Yesterday, November 29, the Workshop Smart urban development from climate sustainability based on ecological and energy efficiency was held within the framework of the Academia Research Program of the Faculty of Economics and Business Sciences, URJC. The aim of the seminar was to disseminate the results obtained during the first year of work of the European project Curricula innovation in climate-smart urban development based on green and energy efficiency with the non-academic sector (SmartWb): https://lnkd.in/dvXefp8k

Marija Jevric from the University of Montenegro and general coordinator of the project, presented the objectives and scope of the project who also highlighted the importance of modernizing university courses in the universities of the Western Balkans with the aim of increasing the degree of awareness about sustainability both in teaching staff and students. Merima Shahinagic-Isovic from the University of Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina, presented the current situation in relation to the complex cultural, social and political context of her country, as well as the possible solutions and plans that are being carried out to address to those challenges. Martin Oldenburg, from THOWL University, Germany, outlined EU initiatives and policies related to urban development and good practices centered on the "European Green Deal".

Genti Qirjazi, from the Polytechnic University of Tirana (Albania), released the comparative report on existing curricula for climate-smart urban development in the EU, as well as in third countries. Qirjazi concluded that there is room for improvement, harmonization and modernization of curricula in the Western Balkan countries participating in the project. Florian Rheinwald, from the BOKU University of Vienna (Austria), presented the Report on innovative and climate-friendly solutions in urban development, who also presented some examples of European initiatives that can help in the process of modernizing urban plans. study; also describing the most relevant issues for each Western Balkan country involved in the project -Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina-. Rheinwald concluded that the existing challenges are very similar for the countries of the EU and the Western Balkans and clarified that public awareness of sustainability in relation to these types of issues must be intensified.

Miguel Blanco Callejo and Carmen de Pablos Heredero proceeded to close the workshop by emphasizing the main elements to be considered for future debates, such as: the need to regulate adequately and in a timely manner, greater political support, the need to reinforce education about CSUD, the current lack of institutional flexibility to change programs and modernize curricula. Blanco and De Pablos finally conclude by expressing the need to analyze the data in depth and focus attention on the main impacts in order to create and increase greater public awareness about sustainability and thank the attendees for the excellent presentations. Also announcing that between December 12 and 24 and, within the framework of SmartWb, within the work package 3 that we lead, a training will be carried out for thirty teachers from among the 18 partners of the project at the URJC; training fundamentally oriented to publicize innovative tools and methodologies for the modernization of higher education in the field of Climate Sustainable Urban Development (CSUD). More detailed information about the project and its evolution:  https://www.smartwb.ucg.ac.me/