Young Smart Cities: Invitation to Join the Pilot Phase
About the Project
Young Smart Cities (YSC) is an EU-funded Erasmus+ project (Key Action 2 – Cooperation Partnerships in School Education) running from January 2024 to December 2026.
Led by the University of Siegen and developed in collaboration with eight European partners, the project brings together schools, local authorities, and businesses to inspire and equip young people for a sustainable urban future.
Throughout the project, Smart City stakeholders will provide real-world Learning Situations that allow students to apply their knowledge to concrete local challenges.
What is Young Smart Cities About?
The project aims to give students aged 12–16 the knowledge and skills needed to help build and grow Net Zero Smart Cities.
It aligns with the European Green Deal and the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, which target a 55% reduction in emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050.
Young Smart Cities recognises that:
- Many young people are digitally connected but lack awareness of how cities can become climate-neutral and smart.
- Education plays a key role in helping them understand how technology, community engagement, and innovation can drive sustainability.
Main Objectives
Young Smart Cities seeks to:
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- Increase awareness of climate change and the role cities play in achieving climate neutrality.
- Enable real-world learning by allowing students and teachers to work on authentic urban challenges using a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach.
- Develop future skills needed for the labour market that will shape Net Zero Smart Cities.
- Encourage collaboration and creativity through online forums, student competitions, and peer exchange across Europe.
What Teachers and Schools Gain?
By joining the pilot, schools and teachers will:
- Access ready-to-use Knowledge Pills and Lesson Plans designed for interdisciplinary and PBL teaching.
- Receive training and support in both Problem-Based Learning and Skills-Based Learning.
- Join a European community of educators and students working on sustainability and innovation.
- Help co-design and improve the YSC platform before its official public launch.
Timeline and Pilot Phase
January 2024 – November 2025
Design and implementation of the YSC online platform, including knowledge materials, interactive tools, and teacher/student forums.
November 2025 – May 2026
Testing and refinement of the platform and materials during the Pilot Phase.
Participating schools are asked to:
- Engage in at least 2 hours per week over 4 weeks,
- Explore one or more Smart City topics of their choice, and
- Engage in Project-Based and Skills-Based Learning linked to the YSC platform.
Get Involved
Participation in Young Smart Cities offers schools a unique opportunity to combine STEM, social sciences, and creativity in one educational journey.
If your school would like to join the pilot phase, please contact the coordination team for registration details:
stortoni.tvd@uni-siegen.de
