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Envisioning the future of local communities (re)shape labour market opportunities

April 8 @ 8:00 am - May 8 @ 5:00 pm

Course Type: Applied Blended Challenge (ABC) Programme

Duration and Timeline:

  • Course components and contact hours: 12 hrs synchronous online, 25 hrs onsite + 38 hrs independent and group work
  • Online component:

 1st week: 8 – 10 April (online) CET time

 2nd week: 13 – 17 April (online) CET time

 4th week: 4 – 8 May (online) CET time

  • On-site component:

3rd week: 20 – 24 April (face-to-face) Santarém, Portugal

 

Award, Credits and Certification

On successful completion of the course participants will receive 3 ECTS credits and a certificate of attendance

 

Organised by:

Santarém Polytechnic University

University of Francisco de Victoria:

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt

Latvian Academie of Culture

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences

 

External stakeholders that will be involved in the course:

  • European Rural Youth Observatory
  • Municipality of Santarem
  • Local Employment Services
  • Vititejo-Association of Winegrowers of the Tejo Region
  • Association of Farmers of Ribatejo

 

Course Description and Learning Objectives

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

  • Fully applied programme focused on labour market future trends and local communities’ resources;
  • Involve students as key actors in the identification of real-world problems in their communities;
  • Participants will work on real-life cases alongside key stakeholders and business from local communities.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:

  • Improving the quality of life of local communities
    • identify emerging local economies (e.g. renewable biological resources, technology, and innovation)
    • envisioning future workforce needs;
    • enhancing local resources.
  • Empowering participants with the skills and awareness to (re)think their future pathways in the  labour market, promoting innovation and community-oriented growth;
  • Connect and build bridges between participants, universities (scientific knowledge), stakeholders and local economies;
  • Strengthening collaboration between universities, students, local businesses and policymakers.
  • Addressing real-life challenges in collaboration with stakeholders, local business/institutions.

Course Description:

Pedagogical approach

  • Mentorship & networking sessions with professionals from local businesses and industries
  • Foresight Methodology
  • International mobility – one week of training at another ACE2-EU university.
  • Practice-oriented activities –interactive exercises, collaboration with real stakeholders, projects co-design.
  • Real-World problems: focus on identification and solving of real-world problems.Hands-on experience – innovative problem-solving using student’s diverse disciplinary perspectives

 

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH  

A) Lecture – theoretical background through seminar presentations

B) Experiences’ Exchange between participants from different universities – use of participatory and foresight methodologies

C) Practice-oriented activities – interactive exercises, collaboration with stakeholders, projects co-design

  • Real-World problems: focus on identification and solving of real-world problems
  • Hands-on and collaborative work – in this step each group will develop their community-based projects proposals
  • Collaborative, local and youth-centred solutions – young people community-based projects proposals developed collaboratively with stakeholders

D) Pitch presentations – share in a larger group of the community-based projects proposals

E) Asynchronous Online Work Strategies – Guided Readings; Video Analysis Activities; Thematic Discussion Forum; Gamified Challenges; Collaborative Document Creation.

 

Participants are expected to: 

  • Complete readings and tasks (online modules)
  • Engage actively in both online and face-to-face activities
  • Collaborate on a group challenge project
  • Deliver a pitch presentation of the project outcomes
  • Submit a final written proposal and an individual reflection report

 

STRUCTURE – thematic lines
Module 1: Understanding Local Labour Market Dynamics

  • Exploring existing local industries – foster place-based industries (viticulture, wine-tourism, eco-tourism, agriculture, manufacturing)
  • Identifying challenges: employment gaps, infrastructure, policy limitations
  • Fieldwork: visits to local businesses and industries

Module 2: Innovation & Sustainability in Communities Development

  • Green economy & sustainable practices (shift toward climate-neutral economies, bioeconomy-aligned jobs support both environmental goals and economic revitalization)
  • Tech-enabled solutions for local business and industries growth
  • Case studies of successful local businesses and industries

Module 3: (social) Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship

  • Community-driven solutions for job creation (e.g. circular use of local biomass – agricultural waste)
  • Business models and future market needs

Module 4: Field Engagement & Real-World Application

  • Hands-on with stakeholders, local entrepreneurs and policymakers

 

Specific learning objectives include:

Please list clear and measurable objectives that students should achieve by the end of the course.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Analyse real-world problems, question assumptions, and make evidence-based decisions
  • Learn participatory techniques through hands-on experience of co-development and participatory methods
  • Work effectively in diverse teams and co-create with peers and local stakeholders
  • Identify local challenges and design realistic, context-sensitive solutions
  • Communicate ideas clearly and persuasively to different audiences
  • Value diversity and understand rural realities across Europe
  • Apply creative approaches to generate ideas and shape solutions
  • Define goals, set timelines, allocate resources, and structure proposals
  • Take initiative, lead with empathy, and promote positive change

Which students would find this course useful for them?

  • This course is open to all students from ACE2-EU, independently of their area of knowledge, 4 students per ACE University.

This course may be suitable for those who have an interest in:

  • Local communities/economies development
  • Local Labour Market Dynamics (viticulture, wine-tourism, eco-tourism, agriculture, manufacturing)
  • Green economy & sustainable/innovative practices
  • Tech-enabled solutions for local business and industries
  • Community-driven solutions for job creation
  • Recommended Language Level :
    • Basic to intermediate level of English (B1 – B2), as the working language will be English

 

Application Process:

Interested applicants should

🔗 Apply here: https://forms.gle/c1FrG3YMzZRJnuac9

Deadline for receipt of applications: 15 December 2025

A notification of acceptance to participate will be sent to successful applicants

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

Email: Perpétua Santos Silva- perpetua.silva@ese.ipsantarem.pt ; Tatiana Ferreira – tatiana.ferreira@ese.ipsantarem.pt;

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