Mind the Missions

<< Background >>Partner organisations identified that many city-based global networks are future-oriented and committed to climate issues, but don’t engage with adult education initiatives, at least not directly. This has helped us to identify the potential of intra-organisational learning to foster retraining and motivate lifelong learning. In this context, partner organisations recognised the necessity for collaboration between municipalities and experts in foresight, planning, and sustainability. Municipalities were identified as potential learning hubs, offering training aligned with EU city missions for smarter, carbon-neutral, and climate-resilient communities. The project has enhanced futures literacy, geodesign and project management competences in municipalities, addressing challenges in translating policy goals into fundable projects. Additionally, it has improved digital skills and has helped to foster transnational partnerships in Europe for innovative educational outcomes and has fostered more collaborative work and exchange of good practice between municipalities and other stakeholders.<< Objectives >>By implementing the Mind the Missions project, our primary aim was to bolster the competencies of city staff in offering purposeful learning experiences for adult learners. We sought to position local entities as forward-thinking learning hubs, equipped with innovative tools for delivering training activities. Our goal was to inspire and empower adult learners to cultivate resilience and adaptability amidst evolving circumstances. Furthermore, we aimed to foster civic engagement and instil a sense of agency by aligning educational initiatives with the city's missions. Recognising the importance of digital transformation, we endeavoured to tailor educational provision accordingly and enhance staff training in dynamic and motivational teaching methodologies. Overall, our objective was to catalyse a transformative shift in adult education, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness in an ever-changing landscape.<< Implementation >>Initially, we identified exemplary European municipal practices in adult education. Subsequently, we hosted a mobilisation webinar to outline the project's agenda for future participants, who later tested the developed tool in three workshops. Following this, we crafted training materials for future-proofing, digitally supported urban planning through geodesign, and project management. These tools were piloted in workshops with municipal staff, serving as future educators. Utilising collaborative planning and project management methodologies, participants developed capstone projects. Valencia and Amarante worked independently in groups, tailoring activities to each city's needs. The geodesign tool enabled exploration of alternative futures and facilitated negotiation exercises to align strategies with city missions.<< Results >>Catalogue of good practices with 15 examples from 12 European cities, spanning city strategy, CO2 reduction, city gardening, water and food management.Training Toolkit with 3 complementary tools: future-proofing, geodesign and project management to empower cities to bolster their training initiatives.Capstone Projects ready for implementation and financing generated by Valencia municipality (MUNICIPAL URBAN GARDEN) and by Amarante municipality (SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COMMUNITIES).Critical assessment of the tools prepared by Geodesignhub in collaboration with all partners, who contributed their expertise in integrative and collaborative planning and quality assessment of educational programs. The project's assessment compiles key lessons learned, focusing on insights from pilot experiences and tool validation.Municipal Staff Training, engaging 35 participants in the pilot experience of the future-proofing toolkit, 21-28 participants in the geodesign toolkit, and 25 participants in the project management toolkit.A strong project presence, creating project identity, website, LinkedIn and Instagram profiles, 2 videos. LinkedIn: 225 followers, 496 Page Views, 199 Unique Visitors. Project-related posts: more than 4570 impressions.