Published: 1st April 2026 09:27 (UTC)

We are excited to announce the annual call for the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) Teacher Training Programme 2026. This is an opportunity for people working in astronomy education to collaborate with the OAE National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs), local astronomers and local teachers, in submitting a proposal to host a teacher training workshop in your country.

The OAE through TTP aims to support and recognise the professional development of teachers, with the ultimate goal of improving astronomy education for students around the world. As such, we envisaged the proposals to be structured according to the Astronomy Teacher Training Transparency Standards (AT3S), which aim to assist organisers in planning and executing the TTPs successfully. As always, the standards are not meant to be just a set of rules but guidelines that ensure transparency in what is done.

For the 2026 call for proposals, we would like to expand the opportunities for participation in the TTP and are offering two options to accommodate applicants with different needs and resources:

Option 1 is intended for those who have already secured funding elsewhere and would like to have their project reviewed and endorsed under the OAE TTP.

Option 2 is aimed at applicants who are seeking funding of up to €2,000 for their workshop, in line with the previous TTP program, there is limited funding from the OAE, making this option more competitive.

Both options require a full application to be submitted based on the OAE TTP guidelines. Collaboration with at least one local NAEC, one local teacher, and, where possible, a local astronomer is mandatory for both options. This team will work together to create and conduct a teacher training workshop tailored to their specific preferences, where teachers will be empowered with the astronomy knowledge and skills they could use in their classrooms.

Collaboration with a NAEC team member is a prerequisite for submitting proposals, teachers and/or astronomers interested in leading a workshop are encouraged to connect with a NAEC in their country for potential collaboration. The OAE currently has NAECs in approximately 120 countries worldwide. Associate NAECs will be treated on par with the NAECs but need a co-sign of a NAEC team member of their country. In the previous year, OAE proudly supported 18 TTP workshops worldwide. Special thanks to OAE Center Italy and OAE Center India for their dedicated funding support.

Detailed information, including eligibility criteria and rules, can be found on our webpage. The application deadline is April 30th, 2026.

For any inquiries or clarifications, feel free to contact us at ttp​atastro4edu.org. We look forward to receiving your proposals!

         

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