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

2020 EUA Annual Conference webinar series launch

The European University Association will present a series of webinars instead of hosting its 2020 annual conference in-person. The first of the webinars will take place on 17th April, and will cover the topic: 'strength in numbers - can university alliances change the game?'

Postponed: Infosession on the Updated Skills Agenda

With the first draft of the updated Skills Agenda for Europe set to be published on 18 March, this event will provide information directly from the European Commission on what this new agenda includes and its relevance for regional and local authorities.

How to enrich online teaching activities in higher education through Virtual Exchanges

As education institutions and students adapt their working arrangements due to the coronavirus outbreak, Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange will present digital resources in an online meeting next week. 

The European Union's digital policies: what is the role of universities?

The European University Association is offering a webinar on the European Union's digital policies and how universities can benefit from them.

YERUN Dialogue on Graduate Employability

YERUN (Young European Research Universities ) is organising a dialogue on Graduate Employability at its offices in Brussels next month.

Women & STEM: IWD breakfast discussion

For its annual International Women's Day event, this year the Nordic diplomatic representations and cultural institutes are hosting a breakfast discussion on the subject of women and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 

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

Survey: Digital education and skills on regional and local level

The SEDEC Commission of the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) are inviting local and regional authorities to take part in a survey to share their experiences on digital education and skills. The deadline to fill in the survey is 23 May 2022.

UniLiON vademecum on implementing synergies with Horizon Europe

The UniLION working group on synergies has published a vademecum 'Implementing synergies with Horizon Europe.'

EU R&I community providing support for Ukrainian researchers

In the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing war, members of the EU R&I community are mobilising efforts to support Ukrainian researchers. To engage and inspire, ERRIN members are encouraged to share information about their regional activities and initiatives in support of Ukraine's R&I ecosystem on the ERRIN website, using the tag ‘Solidarity with Ukraine’.

Looking for pre-schools and kindergardens working with science education through nature play

With climate change in mind, it is important that children have the desire to be in nature and experience it as an extended part of them. This extension must make up for the frightening images and bad thoughts about the future and the destruction of nature. The theater will stage nature / local areas so that discoveries in nature become something where there is an interaction between children and nature. We believe that children invent new ways to appreciate nature. The children's imagination in these performances or setups will strengthen their empathy for each other and nature, simply…

VIA University College seeks consortium for Erasmus+ Teacher Academies

As one of six university colleges in Denmark, VIA University College educates e.g. teachers, pre-school and early childhood learning specialists, nurses, social workers, engineers and designers and offer education programmes in 11 cities of the Central Denmark Region. VIA also has seven research and development centres including centres and programs developing and researching digital learning, sustainability and inclusion. VIA is searching for partners to build an Erasmus+ Teacher Academy.

8th Cohesion Report: findings on regional innovation in Europe

The European Commission has published the 8th Cohesion Report: Cohesion in Europe towards 2050. According to the findings, while the Cohesion policy has, in general, helped to narrow territorial and social disparities between regions in the EU, the regional innovation divide in Europe has grown.

Latest Updates

  • By Ewa Chomicz

ERRIN event: Organising a regional innovation ecosystem

This in-person ERRIN event on 4 October, organised in line with the Management Board priority on widening and deepening engagement in R&I, invites all ERRIN members to share and explore the ways to develop their regional innovation ecosystems going beyond any specific initiatives or funding opportunities. The event will enable informal mutual learning and exchanges of practices between network colleagues from across Europe in an interactive way.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

CoR stakeholder consultation "Towards an integrated EU policy approach to support place-based innovation for the green and digital transition"

​​​The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is drafting an opinion "Towards an integrated EU policy approach to support place-based innovation for the green and digital transition". Interested stakeholders are invited for a thematic consultation and exchange of views on 3 October 2023 from 10:00-12:00 at the CoR premises. Registration is possible by 29 September.

  • By Ewa Chomicz

KEP 2.0 seminar: Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda – What is in it for regions and cities?

​​​The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission are organising a seminar on "Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda – What is in it for regions and cities?" in the framework of their Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP 2.0). The event will take place on 28 September from 14:30-18:00 in-person in Brussels, with ERRIN Director Pirita Lindholm as one of the speakers.

  • By Anonymous

Knocking on the Door of Higher Education Institutions: The AU-EU Innovation Agenda and the Involvement of Nordic Actors

Knocking on the Door of Higher Education Institutions: The AU-EU innovation Agenda and the involvement of Nordic actors the event organised by the Brussels Offices of Nordic Universities on the 27th of September.

  • By Agnieszka Wieczorek Jetha

Science meets Regions final event

Science meets Regions aims to boost evidence for policy at local and regional level through various mechanisms: participatory events and innovation camps on specific policy issues, pairing schemes between researchers and policymakers at local level, as well as skills training on working with evidence for policymakers. The closing event on 27-28 September will bring together current and former participants in the project, taking stock of the results but also reflecting on the future of the project.

  • By Francesca Pozzebon

ERRIN Culture & Creativity Cluster Project Development Session

The Cultural Heritage & Tourism Working Group is hosting a project development session in collaboration with the Design & Creativity Working Group and the NEB task force, following call for all members and their regional ecosystems to express their interest in the HORIZON Europe calls focusing on culture, creativity and cross-cutting areas such as tourism, circular economy and design.