Part of Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Part of Jagiellonian University in Kraków

ErasMAs+ Enriching HEI training to help future primary school teachers tackle math anxiety in themselves and their pupils

Principal Investigator
Funding
European Commission
Grant ID:
Erasmus+ Cooperation partnerships in higher education (KA220-HED), ID: 2025-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000360673, total amount: 400 000 EUR
Duration:
3 years (1.12.2025-30.11.2028)

Objectives

Mathematics is essential to society, yet student proficiency is declining in Europe. Math anxiety affects 30% of students and 10% of teachers—especially females—negatively impacting math performance and career choices. Our project supports Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by integrating targeted resources into teacher-training programs. This will enhance math education and help prevent math anxiety—an often overlooked but critical issue in teacher training.

Implementation

Internationally recognized European experts on math anxiety and education will provide HEIs with multilingual, free-to-use, and user-friendly resources, including (1) instruments to measure math anxiety, (2) cognitive-behavioural interventions to help future teachers address their own math anxiety, (3) a psychoeducation program to address math anxiety in classrooms, and (4) a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) published at the Copernicus College as a structured learning resource for HEIs to integrate into curricula.

Expected impact

The project aims to fill a critical gap in teacher training curricula by raising awareness of math anxiety and provide practical interventions. Strengthening HEI teacher-training programs will ensure that new educators can recognize and address math anxiety early. Embedding these resources into HEI programs will boost educators’ confidence, foster a positive learning environment, and, in turn, improve math competence across Europe.

Consortium

The project is carried out by an international consortium of the following universities: Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland; leading institution), University of Padova (Italy), Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Antwerp (Belgium), and KU Leuven (Belgium).

Researchers behind the project

Project management

  • Monika Adamiec (Jagiellonian University)
  • Magdalena Herman (Jagiellonian University)

Funding information

The project is opered by Foundation for the Development of the Education System and funded by European Commission under Erasmus+ Cooperation partnerships in higher education (KA220-HED), grant ID: 2025-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000360673, in total amount of 400 000 EUR.

Funded by the EU. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the Foundation for the Development of the Education System. Neither the European Union nor the Foundation for the Development of the Education System is responsible for them.

Official project website

Publications

Szczygieł, M., & Hohol, M. (2026). The gender gap in math anxiety (and in a link between math anxiety and math performance too) is not so salient when other anxieties are controlled for. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, zaakceptowany (PsyArXiv preprint: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/5trew)

Materials

MCLL is funded by the Excellence Initiative – Jagiellonian University within the Priority Research Area Society of the Future
Funders
Contact
Main Market Square 34,
31-010 Krakow, Poland
mcll@uj.edu.pl
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