Grounded Ecological Transition for the Mediterranean

ongoing

The project introduces an innovative GET approach (Grounded+Ecological+Transition) to pro-green urbanism and climate-sensitive territorial regeneration, tackling key challenges in the Mediterranean. It aims to create new curricula and networks of knowledge exchange to develop sustainable strategies, processes, and solutions that promote resilient, inclusive, and contextually-sensitive urban environments. This capacity-building initiative merges the place-based architectural and planning traditions of South-European schools to strengthen education, research and collaborative practice in the South Mediterranean (Egypt, Morocco) and Western Balkans (Albania, Montenegro). The project addresses the priority common needs in the regions (1) low effectiveness in the implementation of global policies, (2) fragmented and uncoordinated uni-sectoral plans, and finally, (3) the tardiness of the HE systems in qualifying graduates to address real development challenges and societal needs. The resulting curricula will be developed, tested, and transferred in a consortium of three European and seven non-European universities, alongside NGOs, that will drive structural education reform introducing integrative curricula, methodologies, and practical education. Curricula development process includes: (1) hands-on seminars for teacher training in Europe, and (2) workshops to test, fine-tune and contextualize content and methodologies. A second result is the establishment of an interdisciplinary, intersectoral network of upgraded GET Labs Labs in non-EU countries. The GET Labs will involve non-academics in the green transition and engage them with academia in an educational framework that is adaptable, practice-oriented, and responsive to local cultures, ecosystems, and socio-economic conditions. Ultimately, the project envisions enhanced HE systems that prepare young professionals to lead the green, sustainable and inclusive development of the Mediterranean.