Urban Research and Education UG

23/09/2026

We are actively finalising our course on ESG as a part of the project ESG4VET, coordinated by us. The course will help SMEs produce ESG (Social, Environmental, Governance) reports. The expertise of our partners have been essential to generate the course. Yesterday we had an online meeting to finalise the last modules of the course. So far, the course is in English; the next step will be translating the course materials into project languages, i.e. Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, and German.

05/08/2026

On 28 and 29th of July, 2026, we participated in an intermediate meeting of the Virtual Auditorium Project in of Rijeka, Croatia.

We would like to thank PAR University College for hosting us in Rijeka.

Learn more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/ev_K3qQP

22/07/2026

🚀 *The ESG4VET project has officially entered Work Package 3!*

Following the successful completion of the mapping of ESG practices, expert interviews and podcasts, the comparative analysis, and the development of the ESG Index—while continuing the design of our Professional Development Programme for VET trainers—we are excited to launch the next phase of the project.

*WP3 – Building the ESG4VET Toolkit: From Theory to ESG Labour Market Compliance* transforms our research findings into practical tools that will help vocational education and training (VET) providers and SMEs implement ESG principles in a structured and practical way.

Over the coming months, the consortium will develop:
✅ A *step-by-step ESG Action Plan* to help organisations assess their ESG maturity, identify priorities, set measurable objectives, and monitor their progress.
✅ A practical *ESG Toolkit* tailored to different industrial ecosystems, providing sector-specific resources, good practices, and practical guidance.
✅ An *ESG Roadmap* to support SMEs in embedding sustainability into their daily operations and preparing for current and future ESG requirements.
✅ *Training activities* that will strengthen the capacity of VET trainers and ESG experts across Europe, enabling them to transfer ESG knowledge to learners and businesses.

As part of WP3, a *Transnational Training, Teaching and Learning Activity (TTTA)* will take place in *Cyprus in May 2027*. During this mobility, participants from all partner organisations will test the project outputs, exchange experiences and best practices, receive hands-on training, and contribute to the validation and refinement of the ESG4VET Toolkit before its wider implementation across Europe.

We look forward to sharing the first results of WP3 and helping VET providers and SMEs turn ESG knowledge into real-world action.

Read more about the project here: https://esg4vet.eu/


Houshmand E. Masoumi, Citizensact, Urban Research and Education UG

22/07/2026

🚀 Take your skills to new heights with DRONE360!
Are you a VET trainer, teacher, educator, or professional working in the technical, digital, environmental, or green sectors?
🎓 Join the DRONE360 National Upskilling Training Programme and discover how to integrate drones, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and digital tools into vocational education and the workplace.
📚 The programme includes:
✅ 12 learning modules
✅ VR simulated missions
✅ A badge for every completed module and the DRONE360 Master Badge
✅ No previous drone experience required!
📅 Training will start in October 2026
💻 Flexible synchronous and asynchronous learning
💶 Participation is completely free
For more information and registration:
📩Contact
- Poland: IOS-PIB [email protected] /
DRONE EXPRESS [email protected]
- Greece: DIMITRA [email protected] or [email protected] /
ATLANTIS [email protected]
- Spain: TXO [email protected] or [email protected]
- Germany: URE [email protected] or
[email protected]
- Cyprus: EMPHASYS [email protected] or [email protected]

Let's shape the future of vocational education through innovation, digital transformation, and green skills!

29/05/2026

The ToT event of our European Commission-funded project Drones360 was held in Warsaw. Read below about the event and the project.

🚀 The Drones360 project successfully completed the C1 Training Mobility in Warsaw, bringing together partners from across Europe to explore how emerging technologies can transform Vocational Education and Training (VET)! 🌍✈️

Over three intensive days, participants engaged in hands-on learning focused on:
✅ Drone technology & regulations
✅ Coding, 3D design & digital skills
✅ Environmental monitoring & inspection
✅ Drone mission planning & FPV flying
✅ VR & AR simulations for training
✅ Green and STEAM-related competencies

Hosted by the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute (Instytut Ochrony Środowiska - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy), the training combined expert presentations, practical drone exercises, and innovative XR demonstrations to strengthen the connection between education, sustainability, and the future labor market.

DRONES360 aims to empower VET trainers and learners with the skills needed for the green and digital transition by integrating drones, VR, and AR technologies into education and training pathways. 🌱💡

A huge thank you to all consortium partners for their collaboration and commitment:
IOS-PIB, Politeknika Txorierri, Urban Research and Education UG, Atlantis Engineering, European Digital Learning Network ETS - Dlearn, Δήμητρα Εκπαιδευτικός Οργανισμός, and Fly Away Plus.

📍 Warsaw & Białystok, Poland
📅 26–28 May 2026

29/04/2026

🌍 Drones are transforming industries — From agriculture to infrastructure and environmental monitoring, drone technology is shaping the future of work.
At Drones360, we are equipping VET learners and educators with the skills to lead this transformation.
💡 Stay tuned for more resources, training, and insights!

29/04/2026

📡 DRONES360 – Innovating Aviation & VET 🚀

Fostering innovation and aligning skills with the green and digital sectors through emerging technologies like DRONES, VR, and AR in vocational education and training (VET).
What’s this about?
Learning aviation isn’t just about flying—it’s about:
✈️ Understanding flight mechanics & physics
📜 Knowing European aviation regulations
🛡️ Practicing safe piloting & UAV operation
🤝 Developing responsible, skilled aviation professionals
Types of Aircraft We Explore:
• Airplanes – fixed wings for long-distance travel
• Helicopters – rotors for hovering & transport
• Multirotors – stable platforms for drones
Why it matters:
Modern aviation powers transport, rescue, recreation, and the digital economy. Safety and skill are key—through training, checklists, and operational risk assessment.
Learn more & join the future of flight!
🌐 drones360.eu
Funded by the European Union. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the EU or FRSE. Project no.: 2024-1-PL01-KA220-VET-000247866.

29/04/2026

The real challenge for drones isn’t technology

For years, the conversation around drones has focused on technology.
Better sensors. Longer flight time. More automation.
But in practice, the biggest challenges today are not technical.
They are regulatory and educational.
Across Europe, drone operations are governed by a structured framework developed by European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The introduction of the Open, Specific, and Certified categories has made drone use more standardized, but also more complex for operators and organizations.
At the same time, there is a growing gap between what the technology can do and what the workforce is trained to handle.
Many industries are ready to adopt drones, but:
Qualified operators are still limited
Training programs are not always aligned with industry needs
Organizations struggle to integrate drones into existing workflows
The European Commission has already highlighted the importance of skills development and workforce readiness as part of the broader drone ecosystem. European Commission
This creates a bottleneck.
Not because drones are not advanced enough.
But because the system around them is still catching up.
💡 What this means in practice
The future of drones will depend less on new hardware
and more on:
Training and certification
Regulatory clarity
Integration into real operational environments
Where DRONES360 fits in Projects like DRONES360 are designed exactly for this gap.
Not just to promote drone use, but to connect:
education → skills → real-world application

Because without that connection, even the best technology stays underused.

Learn more about the project and its activities: https://drones360.eu/

29/04/2026

The flight is the easy part. The data is the challenge.

The drone flight is the visible part.
The real work starts afterwards.
Drones generate large amounts of data, but without proper processing and integration, that data has limited value.
In many industries, drone outputs are now being combined with analytics tools, mapping systems, and inspection platforms to improve decision-making.
The goal is straightforward: detect issues earlier, reduce downtime, and improve operational efficiency.
Organizations are increasingly moving toward data-driven maintenance approaches, where inspection data supports planning instead of just documenting problems.
Drones play a role in this shift, but only as part of a larger system that includes data processing, analysis, and integration.
As the World Economic Forum notes, drone-based inspections can reduce costs and environmental impact compared to traditional inspection methods, while enabling more frequent and efficient monitoring.
That’s where their real value starts to show.

29/04/2026

Why drones are becoming essential in renewable energy

The expansion of renewable energy is often discussed in terms of capacity.
But maintaining that infrastructure is just as important.
Wind turbines, solar farms, and energy networks require continuous inspection. As these systems grow, traditional methods become harder to scale due to cost, time, and safety constraints.
According to the International Energy Agency, renewable capacity needs to expand rapidly in the coming years. That kind of scale simply isn’t manageable with traditional inspection methods alone.
This is where drones are increasingly being used.

They allow faster inspections, reduce the need for manual access to hazardous environments, and support more frequent monitoring.
Market data reflects this shift. The global drone inspection and monitoring market was valued at around $16.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to more than double by 2030.
In the energy sector specifically, drone adoption is growing steadily as part of broader digitalisation and sustainability efforts.
Drones are not the only solution, but they are becoming a standard tool in managing large-scale renewable systems.