We propose to carry out a project which will produce a decisive step towards improving the accuracy of the Hubble constant as determined from the Cepheid-SN Ia method to 1%, by using 28 extremely rare eclipsing binary systems in the LMC which offer the potential to determine their distances to 1%. To achieve this accuracy we will reduce the main error in the binary method by interferometric angular diameter measurements of a sample of red clump stars which resemble the stars in our binary systems. We will check on our calibration with similar binary systems close enough to determine their orbits from interferometry. We already showed the feasibility of our method which yielded the best-ever distance determination to the LMC of 2.2% from 8 such binary systems. With 28 systems and the improved angular diameter calibration we will push the LMC distance uncertainty down to 1% which will allow to set the zero point of the Cepheid PL relation with the same accuracy using the large available LMC Cepheid sample. We will determine the metallicity effect on Cepheid luminosities by a) determining a 2% distance to the more metal-poor SMC with our binary method, and by b) measuring the distances to LMC and SMC with an improved Baade-Wesselink (BW) method. We will achieve this improvement by analyzing 9 unique Cepheids in eclipsing binaries in the LMC our group has discovered which allow factor- of-ten improvements in the determination of all basic physical parameters of Cepheids. These studies will also increase our confidence in the Cepheid-based H0 determination. Our project bears strong synergy to the Gaia mission by providing the best checks on possible systematic uncertainties on Gaia parallaxes with 200 binary systems whose distances we will measure to 1-2%. We will provide two unique tools for 1-3 % distance determinations to individual objects in a volume of 1 Mpc, being competitive to Gaia already at a distance of 1 kpc from the Sun.

After detection of the accelerated expansion of the Universe (Nobel prize 2011) and the existence of an enigmatic “dark energy” component of the matter-energy content of the Universe the physical explanation of the nature of dark energy has become a major challenge for astronomers and physicists in recent years. The recent empirical determinations of H0 complicated even more our understanding of the Universe since they differ by about 4σ from the value obtained from Planck data and the ΛCDM model, which suggest that new physics might be required in the models. We will calibrate two geometrical methods which will yield 1% distances a thousand times further out than Gaia parallaxes. The great advantage of our approach is the full control on all potential errors affecting the distance determinations, including systematic errors elusive in most other methods. In addition, we will provide mutual crosschecks at the sub-percent accuracy level with three completely independent geometrical methods. This will allow for the first time to verify the accuracy (and not only precision) at this unprecedented level of precision. Applying these methods we will calibrate the extragalactic distance scale with an unprecedented precision and accuracy. This will allow for a 1% H0 determination with Cepheids and SN Ia. Novel reverberation studies of AGN continua will allow us to determine H0 completely independently, and provide direct insight into the larger redshift Universe, including the H(z) dependence which will constrain other cosmological parameters. Our results will have strong impact on many fields of modern astrophysics. In particular they will definitively answer the question if new physics beyond the standard cosmological model is required. They will also be central to understand the physical nature of dark energy which constitutes about 72% of the matter-energy of the Universe.

By focusing on urban resilience, CARE addresses one of the most urgent topics in EU and Latin America (LA). Most LA countries are dealing with climate risk management issues, but they lack a holistic and common approach to resilience. International cooperation seems then the best-fit environment where to develop joint learning tools, go in depth on peculiar research and deliver support to policy makers. An urban resilience framework calls for a process that brings together diverse departments and sectors to identify appropriate measures, responses and recovery. It needs transversal competences, e-skills, creativity and flexibility. CARE aims to challenge those issues by promoting HEI staff’s and students’ interdisciplinary skills by developing innovative educational approaches to planning. Furthermore, it aims to bring the challenge within the core of urban municipalities by directly and indirectly training professionals and officers to shape resilient policies.To attain this goals, CARE proposes an alternation of desk activities and workshops aimed at the collective production, development, sharing, testing and dissemination of Open Educational Resources (OERs), based on the use of collaborative Conceptual Maps. Being publicly available on the CARE e-learning platform in English and Spanish, they are expected to empower programme courses in HEIs (CARE Cmaps) and provide targeted training for professionals, public officers, policy makers (Open Training Modules).CARE outputs will challenge the complex and interconnecting issues related to urban resilience. It will operate to transfer resilience conceptual issues into operational capabilities in local government, civil society and professional communities.Finally CARE aims at establishing a network among LA, Europe and outside, to improve their educational capacities on urban resilience, as well as to transfer CARE results and findings to an operational policy perspective at different territorial levels.

El sistema de educación superior (ES) de Latinoamérica y el Caribe (LAC) se enfrenta a un mercado laboral cambiante que requiere de la constante actualización y recualificación de los profesionales, especialmente en las áreas STEAM (ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería, arte y matemáticas). Sin embargo, los programas educativos tradicionales son demasiado rígidos para afrontar este problema y se necesitan soluciones de formación más flexibles. MOCHILA tiene como objetivo instalar capacidades para el diseño y emisión de microcredenciales digitales en las instituciones de educación superior (IES) de LAC.Para ello, MOCHILA llevará a cabo las siguientes acciones:-Estudio del contexto y normativas sobre microcredenciales en LAC.-Desarrollo de un marco referencial para el diseño y emisión de microcredenciales digitales adaptadas al contexto LAC.-Instalación de 8 unidades con un foco en el diseño y emisión de microcredenciales digitales en 8 IES de México, República Dominicana, Guatemala y Chile.-Formación del personal académico y técnico de las IES en relación con el diseño y emisión de microcredenciales digitales.-Implementación de al menos 8 pilotos de diseño y emisión de microcredenciales digitales en 3 áreas de gran necesidad de recualificación en LAC: ingeniería, salud, y emprendimiento.-Creación de una Red de Cooperación en LAC en torno a las microcredenciales.MOCHILA es un proyecto Interregional que aborda el “crecimiento sostenible y empleo”, reforzando los vínculos de las IES con el mercado laboral usando las microcredenciales como instrumento. MOCHILA cuenta con 2 IES europeas con experiencias complementarias en el diseño de microcredenciales y la adopción de soluciones centralizadas y distribuidas promovidas desde la Unión Europea, que deben ser adaptadas a la realidad de LAC, así como con 8 IES de LAC con diferentes tamaños para la implementación de los pilotos. Más de 2,000 profesionales se beneficiarán de la recualificación conseguida gracias a MOCHILA.

INCHIPE addresses the needs of third partner countries (Chile and Peru) to foster the internationalisation of its Universities (HEI). Its main objectives are: to increase the capacities of non-European countries (NEC) HEI in international cooperation, to contribute to the improvement of international networking; and increase and exploit the potentials in Teaching, Learning & Research (TLR).The activities within the project foresee the strengthening of strategic, infrastructure and human capacities in the 4 HEI of NPE as a model for the development and modernisation of institutional management of internationalisation in NEC.Specific objectives will be achieved through carefully planned actions at an institutional, national and multi-regional level, including the implementation of training and strategic infrastructure; comparative studies and the development of National Recommendation to boost internationalisation in TLR; the creation of a best practice book for HEI on how to improve International Relations policies and management. These actions will be complemented throughout the project life by dissemination and networking activities, including National Roundtables, seminars, networking conferences and a multi-regional educational fair. The consortium includes 8 institutions, of which 3 are European HEI with a vast experience in internationalisation and 4 are HEI in NEC that face challenges on the development of internationalisation strategies.The Project also foresees a library gateway, the creation of Strategic Development Plans for HEI of NEC and the testing of products through cooperation and a pilot mobility framework. The results will be easily transferrable at a regional, national and international level.