The 2026 URBACT University is already behind us but URBACT's learning offer doesn't stop there! For the back to school season the programme is unveiling its brand new Online courses section to continue supporting urban practitioners in the development of integrated and participatory policy-making skills.
The Online courses section contains four courses at the moment and it will be enriched with more content in the coming months. You can now already explore Keeping up with digital transition in cities, How to use public procurement in a strategic way?, Gender responsive public procurement and Public procurement for food.
Keeping up with digital transition in cities
The 6-module training aims to build the capacities of city-practitioners and policy-makers to understand the main concepts and challenges associated with digital transitions in key policy areas. Starting with demistifying key tech terms of today, the course follows with modules on digital environment, society, governance, economy and agile leadership.
How to use public procurement in a strategic way?
Drawing upon lessons from URBACT networks working on procurement, this 7-module course intends to equip cities with the knowledge and tools required to embed social and environmental criteria into the process of public procurement. The course follows the cycle of procurement, from spend analysis to contract monitoring and introduces the EU policy framework on the subject.
Gender responsive public procurement
The 4-module course looks at how cities can foster gender equality through gender-sensitive policies and services, with the help of public procurement. The course introduces gender responsive public procurement and its legal framework, explores barriers but also solutions on how to embed gender equality into public procurement. Successful case studies from Vienna (AT) and the Basque Country (ES) complete the course.
Public procurement for food
The 7-module course explores how food procurement can be used as a strategic tool for positive environmental, economic and social impact. The course demonstrates how food procurement can drive positive local change and guides urban practitioners step by step through the cycle of procurement. The course also features successful case studies from European cities who are championing sustainable food procurement.
Curious to learn more? You can complement your skills developed with the online courses by more knowledge resources in the URBACT Knowledge Hub: in particular on Digital transformation, Strategic public procurement, Gender equality and Food and sustainable local systems.
