Written by Ufuk Bal
International Expert on Youth Mainstreaming, Out of the Box International
24/01/2023
Let’s present the first important results of the CI-YOU project.
The starting point of the CI-YOU consortium was to develop and conduct a comprehensive desk research and compilation report including all actors in the thematic space of Circular Economy (CE). The research will further be the baseline and foundation for the CE Business Model and other outputs of the innovative project. The aim of the Intellectual Output 1 (O1) is to provide a complete analysis on existing business models, the skills, competences, knowledge and needs of youth in order to define a path for developing the training material content in subsequent outputs. Following insights has been identified as result of the state-of-art analysis:
clear image of the respective status quo in the partner countries;
thorough understanding of each partner’s local relevant conditions and secondly each country’s respective expectations/needs;
each partners’ strengths and needs;
aspects/tools/approaches can be identified as best practices and how they can be introduced in the different partner countries, in order to prepare and create the necessary content for the Business Model Development IO2.
The research methodology consisted of comprehensive research and analysis of the situation in project partner countries, and surveys (youth and expert), focus groups (on needs basis), desk research, field research, country reports. During the desk research partners from 7 countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Serbia and Slovenia) have collectively developed a comprehensive approach and captured the current situation in the educational system, legal framework, educational offers, management and good practices on the National level related to CE. During the field research 160 youngsters and 40 experts from 7 countries have shared their opinion and contributed to the further development of the project.
Key findings on CI-YOU Learning Model includes aspects on educational system, legal framework for Circular Economy, main goals and methodology, educational offers, management practices: and best practices across Europe such as:
- providing open platforms for direct networking and sharing information
- taking means to provide the widest reach of the programs
- focusing on practical knowledge and skills as much as on theoretical information
- creating a link between education, science and industry
- creating learning centres at universities and other educational institutions.
Recommendations for CI-YOU Learning Model defining the key objectives for the intellectual outputs, preferable learning styles and methods. Final conclusions in the state-of-the-art provides perspectives regarding the challenges of CI-YOU in partner countries, potentials of CI-YOU in partner countries, general guidelines for further outputs and EU Green Deal and international policy dimension.