Widen interregional knowledge through the curriculum and an interactive and immersive learning support using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and multimedia

The Dakini Project is a major participatory Anglo-French education support programme, co-funded by the EC Interreg programme, aiming to maximize teachers and pupils’ understanding of key cultural, economic, social, historical and geographical issues within the Interreg IIIa region, across the Channel.

This is being achieved through the combined application of quality digital resources and state-of-the-art Information and Communication technologies (ICT) such as Geographical Information System (GIS), 360 o virtual tours, 3-D landscape and the internet, all adapted to education. At the same time the project addresses the requirements of evolving school curriculum that demand appropriate use and application of high quality digital educational software and data to enhance cross curricular education.

The Dakini Project started in August 2003. It is the first Project of its kind in the European Union, aiming to give access to GIS, digital data and teaching materials to all schools within the Interreg IIIa region. In this first phase of the project, the recipient schools are based in Kent and Seine-Maritime. The project is hosted and run by Canterbury Christ Church University College in collaboration with the Académie de Rouen.

The project has achieved some significant milestones. The teacher are trained, all participating schools in Kent have received the GIS software adapted for education, and its French version to the participating schools in Seine Maritime.