Call for participants
About the programme
We are looking for participants for STEAMing Ahead, a three-day hands-on mobility programme on entrepreneurship, digital media and career growth, held in Thessaloniki on 4–6 November 2026.
The programme replaces lectures with practice. Participants test AI and fact-checking tools, meet Greek SMEs and tech innovators, solve simulated digital crises in cross-disciplinary teams, and produce their own microlearning videos.
STEAMing Ahead is supported by the Municipality of Thessaloniki (Deputy Mayor for Entrepreneurship) and Ok!Thess. It is organised by YET in the framework of the MEDIA project, co-funded by the European Union.
Key facts
| Item | Details |
| Dates | 4–6 November 2026 |
| Daily schedule | 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00 |
| Venue | OK!Thess, Thessaloniki, Greece |
| Working language | English |
| Participants profile and places available | Female higher-education students (9) and higher staff (4) |
| Participation fee | Free of charge |
| Application deadline | 8.10.2026 |
| Apply at | REGISTRATION FORM |
| Equipment required | PC, mobile phone |
Who can apply
The call is open to people who want practical skills at the meeting point of technology, media and business. Applicants should be:
- Higher education female students, higher education staff, young entrepreneurs or SME staff
- Able to attend all three days in person
- Comfortable working in English
- Willing to take part in the follow-up activities described below
No technical background is required. Teams are deliberately mixed, so skills in design, communication, business, science or technology are all welcome.
Programme
Each day includes a morning session (10:00–13:00) and an afternoon session (15:00–18:00), building on the previous day.
Day 1 – 4 November: Get equipped
- Morning: Welcome and introduction, followed by a hands-on workshop where participants test at least three AI and digital fact-checking tools.
- Afternoon: Panel with local Greek SMEs and players from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with a keynote by George Mantzouranidis (No Image Found) – Key Speaker, PROTOS Ai Agency/NOMOKRATIA AI, Medoid AI, Hellenic Hoaxes.
Day 2 – 5 November: Solve and debate
Morning – Entrepreneurial Laboratories: Participants work in cross-disciplinary pairs on simulated digital crises, such as an SME hit by a disinformation campaign or fake viral reviews. Teams use the AI tools from Day 1 to run a fact-verification audit, then design a STEAM-based response that combines data with design, storytelling and visual communication.
Participants are divided into cross-disciplinary teams and are given simulated digital crisis scenarios (e.g., an SME facing a malicious disinformation campaign or fake viral reviews that threaten its market standing – one scenario for every two cross-disciplinary teams).
Real Case Study: DELTA Foods (Greece)
The “Packaging Disinformation & Boycott Campaign”
1. Case Background
DELTA Foods (ΔΕΛΤΑ) is one of Greece’s largest dairy and food companies. In recent years, the company updated the packaging for its flagship product line, “mmm Milk” (mmm Mίλα), refreshing the illustrations to depict various everyday moments of modern Greek families.
2. The Digital Crisis Trigger
A viral post originated on social media (X/Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok) claiming that DELTA had intentionally erased the mother from its traditional family illustrations on milk cartons to conform to controversial socio-political trends.
The Misinformation: Misleading side-by-side photo comparisons were circulated showing cartons with only a father and child, claiming DELTA was “anti-family” or engaging in social engineering.
Viral Escalation: High-profile political figures, commentators, and viral accounts amplified the claim. Within 48 hours, hashtags like #BoycottDelta trended on X in Greece, flooding DELTA’s official social media pages with thousands of angry comments, toxic threats, and coordinated negative reviews on Google Business Profiles.
The Reality: The claim was completely false. DELTA had released a series of rotating carton designs—some featuring mothers, some fathers, some grandparents, and some the whole family—to showcase different moments in a child’s daily life.
The main challenge is to propose solutions with an expanded approach to teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics including the Arts element (Arts: Designing, storytelling, visual communication, and human-centered design) upon common digital crisis challenges – one scenario per two teams.
Teams use the tested AI tools to run a factual verification audit.
Afternoon – STEAM Solutions Debate: Teams working on the same scenario debate their solutions, question each other and take questions from the audience. An open discussion and structured feedback round closes the day.
Day 3 – 6 November: Create
- Morning: Participants script and shoot nine microlearning “shorts” videos based on the scenarios and solutions of Day 2.
- Afternoon: Editing and final rendering of the videos, followed by a feedback session on the programme and certificate ceremony.
What you gain
Training. Three days of practical, hands-on learning. You will use AI and fact-checking tools on real tasks, learn to handle a digital crisis from verification to public response, and gain basic skills in scripting, filming and editing short-form video. The STEAM approach links technical skills with design, storytelling and communication.
Networking. You will meet Greek entrepreneurs, AI companies and SME representatives, as well as participants from 5 partner organisations and countries. Mixed teams mean you work closely with people from other disciplines and backgrounds, and the follow-up online workshops keep the network active after the event.
Certificate. Participants who attend all three days receive a Certificate of Participation from MEDIA project, describing the programme and the skills covered (Youthpass).
Your own content. You leave with microlearning videos you helped produce, which you can use in your portfolio.
What we ask of you
- Attend all sessions on 4–6 November 2026.
- Take part in the structured feedback session, which helps refine the project’s frameworks and competence profiles for universities, students and SMEs.
- After the programme, co-design and deliver one online workshop with the other participants from your organisation. Five online workshops will run in total, one per participating organisation group.
Practical information
Getting there. International participants arrive at Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia”. Bus 01X/01N (OASTH) runs 24 hours a day between the airport and the city. Taxis are also available; most accept cards, but tell the driver in advance and always ask for a receipt.
A full info pack will be sent to selected participants.
How to apply
- Fill in the application form at registration link by 8.10.2026
- Include a short motivation statement (up to 200 words) on why you want to join and what you can bring to a mixed team.
- Selected participants will be notified by 10.10.2026
Selection criteria: motivation, relevance of the programme to your studies or work, and a balanced mix of disciplines, organisations and gender.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or [granting authority]. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
