of the project by providing scientific support to training and dissemination activities, ensuring the quality of the content produced.
WP2 – Teacher training (Year 1)
WP2 represents a core phase of the project and constitutes the main area of involvement for the Department of Statistical Sciences. It is dedicated to the training of secondary school teachers on topics related to European citizenship and innovative educational methodologies.
Planned activities include:
an online training course structured into thematic modules on European citizenship, rights, inclusion, sustainability, and digitalisation;
workshops and tutoring sessions to experiment with innovative teaching approaches;
opportunities for discussion and co-design among teachers in preparation for subsequent activities.
In this context, the Department contributes to:
integrating training content with in-depth insights on social inclusion, democratic participation, and European citizenship, also addressed through the use of data;
sharing teaching materials, data, and statistical tools useful for civic education;
collaborating in the design of innovative educational methods, with particular attention to data literacy, interpretation, and communication—key skills for education in active citizenship.
WP3 – Co-teaching and student engagement (Year 2)
WP3 is dedicated to teaching experimentation and the direct involvement of students, through co-teaching activities and transnational collaboration.
The main phases include:
co-design workshops among teachers to develop teaching modules on active European citizenship;
delivery of modules in a blended format, combining introductory lectures and online activities;
collaborative work among students from different countries, organised in transnational groups, to develop shared civic proposals.
The Department’s contribution, although indirect, is reflected in the methodological robustness of the teaching materials and in the emphasis on the informed use of data to support argumentation, the analysis of social issues, and the formulation of civic proposals.
WP4 – European experience and awareness-raising (Year 3)
WP4 represents the culminating phase of the project and is dedicated to students’ active participation at the European level and to raising awareness within local communities.
Planned activities include:
an online General Assembly for the joint drafting of the European Youth Ambassadors’ Petition;
an experience involving engagement with European institutions, aimed at presenting the petition;
awareness-raising and advocacy actions in local contexts, carried out by students with the support of teachers.
The scientific and methodological contribution of the Department, developed in the previous phases, supports students in building arguments based on data and reliable information, fostering informed and conscious civic participation.
WP5 – Communication and dissemination (All years)
The Department of Statistical Sciences is directly involved in WP5, dedicated to communication and dissemination of the project results throughout the entire duration of the initiative.
In particular, the Department contributes to:
collaborating in the development of the project’s communication strategy (website, newsletter, digital channels);
disseminating activities and results through the Department’s academic and institutional channels;
participating in the final publication collecting educational materials, teaching tools, and best practices developed within the project.
The added value of the Department of Statistical Sciences
Through its participation in the Teachers for Youth Ambassadors project, the Department of Statistical Sciences strengthens its commitment to the third mission, promoting dialogue between university, school, and society, and supporting the development of critical and quantitative skills essential for the exercise of active citizenship at the European level.