Executive summary
This report outlines the process of developing a training programme focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and the utilization of big data in environmental sciences, sustainability and circular economy. The programme aims to be inclusive, easily transferable, and scalable to partner institutes and beyond. It aligns with the goals of the CloudEARTHi project, emphasizing the transition to a circular economy and the pursuit of net-zero goals. The programme also includes a mentorship component and a new business model canvas to support students in creating green-friendly business ideas.
The development process is described in several steps. Firstly, the needs of the CloudEARTHi project and partner institutes were mapped to ensure alignment with overarching goals and individual contexts. At the consortium level, it was decided that the programme should target bachelor/master-level students and cover topics such as ecosystems, entrepreneurship, sustainability, big data, and innovation. High-quality teaching materials meeting EU standards were emphasized. At the partner level, several bilateral and trilateral meetings were conducted to adapt the rules and needs based on each partner’s requirements. Existing teaching materials were then reviewed for suitability. A search process was undertaken to identify relevant materials and courses at partner institutes, and a list of usable courses was compiled. Next, the first set of teaching material was developed based on identified needs, existing materials, and partner institutes´ competencies.
The training programme consists of five modules, with each partner institute responsible for developing one module. The subsequent pilot phase of teaching was followed by a thorough review process conducted by experts. Reviewing forms and guidelines were prepared, and reviewers provided feedback on the teaching materials, assessing their effectiveness in introducing topics, connecting to entrepreneurship, accommodating timeframes, and achieving learning outcomes. A revised set of teaching material was developed addressing the reviewers´ comments. All the developed teaching material is made openly, freely and accessible through the project website in order to make it available to be transferred to other higher education institutes.
In addition to the primary goal of developing the training programme, there is a focus on sustainability and long-term viability. The report documents a plan to sustain and further develop the training programme by leveraging other EU projects. This strategy ensures that the programme can continue to thrive beyond the initial funding period, providing ongoing benefits to students, institutions and society at large.