Green Skills for Cities establishes a transdisciplinary education platform targeted at the development of skills in the field of nature-based solutions (NBS) to be implemented in the cities. The aim is to develop curricula targeted at working in the public sector by bringing together trainers and learners from the fields of botany, technology, design and economy. The curricula will be reusable, transferable, up-scalable and open to all on an online repository platform.

Throughout the project three higher education institutions, IAAC, Vienna University of Economics and Business and University of Genova will work together to develop a series of resources and curricula for trainers as well as learners with the support of ALDA, an association. Over the two years, they aim to reinforce networks in the field of urban sustainable development, establishing collaborations between higher education institutions and municipalities, thus facilitating the introduction of the learners in the labour market. In addition, they will aim to increase the quality and relevance of higher education, focusing on the transdisciplinary dimension to better respond to the labour market’s needs, specifically in public bodies. The project will finish with a series of webinars to disseminate the results as well as a symposium in Barcelona, Vienna and Genova.

The Training for Trainers Programme enables trainers to develop transdisciplinary educational formats for learners. The programme includes educational resources aimed at enhancing the transdisciplinary skills of the trainers. This includes descriptions of the basic concepts, terminology, and fundamentals of each discipline, and the teaching pedagogy and methodology.

The Long-Term Programme aims to create a transdisciplinary educational format embedded in each of the participating educational institution’s academic programmes. Learners are selected from each educational institution, forming them into professionals capable of working within municipalities and public bodies on urban sustainability enhancement through the implementation of nature-based solutions. The students will be involved in theoretical and practical modules, working transnationally towards addressing urban challenges.

The Short-Term Programme develops a one week training for professionals aimed at creating lifelong learning. The aim is to introduce participants to the key concepts related to urban sustainability and the implementation of nature-based solutions. Through practical exercises, the learners will gain a greater understanding of theory. The learners will be involved in a transdisciplinary theoretical module and a practical module, developing a project addressing local urban challenges identified by the local municipalities.

In the framework of the project, the IAAC team is leading the development of the long-term and short-term curriculums as well as the dissemination of the project. The team will also prepare all the design resources for the different programmes and implement the programmes within the academic year. The project will culminate with an online webinar and symposium in Barcelona that IAAC will coordinate.