<< Objectives >>Teachers’ digital competence has indisputably evolved throughout the COVID pandemic, and learning design has become more complex. There is a gap in effective learning in digitally-mediated contexts. The FLeD project aims to facilitate the design of effective flexible learning scenarios for Faculty. We seek to guide in applying the flipped method making the best use of pedagogies and digital technologies to prompt the sustained shift towards flexible education.<< Implementation >>We apply agile and design thinking methods for project management and work organisation. First, we generate and test resources to guide inclusive, digital, and flipped learning design. Second, we develop a digital tool for decision-making in flipped learning design. Finally, dissemination activities include publications, events, and virtual training to spread the knowledge developed on flipped learning for effective flexible education to a broad audience.<< Results >>The main results are: a flipped learning-based pattern with scaffolding to guide flexible, digital, and inclusive education; a playful and collaborative learning design experience through a digital tool for decision-making; virtual training on the FLeD tool and learning toolkit; open resources and Handbooks to sustain the practice and theory of effective and inclusive flipped learning for flexible education; and a network of knowledgeable people on flexible learning.

The Role of Universities in Innovation and Regional Development (RUNIN) is a European Training Network for Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs) in the field of science and innovation studies. The aim of the network is to train researchers on how universities contribute to innovation and economic growth in their regions through research seeking to examine how universities fulfill their third mission in relation to regional industry and explore the range of university engagement with regional firms and institutions. The project operationalises the main research question of how universities can contribute to innovation and regional development through four main themes: People and Networks, Policies and Interventions, Places and Territories, and Practices and Governance. The aim of the training programme is to equip the next generation of researchers with the skills required to work across employment sectors, collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders and find the practical relevance of their specialist knowledge, in the process creating new knowledge on universities’ role in innovation and regional development. There is an increased focus on the instrumentalist position of universities as important drivers of regional development, and the aim of the training programme is therefore to equip a new generation of researchers who can work within this field in the academic world or as specialist policy makers at the regional, national or European level. The programme will capitalise on host institutions’ infrastructure, including supervision, methods training and quality assurance review systems. In addition, it will offer a comprehensive programme of learning through individual research projects, secondments, and eight targeted training events aimed at developing both research-specific and transferable skills.

<< Objectives >>SAYL enables young children (3-5) to engage in new adventurous stories. The project aims to build a book platform that includes excellent interactive digital stories in the majority and minority languages used in the five participating countries (Germany, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, and Turkey). The platform is online and constructed to allow free access through most modern devices. The platform can thus make books available to children for various reasons deprived of good picture books.<< Implementation >>The books will have multimedia features that make them helpful in supporting meaning-making. In addition, the books include the possibility of adapting the semantic richness to children's narrative understanding, choosing a language, and interacting with audio, video, and animation. We present the books on a platform that provides, apart from access, the possibility to select a book and a language. Furthermore, it is equipped with features to motivate children to return to the platform.<< Results >>We expect the book platform to increase and enrich book reading in ECEC organizations and families. In addition, families' close cooperation with ECEC organizations due to access to the same books can bolster a book reading routine in families. Furthermore, the platform may boost book reading, particularly in disadvantaged groups, like immigrant children, children speaking a minority language, or children deprived of good picture books due to socio-economic factors or a pandemic.

The AIdesignTEX project aims to enhance the research profile of Łódź University of Technology (TUL) FMTTD in sustainable textile production by leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to develop easily recyclable or biodegradable textiles. Through networking and partnership activities with EU counterparts, such as Stavanger University (UiS), Ghent University (GU), and the Catholic University of Avila (UCAV), TUL researchers seek to expand their knowledge of the circular economy principles and their application to textile production. The project aligns with the goals of the European Green Deal, which aims to promote a circular economy and reduce waste. The textile industry is a major contributor to environmental pollution, with large amounts of water consumption, CO2 emissions, and waste production. By implementing AI and ML tools, the project seeks to help textile producers adopt sustainable practices, save resources, and minimize environmental impact. During long-term visits and complementary activities with the advanced partners, TUL researchers will acquire expertise in sustainable technology, eco-design awareness, and administrative skills. Upon completion of the visits, TUL researchers will conduct training sessions for businesses and stakeholders in the Łódź region to share their newly acquired knowledge and skills. This knowledge dissemination will foster interest in cooperation and joint development of a Future Plan for sustainable textile production. Coordination and support activities will include lectures, workshops, and training sessions for experienced TUL researchers and ESRs to disseminate the gained knowledge and skills within the institution and beyond (Polish textile companies and interested entities from Asian countries).

NEXT-UP aims to explore and forecast the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the transition of youth from school/education to work/employment (YTSTW), focusing on co-creating evidence-informed, future-oriented policies and programmes, alongside innovative stakeholder engagement. The project emphasises inclusivity, particularly supporting disadvantaged groups for equitable job access. To achieve the ambitious goal, our interdisciplinary and multi-profile consortium with prominent academic and NGO partners from nine EU countries enhanced with international advisory board, applies interdisciplinary approaches. Our conceptual lens integrates the Quadruple Helix Model for social innovation with concepts of agency between employability and employer-ability, intersectionality, and policy learning, to enhance theoretical understanding. It focuses on the nexus between youth employment policies, stakeholder perceptions, and youth agency in educational and career choices. Methodologically, we innovatively combine the Living Lab approach, machine learning, psychometric surveys, systematic literature review, longitudinal and focus group interviews, statistical methods, agent-based modelling, and policy design. Triangulating insights from various methods, NEXT-UP fosters a social innovation model to facilitate effective interactions among diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, employers, and youth organisations, to co-create and implement effective strategies for YTSTW. Informed policies and sustained social innovations through NEXT-UP are expected to lead to responsive and resilient educational and employment systems in Europe, innovative educational programmes, and enhanced support for young people entering the workforce. This will significantly impact the formation of social innovation ecosystems to address youth employment challenges in the post-pandemic era and promote social and economic inclusion across Europe.