Rethinking Recess: Creating Spaces for Creativity
GA + Students Week

The Short Advanced Programme (SAP) Rethinking Recess: Creating Spaces for Creativity is integrated into the Students’ Week within the RUN-EU General Assembly and is the result of a collaboration between the University of Burgos, Technological University of the Shannon, Häme University of Applied Sciences, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, and the Polytechnic University of Leiria. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the programme explores innovative and creative ways to rethink educational spaces and learning experiences from early childhood to higher education. Combining education, creativity, wellbeing, pedagogy, inclusion, and the critical use of technology, it introduces students to practical and theoretical approaches for understanding current educational challenges and designing proposals for more inclusive, engaging, and future-oriented learning environments. Through workshops, collaborative activities, lectures, and international teamwork, participants will develop critical and practical tools to promote innovation and positive transformation within education systems across Europe.

Throughout the programme, an interdisciplinary approach based on neuroeducation and active pedagogy is proposed, inspired by figures such as Francesco Tonucci and the Reggio Emilia approach. This initiative aims to transform school environments into spaces that foster pupils’ cognitive and emotional development, promoting enriched, safe and contextually relevant learning environments.

The project focuses on three main areas: the creation of inclusive playgrounds that replace traditional, competition-based models with collaborative environments; the development of meaningful learning spaces where play, creativity and interaction are fundamental; and the opening up of schools as community spaces (“living playgrounds”), accessible to the public and aimed at strengthening a sense of belonging.

The programme’s methodology is structured around a participatory and co-creation process involving the entire educational community—pupils, teachers and families—alongside public institutions, cultural actors and social organisations. This process is divided into four phases: needs assessment, collaborative design of proposals, implementation of the transformed spaces, and evaluation of the educational, social and well-being impact on pupils.

The programme culminates in the consolidation of these spaces as drivers of pedagogical and social change, integrating active methodologies such as learning

Take pleasure in creating spaces for discussion and co-creation that bring about educational change and a thoughtful transformation of the education system, grounded in professionalism and humanity