Key Skills

Job Description

Understanding Academy is looking for experienced, engaging educators and trainers to join our team for our Summer 2027 Erasmus+ teacher-training programme. We are a small, independent teacher-training organisation delivering practical professional development for teachers, trainers, school leaders and other education professionals from across Europe. Our courses take place primarily in Amsterdam and Krakow, with opportunities in other European locations depending on confirmed groups. Our training is practical, collaborative and participant-centred. We work with small international groups and focus on ideas, methods and tools that educators can genuinely take back to their classrooms and organisations. Who we are looking for We would like to hear from trainers with strong expertise in one or more of the following areas: AI, digital literacy and educational technology ICT and digital tools for educators Critical thinking and media literacy Creativity and innovation in education Communication, collaboration and soft skills Project-Based Learning and modern teaching methodologies Leadership, facilitation and team development Teacher wellbeing, mindfulness and emotional regulation Drama, arts-based learning and creative education Sustainability and environmental education Inclusion, belonging and classroom climate CLIL, intercultural learning and international education English language teaching for adult professionals Other areas relevant to teacher professional development You do not need to be able to teach our entire catalogue. We are particularly interested in people who have genuine expertise in a specific field and can turn that expertise into an engaging professional-development experience. What you will do As an Understanding Academy trainer, you may be responsible for: delivering one-week Erasmus+ professional-development courses to international groups of educators; facilitating practical workshops, discussions, simulations, collaborative tasks and reflection activities; adapting sessions to participants' professional backgrounds, educational levels and learning goals; working with Understanding Academy course programmes, resources and training materials while bringing your own professional expertise and examples; creating an inclusive, energetic and respectful learning environment; communicating with participants before or during the course when necessary; supporting international exchange and networking within the group; monitoring participation and learning throughout the course; and cooperating with our coordination team regarding schedules, attendance, materials and course organisation. Our standard programmes normally consist of 20 natural hours, and are generally delivered Monday to Friday. Groups are usually small and international. What we are looking for We would especially like to hear from candidates who have: professional experience in education, training, teacher development or a closely related field; strong knowledge of at least one of the areas listed above; experience facilitating adult learners, educators or professional groups; excellent spoken English and the confidence to lead an international group in English; a practical and interactive approach to training; strong communication and group-facilitation skills; the ability to adapt when participants come from different countries, educational levels and professional backgrounds; reliability, preparation and good organisational skills; and a genuine interest in exchanging ideas with educators from across Europe. Previous Erasmus+ experience is an advantage, but it is not essential. Strong trainers who are new to Erasmus+ are very welcome to apply. What matters to us We are not looking for someone who simply delivers a long presentation from slides. Our courses are designed around participation, practice, discussion, experimentation and reflection. Participants should leave with useful ideas, strategies and resources that they can adapt to their own professional context. We value trainers who are knowledgeable but approachable, who listen before they teach, and who are comfortable working with participants whose experience and English levels may vary. Practical information Period: Summer 2027 Type of work: Freelance / project-based Locations: Primarily Amsterdam and Krakow, with possible opportunities in other European locations Participants: Teachers, trainers, school staff, adult educators and other education professionals from different European countries Group size: Usually small international groups Language: English Course format: Face-to-face professional development The number of assignments will depend on confirmed course groups and your availability. This can therefore suit both trainers looking for several summer teaching weeks and professionals interested in occasional assignments. How to apply Please apply with: your CV or LinkedIn profile; a short introduction to your professional background; the course topics or subject areas you would feel confident training; your availability during Summer 2027; your location; if possible, a brief example of a workshop, activity or training session you have delivered successfully. We are particularly interested in hearing how you teach, not only what qualifications you hold. You can explore Understanding Academy and our current course catalogue at: understanding-academy.eu We look forward to meeting educators, trainers and specialists who would like to help us create meaningful international learning experiences for teachers across Europe.

Core Responsibilities

Deliver practical, interactive one-week professional-development courses to international groups of educators, adapting workshops and activities to participants’ backgrounds and learning goals. Create an inclusive learning environment, support reflection and international exchange, monitor participation, and coordinate course logistics with the organization’s team.

Requirements

Candidates should have professional experience in education, training, teacher development, or a related field, plus strong expertise in at least one relevant subject area. They should be confident facilitating adult learners in spoken English, use practical and interactive methods, and demonstrate adaptability, communication, reliability, and organizational skills; Erasmus+ experience is advantageous but not required.