The ability to design social areas and public spaces that are  open and inclusive to all. The knowledge of inclusivity and key groups affected. And the ability to plan, develop, and create open spaces in cooperation with communities, clients, and other professionals,

Inclusive public spaces

Design social areas and open spaces working in cooperation with communities, clients and other professionals.

design open spaces

Designing public spaces to be open and inclusive for all.

The ability to develop and implement policies in organizations to promote a positive, inclusive environment with equality of opportunity for all. The knowledge and awareness of the various needs and perspectives of minority groups (ethnicities, genders, religious groups, etc.).

Inclusive policies

Develop and implement plans which aim to create an environment in an organisation which is positive and inclusive of minorities, such as ethnicities, gender identities, and religious minorities.

set inclusive policies

Promote diversity and equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive environment.

promote inclusion in organisations

Developing and implementing policies in organizations to promote inclusivity for genders, ethnicities and minority groups.

The ability to integrate elements of sustainability and balanced resource consumption in the development of urban infrastructure. This involves the awareness of principles, policies and regulations, knowledge of how to apply them in different contexts, a mindset for sustainable development, and adept ability to maneuver through complex stakeholder dynamics in the context of urbanization.

Sustainable urbanization

Throughout the coordination of an engineering project, promote the development of infrastructure that is innovative and sustainable, in line with the latest developments in the field.

promote design of sustainable infrastructure

Apply principles, policies and regulations aimed at environmental sustainability, including the reduction of waste, energy and water consumption, the reuse and recycling of products, and the engagement in the sharing economy.

adopt ways to reduce negative impact of consumption

Awareness and ability to champion sustainable development in urban infrastructure projects

The ability to develop and apply risk management processes to prevent and respond to disasters and emergencies. The knowledge of potential risks, compliance regulations, and   actions for contingency plans. The proactive attitude to identify risks and develop solutions to protect and reduce negative impact.

Disaster risk reduction

Compose procedures outlining specific actions to be taken in the event of an emergency, taking into account all the risks and dangers that could be involved, ensuring that the plans comply with safety legislation and represent the safest course of action.

develop contingency plans for emergencies

Identify risks and apply a risk management process, e.g. hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP).

apply risk management processes

Develop and apply risk management processes to prevent and reduce the negative impact of disaster situations.

The abililty to minimize impact of activities on the surrounding environment through assessing work practices, applying policies for protection, and employing sustainable waste and disposal practices. The knowledge of environmental regulations and sustainable practices and and ability to identify potential areas of environmental damage. The mindset of long-term sustainability in the development of practices and the feeling of responsibility to improve.

Environmental impact

Minimizing negative environmental impact of work practices.

The knowledge, skills and attitude important to thrive in the fields of energy and sustainability. Energy presents a fundamental challenge shared by cities and regions across Europe as well as globally, characterised by the ‘trilemma’ of seeking to achieve secure supply, affordability, and environmental sustainability. However, at the regional level, there are opportunities to revolutionise production, distribution and consumption. Approaches should work with the assets of each region. For example,
regions that are positioned close to capture energy (wind, sun, hydropower, biofuel from crops or waste) or locations that are well-positioned to areas of great demand (industrial hubs, adjacent cities) can develop smart infrastructure accordingly. 

A key opportunity for rurban areas is to use smart systems to decentralise energy supply and take back the ownership of localised energy production, for example through ground source heat pumps (GSHP), wind power or solar. This can enable more remote locations to secure their own clean energy supply. Rural areas offer great opportunities for solving energy and sustainability problems.Tackling this trilemma involves maximising efficiency across the system, from the generation of clean energy to power buildings and transportation, the storage and distribution of energy when and where it is needed, and the smart consumption by end-users.

Energy and sustainability

Seeking energy solutions to achieve the trilemma of secure supply, affordability, and environmental sustainability.

The ability to integrate various environmental, social and governance considerations when making financial decisions towards a circular economy. The knowledge about the sustainable investments, and the mindset to develop longer-term investment scenarios for sustainable economic activities and projects.

Financing circular economy

The process of integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations when making business or investment decisions, leading to increased longer-term investments into sustainable economic activities and projects.

sustainable finance

Developing finance schemes for the circular economy taking into account environmental and societal concerns.

The ability to manage the methods and processes used to collect, transport, treat, recycle, and dispose of waste for the benefit of a healthy, hygenic society. The knowledge of monitoring practices for safe waste disposal and a mindset to consider waste management as part of the circular economy, not only an end point.

Waste management

The methods, materials and regulations used to collect, transport, treat and dispose of waste. This includes recycling and monitoring of waste disposal.

waste management

Manage effective, healthy processes for safe waste disposal.

The ability to promote policies, activities, and educational programmes that encourage sustainable consumer consumption behaviour. The knowledge of methods for behaviour change in consumers and of the interconnected nature of production supply chains. The mindset to lead the change needed to realise changes in sustainable consumption and production.

Responsible consumption and production

Promote policies, actions and education programmes that encourage healthy lifestyles and proactive participation in sustainable consumption, and that lead to changes in consumers' attitudes, shopping habits and expectations.

promote responsible consumer behaviour

Promoting and integrating responsible, sustainable consumption and production practices.

The ability to apply principles, policies, and regulations towards environmental sustainability. The knowledge and skills to identify and enact methods towards the reduction of waste, energy, and water consumption, the reuse and recycling of products, and the engagement in the sharing economy. The mindset to proactively develop effective policies and implement changes into a circular economy.

Sharing and reusing

Investigate ideas and spot opportunities to improve the collection, process and recycling of waste materials.

identify new recycling opportunities

Identifying and applying policies, regulations, and activities to promote better consumption behaviours and shared economy.

A circular economy transition requires adapting to the specific situation of each city and region, utilising its inherent qualities and strengths. Cities and regions have different policies to support the transition to a circular economy, operate along with different times scales, but also differ in their foci and their urgency. As a result, achieving a circular economy will generally require intergovernmental cooperation, which may require special attention in the case of rurban regions where municipalities operate more independently. 

A circular (r)urban region embeds the principles of a circular economy across all its functions, establishing a regional system that is regenerative and restorative by design, with a strong interaction between the urbanised and surrounding rural areas. A major challenge for rurban regions will be to identify the quantities and quality of the resource flow at a regional level while identifying and evaluating potential solutions that will contribute to a sustainable, biodiverse environment. The involves the essential digitalisation for measuring, monitoring and supporting these resource flows. Digital technology has enabled a fundamental shift in the way the economy functions, offering possibilities for radical virtualisation, de-materialisation and greater transparency of product use and material flows. 

At the same time, it creates new ways of operating and participating in the economy for producers and users. Through the collection and analysis of data on materials, people and external conditions, digital technology has the potential to identify the challenges of resource flows in regions, outline the key areas of structural waste, and inform more effective decision-making on how to address these challenges and provide systemic solutions. For this purpose, cities and regions need clear, transparent rules that gradually raise standards. Systems for enforcing those rules and monitoring overall progress are required. This includes removing regulatory barriers within and across countries and phasing out incentives for unsustainable resource use

Circular economy

Seeking solutions for resource flows that contribute to a sustainable, biodiverse environment.

The ability to provide public sanitation for example clean glass and windows in public areas, dust and polish furniture, vacuum carpets and clean hard floors, and remove waste.

Public areas

Disinfect the areas to which the public has access.

clean public areas

Clean public areas

The ability to design sytems and products,  structures or facilties by consulting builders, and people with disabilities to determine how best to provide accessible infrastructure.

Infrastructure accessibility

Consult designers, builders, and people with disabilities to determine how best to provide accessible infrastructure.

ensure infrastructure accessibility

Ensure infrastructure accessiblitiy

Universal access to services

The ability to develop and implement programs or activities that raise awareness of issues relevant for a respective local community. The knowledge of  issues such as social or economic inequality, gender issues, violence, and drug abuse.  The skills of community advocacy, liasing and networking.

Quality of life in cities and communities

Establish social projects aimed at community development and active citizen participation.

work within communities

Intervene and implement programs or activities that raise awareness of issues relevant for the respective local community, such as social or economic inequality, gender issues, violence, and drug abuse.

raise awareness on local community's priorities

Actively engage in activities for the common or public interest such as civic, community or neighbourhood initiatives, volunteering opportunities and non-governmental organisations.

participate actively in civic life

Raise awareness on local community's priorities

The ability to aid communities or other public services with technical skills in situations which create risks to the public or when special support is needed.

Assist communities

Support the community or other public services technically in situations which create risks to the public or when special support is needed.

assist community

Assist community

The knowledge of development policy focusing on specific sub-regional areas and characterised by the involvement of local communities and local action groups to design integrated and multi-sectoral local development strategies that take into account local needs and potential.

Resource-efficient systems

An approach to development policy focusing on specific sub-regional areas and characterised by the involvement of local communities and local action groups to design integrated and multi-sectoral local development strategies that take into account local needs and potential.

community-led local development

Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of health services for the community with a view to its improvement.

assess health services within the community

Community-led local development

Social capital is important to make communities resilient. European urban areas can learn lessons from this. It is clear that rural and rurban areas face demographic challenges. It has been recognised that although a high-quality digital infrastructure and capacity is a must for achieving resilience in rural areas, equally important is that such an infrastructure carries vital services. There is still no clear understanding of which services are useful and needed, and specifically those that lead to resilient rurban communities. Yet there are great opportunities to improve community resilience through self-sustained digitalisation. These include services for alternative forms of transportation and mobility, services that expand the delivery ranges of local shops, specialised e- health services, and advanced privacy-aware social-media services. Likewise, the digital government facilitated by online services strongly supports the resiliency of rural communities, improves quality-of-life and reduces road traffic. In the wider context, the role of digitalisation in resilience planning in rurban communities to mitigate the impact of climate change is becoming of increasing importance. In general, all services for the other pillars can help improve resilience if they exploit locality.

Resilient communities

Seek solutions for the healthy and sustainable development of communities in their structure, socio-political interactions, and connection with technogical developments.

The ability to manage projects and programme activities. The knowledge of variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.

Project management

Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.

project management

Manage projects effectively

The ability to innovate for social needs. The knowledge of innovative models, products or services which meet a social need and have as a consequence the creation of new collaborations in the social field.

Social innovation

Innovative models, products or services which meet a social need and have as a consequence the creation of new collaborations in the social field.

social innovation

Social entrepreneurs create innovative products or service models to tackle social and environmental challenges, pursuing through their profits a social mission that benefits a wider community or the environment. They often use a more democratic decision-making system by involving closely their stakeholders, and strive to achieve change at a systems level, by influencing policies, market evolutions and even mentalities.

social entrepreneur

Create novel solutions for social issues.

The ability to access and analyse digital data and to select and use ICT systems for a variety of complex tasks in order to meet a variety of needs.

ICT systems

Select and use ICT systems for a variety of complex tasks in order to meet a variety of needs.

use ICT systems

Using ICT systems

The ability to work with digial devices and applications and to list simple instructions for a computing system to solve problems or perform tasks at a basic level and with appropriate guidance where needed.

Programming skills

List simple instructions for a computing system to solve problems or perform tasks at a basic level and with appropriate guidance where needed.

apply basic programming skills

Applying basic programming skills

IT tools

Application of computers, computer networks and other information technologies and equipment to storing, retrieving, transmitting and manipulating data, in the context of a business or enterprise.

use IT tools

The ability to utilise the knowledge of various aspects related to the functioning and operations of businesses to develop solutions to societal challenges.

Business Knowledge

A firm's functions, the processes and tasks which are employed to accomplish those functions and the relationship of those functions, processes and tasks to each of the functions, processes and tasks performed throughout the firm.

business knowledge

Working with technology

The ability to develop entrepreneurial and finacial skills and competencies through organising and managing an own business venture, identifying and pursuing opportunities and mobilising resources, keeping in mind a profitability perspective.

Entrepreneurial skills

Develop, organise and manage an own business venture, identifying and pursuing opportunities and mobilising resources, keeping in mind a profitability perspective. Demonstrate a proactive attitude and determination to achieve success in business

show entrepreneurial spirit

Demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit

New entrepreneurship test

Just test

The ability to identify and evaluate new business opportunities, develop and implement innovative strategies to capitalize on these opportunities, leverage technology to create new products or services, and adapt to changing market conditions. It also involves skills such as problem-solving, creativity, risk management, and strategic thinking.

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Creating and implementing innovative business ideas using technology

The ability to develop strategies to find solutions to practical, operational or conceptual problems in a wide range of contexts. This includes the ability to identify, analyze, and resolve challenges using critical thinking. The attitude to approach problems with a clear and open mind, break them down into manageable parts, and use a variety of tools and techniques to generate solutions. The awareness to anticipate potential obstacles and adjust approaches as needed.

Problem solving

Find solutions to practical, operational or conceptual problems in a wide range of contexts.

solve problems

Finding solutions to challenges or issues

The ability to utilize creative thinking techniques, brainstorming, and idea generation processes to develop unique solutions to problems or challenges. It involves breaking away from conventional patterns of thought and exploring new possibilities to come up with fresh perspectives and insights.

Generate ideas

create new concepts

Pitch your ideas and concepts to fellow members of the creative team in order to come up with alternatives, solutions and better versions.

brainstorm ideas

Creatively imagine new ideas

The ability to develop ideas or conclusions that lead to the creation and implementation of innovations or changes.

Innovative thinking

Develop ideas or conclusions that lead to the creation and implementation of innovations or changes.

think innovately

Be able to improvise and react immediately and without planning ahead to situations that you did not know before.

improvise

Flexibly develop innovative ideas

The ability to generate original or new ideas or combine existing ones to develop innovative, novel solutions by utilizing divergent thinking techniques and breaking away from conventional patterns of thought. It involves exploring different perspectives, taking risks, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, and developing unique solutions to problems or challenges.

Creative thinking

Generate new ideas or combine existing ones to develop innovative, novel solutions.

think creatively

Take into account indirect and long-term consequences when planning and making decisions. Consider the effects on other people, processes and the environment and include these in your planning.

think holistically

Generating original and imaginative ideas through non-linear thinking.

The ability to show a positive attitude towards new and challenging demands by learning through various means, such as experience, instruction, observation, or study. It involves the cognitive processes of perception, attention, memory, and problem-solving, as well as the emotional and motivational factors that influence learning.

Ability to learn

Show a positive attitude towards new and challenging demands that can only be met via lifelong learning.

demonstrate willingness to learn

Meet

The ability to process information, ideas and committments and to take into account indirect and long-term consequences when planning and making decisions. Consider the effects on other people, processes and the environment and include these in your planning.

Conscientiousness

Accept responsibility and accountability for one's own professional decisions and actions, or those delegated to others.

assume responsibility

Perform one's tasks in a self-disciplined, reliable and goal-oriented manner.

meet commitments

Assume responsibility and meet commitments

The ability to analyse and evaluate information in a systematic and logical manner, while also generating new and original ideas through creative and divergent thinking. It involves questioning assumptions, considering multiple perspectives, recognizing patterns and connections, and applying knowledge and experience to solve complex problems.

Critical and innovative thinking

Systematic analysis and creative problem solving

The ability to effectively and confidently work within a group. The mindset and ability to cooperate with each other and handle the team dynamics required for everyone to do their part for the whole. The knowledge of how to structure teams, depending on the context, to effectively work towards cooperation for group goals.

Teamwork

Work confidently within a group with each doing their part in the service of the whole.

work in teams

Collaborating with others to achieve goals.

The ability and awareness to notice and interpret the non-verbal signals that people send out with their body, including oneself. The active comunication with colleagues using body language and other non-verbal cues in order to ensure effective and clear working relationships during operations.

Non-verbal communication skills

Communicate with colleagues using body language and other non-verbal cues in order to ensure effective communication during operations.

communicate using non-verbal language

Notice and interpret the non-verbal signals that people send out with their body, including yourself.

body language

Communication without words

The ability to navigate and resolve conflicts or disputes between people or groups. The mindset to understand perspectives and aspects of the conflict, and work to improve the situation. This encompasses reducing the negative aspects of a conflict and increasing the positive outcomes of it by learning from the errors made.

Conflict resolution

The practices concerning the resolution of conflicts or disputes in an organisation or institution. It encompasses reducing the negative aspects of a conflict and increasing the positive outcomes of it by learning from the errors made.

conflict management

Resolving disputes and disagreements peacefully

The ability to act in an understanding and supportive manner that is sensitive to others' needs and feelings. The ability to communicate and demonstrate empathy and consideration for others and their perspective. This includes a capacity to understand various verbal and non-verbal communication of sentiment, feeling, and emotions.

Empathy

Act in an understanding and supportive manner that is sensitive to others' needs and feelings.

demonstrate consideration

Show empathy in order to prevent any kind of symbolic violence and isolation and to guarantee a considerate attention to everyone. It should include a capacity to understand various verbal and non-verbal communication of sentiment and feeling.

show empathy

Show empathy and demonstrate consideration

Active listening

Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

listen actively

Active discussion

Listen carefully to what other people say, patiently understanding points being made, formulating and asking appropriate questions, without interrupting at inappropriate times.

listening and asking questions

The ability to communicate effectively with others. To be able to actively listen carefully to what other people say, understand points being made, and formulate appropriate questions, without interrupting at inappropriate times. Patiently listen to the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

Which topic interests you more?

Energy and sustainability

Circular economy

Resilient communities

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Critical and innovative thinking

Inter-personal skills

Intra-personal skills

Global citizenship

Media and information literacy

Language learning