Science & Education for Society

The Science & Education for Society Working Group addresses topics related to the concept of place-based universities and engagement with society and citizens while also working on the role of education (both VET and Higher Education) in the Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) as well as education and skills for research and innovation. The Working Group facilitates information sharing, knowledge development, and aims to strengthen existing and build new relationships with the EU institutions. Facilitating project development is also part of the Working Group's scope. For this purpose, the Working Group assesses the interest of the membership for specific calls under Erasmus+ and support in the most efficient way the members in building consortia, primarily with the ERRIN online tool for project development.  

ERRIN Contact

Last Working Group Meetings

Previous Related ERRIN Working Group Meetings

Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems:  lessons learnt and remaining challenges

Strengthening skills governance in regional innovation ecosystems: lessons learnt and remaining challenges

Astrid Hannes

As the activities of the EU Year of Skills came to an end in April 2024, the Science and Education for Society Working Group is organising a Working Group meeting to reflect on the lessons learnt

Design & Creativity WG

The Pact for Skills for CCIs - What next after the Year of Skills?

Francesca Pozzebon

The European Year of Skills is coming to an end after the Pact for Skills Forum (21- 22 March) and the Closing event, taking place on 30 April, which will reflect on the achievements of the past year

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Policy & Smart Specialisation WGs meeting: Widening in FP10 and impact on cohesion policy post-2027

Ewa Chomicz

The topic of widening gathers high attention in the discussions around the next European Framework Programme for R&I, raising questions with the potential to influence not only the Widening sub-

WG Related Events

WG Related Events

Knowledge valorisation for the regional and local R&I ecosystems

On 14 May, the European Committee of the Regions and DG R&I of the European Commission organise a seminar on "Knowledge valorisation for the regional and local R&I ecosystems". The conference will focus on how regional and local authorities can foster knowledge valorisation and boost innovation ecosystems, translating knowledge into practical and innovative solutions. It will discuss the role of Codes of Practice in strengthening knowledge valorisation capacities in R&I ecosystems and stimulate a mutual learning exercise on main recommendations and a toolbox for policymakers at…

Pioneering Futures: Rethinking Cultural and Heritage Ecosystem

KU Leuven Institute for Cultural Heritage, in partnership with Una Europa and the Belgian presidency, is hosting an event on Pioneering Futures: Rethinking Cultural and Heritage Ecosystems. Hosted in Leuven as part of the official event calendar of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, this event welcomes policymakers, academics, practitioners, and wider stakeholders to chart a course for the advancement of cultural and heritage ecosystems within a regional, national, and European context. The event will take place on 14 May 2024.

Navigating ERRIN’s Project Development Tool – Training session

With the recent launch of its Project Development Tool (PDT), ERRIN is organising a training session for its members and stakeholders based in the regions to leverage its full potential. The session will take place online on Tuesday 7 May 2024 from 14:00 to 15:00. 

The European Year of Skills: What Comes Next?

On 30 April, the European Commission is organising the “The European Year of Skills: what comes next?” conference that will look back at the learnings of the EU Year of Skills. It will also be an important milestone to reflect on the road ahead. The conference will feature prominent political and stakeholder panels, inspiring speeches, insightful conversations, and interactive discussion groups on specific topics.

Humanities in Space: Challenges and Opportunities

Space exploration is an area of research traditionally associated with science and technology. However, many key questions regarding space also concern social sciences and humanities, as space activities have clear social, cultural, and economic impacts on our societies. The Beyond UNIVERSEH event will explore the importance of the humanities for space research with experts on 29 April from 13:30-17:30 at the offices of the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the EU.

How can heritage skills unlock the full potential of European regions?

In this online webinar, the CHARTER project will explore how heritage skills can unlock the potential of European regions. It will present the findings of six regional case studies on regional cultural heritage ecosystems, five coming from ERRIN members, showcasing how to better align the education and training offer with the labour market needs to equip future-ready skills and traditional heritage skills. The webinar will take place on 26 April from 14:00-15:00.

WG Documents

WG Documents

ERRIN Year in review 2022

The ERRIN Year in review 2022 is out! Read the report to see the numerous activities ERRIN and its members have been involved in throughout the year.

WG Related Content

WG Related Content

ERRIN's EU Missions project mapping: express your interest

ERRIN aims to provide support to its members in developing successful proposals under the EU Missions of the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 work programme. ERRIN designed a brief survey with the upcoming EU Missions calls that may be of interest to regional and local stakeholders. Express your interest by 22 March.

Danish intelligent platform for student experience and prevention of drop-outs looking for vocational education institutions for Erasmus+ project cooperation

A Danish start-up that has developed an innovative online platform assisting educational institutions to address, measure, and evaluate the satisfaction of students, thereby preventing early drop-outs, is looking for partners for an Erasmus+ call.

Collaboration for targeted education and competence development for the green shift

The municipality of Alver in Norway is searching for a region or municipality that works with cooperation between schools, working life and administration to connect young people and education with what the local society demands, preferably aimed at the green transition.

Harnessing Talent in Europe: a new boost for EU Regions

Ensuring that regions facing a talent development trap become more resilient and attractive is crucial in the EU's commitment to leaving nobody and no place behind. For that reason, the Commission launched a new ‘Talent Booster Mechanism', supporting EU regions affected by the accelerated decline of their working age population to train, retain and attract the people, the skills and the competences needed to address the impact of the demographic transition.

Digital Europe Advanced Digital Skills call for digital tech education funding- Deadline 24 January

Digital Europe programme's call on Advanced Digital Skills 'Specialised education programmes or modules in key capacity areas' is open until 24 January 2023. With a budget of €56m, HaDEA will be funding education programmes in digitaltech, jointly designed by universities, research centres & businesses.

CHARTER Alliance releases a new report on cultural heritage stakeholders’ roles and dynamics

CHARTER Alliance publishes a new report mapping cultural heritage stakeholders, looking at cultural heritage as an economic sector and labour market with interacting stakeholders in anticipated roles, whose dynamics, skills and competencies will affect the quality of heritage as a resource and common good.

Latest Updates

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

ERRIN Spring AGM 2023 – taking stock of the EU Missions

ERRIN’s Spring Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 took place on 22 June this year. As always, it brought together the large and dynamic community of member regions and cities. Following the format part with the update from the network, the main focus was the EU Missions, approached in two policy debates, on the support and implementation frameworks in Adaptation, Ocean and Waters and Soil Missions, and the governance innovation and the perspective on Cities and the Cancer Missions.

  • By Astrid Hannes

SEFS WG: Call for a new leader

The Science and Education for Society Working Group (SEFS) is looking for a new co-leader to join Lärosäten Syd (Universities in South Sweden), Lombardy Region and Welsh Higher Education Brussels - Welsh Government in steering the WG activities and priorities. 

  • By Nathalie Alvarez

Project Manager – EUniWell Research and Innovation Strategic Framework

The University of Murcia is recruiting a Project manager for the EUniWell Research and Innovation Strategic Framework.The University of Murcia is a member of the EUniWell alliance that unites 11 universities and 60 associate partners drawn from 11 distinct regions of Europe in a cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, knowledge-based perspective. In line with the European Research Area (ERA), the main objective will be to set the framework for developing a shared R&I strategy for EUniWell. Deadline 14 June.

  • By Maria Sofie Juhl

Mobility for everyone – Erasmus+ Accreditation Student Exchange

Vittrup Fri Fagskole is a boarding school with a focus on pre-vocational training, where the prioritisation of general education, community, and new tools for mastering your own life gives energy and motivation to continue onto a vocational education and take responsibility for your own life in general. Vittrup Fri Fagskole is looking for a similar partner school for a student and/or staff exchange within the framework of the Erasmus+ Accreditation.

  • By Karim Hassan Hosny

Catalan cluster for the children and family market is looking for project partners

Catalan cluster for the children and family market, representing more than 80 companies is looking to join a consortium or find partners to participate in EU projects.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

Regional Innovation Valleys calls for proposals launched!

The first Regional Innovation Valleys calls for proposals under the European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) part of Horizon Europe and under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument of the ERDF were launched by the European Commission on 17 May with an overall budget of EUR 122 million. The closing date for applying is 17 October 2023.