The European Commission event Unlocking Regional potential through European University Alliances: The cases of BAUHAUS4EU and SUNRISE recently showcased two NEB projects.
In specific regions of Europe, there has been an industrial decline that might encourage young people to move out of their regions to look for work elsewhere. These concerns were addressed by the BAUHAUS4EU and SUNRISE NEB projects in different ways. The discussion surfaced the following points:
- With a new wave of industries such as cleantech, AI or advanced manufacturing, NEB can help to provide opportunities for young people locally, meaning that they are not compelled to move out of their regions.
- NEB and alliances of European universities can create skills initiatives to bridge gaps to secure futures for young people in new local industries.
- NEB and universities working locally and in concert can assist local and national policy makers, including supporting evidence-based policy making on the just transition and upskilling.
- Working together in this way also helps universities to develop a broader public service mindset beyond their key underpinning strengths in teaching and research.
A different NEB Chapters event hosted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) presented the NEB Chapters.
Global challenges affecting citizens continue to proliferate, but NEB can demonstrate the just transition in action.
Building on the NEB Community of 1,900 members, supported through online and in-person Commission events and activities throughout the year, several local NEB chapters (9 chapters of over 200 actors) are now acting as local hubs for in-person NEB activity:
- NEB Chapters can activate local ecosystems and amplify and connect diverse and joint activities of many NEB-interested actors locally.
- They can assist with coordination, including with local authorities and municipalities.
- They can strengthen a multilevel governance approach and decentralise and delegate local roles.
- NEB chapters can bring back data to central Commission NEB KE initiatives.
- They can demonstrate and document the co-benefits of NEB action towards health, housing and other areas.
- They can be facilitators and matchmakers for consortia building, not only locally, but between the chapters, and beyond the chapters with stakeholders across Europe.
- They can educate, build capacity and multiply the efforts of local NEB actors.
- They can showcase projects with NEB values towards investment actors.
Just two NEB Community members are needed to form a local NEB Chapter, which has no legal personality to apply for funding. NEB Chapters can co-exist on both a national level and within one or more regions within the same country at the same time.