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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Malta:20260707T150000
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DTSTAMP:20260711T060131
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SUMMARY:Building Skills for Future Smart Communities
DESCRIPTION:The development of resilient\, inclusive\, and future-ready smart communities depends on a workforce equipped with the skills needed to navigate digital\, green\, and societal transitions. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated action across sectors and stakeholder groups. \nTo support this effort\, the SMARCO project has established the Smart Communities Skills Partnership\, a collaborative initiative bringing together public authorities\, industry\, SMEs\, higher education institutions\, vocational education and training providers\, research organisations\, and civil society actors. The Partnership aims to foster cooperation\, identify emerging skills needs\, promote upskilling and reskilling initiatives\, and contribute to a stronger skills ecosystem for smart communities across Europe. \nThis launch event will officially inaugurate the SMARCO Skills Partnership\, presenting its vision\, objectives\, governance\, and opportunities for engagement. Participants will also gain insights into the SMARCO Skills Strategy\, which provides the strategic framework for the Partnership’s activities and serves as a roadmap for addressing skills gaps and supporting workforce development in smart communities. The event will offer a platform for dialogue\, knowledge exchange\, and collaboration among stakeholders committed to shaping the future of skills for smart communities. \nWhat to expect \nParticipants will: \n\n\nGain awareness and understanding of the SMARCO Skills Strategy and Skills Partnership; \n\n\nLearn how to engage and participate in training programmes\, pilot initiatives\, and skills certification schemes; \n\n\nIdentify opportunities for collaboration\, joint initiatives\, and community-building activities within the SMARCO network. \n\n\nAgenda \n15:00 – 15:10 | Welcome and Introduction \n\n\nCaterina Bortolaso\, Senior Project Manager\, European DIGITAL SME Alliance \n\n\n15:10 – 15:25 | Keynote Speech: Skills Partnerships as Drivers of Europe’s Skills Agenda \n\n\nSonia De Melo Xavier\, Policy Officer at DG EMPL\, European Commission \n\n\n 15:25 – 15:35 | Introducing the SMARCO Skills Partnership \n\n\nLina Nardone\, Project Manager\, European DIGITAL SME Alliance \n\n\n 15:35 – 15:45 | The SMARCO Skills Strategy: A Roadmap for Action \n\n\nCaterina Bortolaso\, Senior Project Manager\, European DIGITAL SME Alliance \n\n\n15:45 – 16:25 | Panel Discussion: Building Skills for Smart Communities Together \n\n\nPanos Fitsilis\, Full professor at the University of Thessaly \n\n\nIlpo Laitinen\, Director of Administration at the City of Helsinki and Advisory Board Member of SMARCO \n\n\nAlessandra Buffa\, EU Projects Specialist at Fondazione Piemonte Innova \n\n\nEoin Costello\, National Programme Director at Dargan Institute and Advisory Board Member of SMARCO \n\n\nOscar Huerta Melchor\, Policy Analyst on Urban Development and Governance at OECD \n\n\n Moderated by Caterina Bortolaso\, Senior Project Manager\, European DIGITAL SME Alliance \n16:25 – 16:30 | Closing Remarks \n\nRegistration \nParticipation is free\, but registration is required. Register here to join the online event.  \nAbout SMARCO \nSmart Communities Skills Development in Europe (SMARCO) is an EU-funded Erasmus+ Blueprint project that serves as a one-stop shop for smart communities skills development. It addresses skills gaps among smart city engineers and planners through targeted upskilling courses\, flexible learning pathways and recognised micro-credentials. The project also builds a European community of stakeholders to exchange best practices and promote the long-term development of smart communities skills through initiatives such as the Pact for Skills and policy dialogue with decision-makers.
URL:https://digitalskills.mdia.gov.mt/events/building-skills-for-future-smart-communities/
LOCATION:online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://digitalskills.mdia.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SMARCO20Launch.jpg
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