University Green Digital HUB

The University Green Digital HUB (UGDH) project was conceived to address critical gaps in digital, green, and entrepreneurial (DGE) skills among university students, staff, and startups. The motivation stemmed from a shared understanding among partner institutions that higher education must align with Europe’s twin digital and green transitions to remain competitive and relevant in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Project responds to the need for equipping students with competencies for emerging green and digital economies, fostering innovative startups, and modernizing education through interdisciplinary approaches and digital platforms. Surveys conducted by project partners highlighted skill gaps in DGE competencies, underscoring the need for targeted programs to bridge them. The project partners mapped these skill levels and developed targeted programs to bridge these gaps effectively. They have also created a support network for university startups in the area of digital and green innovation, recognizing their potential as enablers of disruptive changes that drive sustainability and digital progress.

The main aim of the project was to develop DGE upskilling programs for university students and staff and a support program for university startups in the area of green and digital innovation. Therefore, this project main achievement can be seen in advanced digital, green, and entrepreneurial (DGE) competencies among university students, academic staff, and university startups. The project managed to strengthen: DGE skills among university staff, students and university startups, the capacity of the HEIs in the field of teaching for the digital and green transition, cooperation between HEIs and partners from the private sector in developing re- and upskilling programs, entrepreneurial activities in the field of digital and green transition. It also enhanced entrepreneurial ventures in the field of digital and green transition and increased use of digital technologies and tools in education and training of selected target groups and provided modernization and improvement of teaching in the field of entrepreneurship As a central outcome, the project established an international University Green Digital HUB, a collaborative platform offering continuous support, resources, training, and mentorship to develop DGE competencies.

The main outputs of the project: - developed and implemented DGE upskilling education program with university students and staff. - developed and implemented DGE Knowledge factory web platform.. - developed and implemented Greenpreneur startup factory program, support program for university startups in areas of green and digital innovation. The concrete results of the project were realized through work packages:: - conducted research on the DGE skills of the target groups; methodology for measuring the impact of planned programs; Train the Trainer program; database with systematic insight into DGE courses; developed program framework. - developed DGE upskilling program with educational content; DGE Knowledge Factory e-learning platform with learning materials in all languages of partner organizations; a library of open educational resources related to DGE skills; DGE hybrid pilot program implemented; Europass digital credentials distributed to participants. - developed action plan for supporting green startups; joint startup program; organized green-oriented competitions; blended intensive program and international startup competition for university startups developing digital and green innovative products or services.