Vital Cities

With recent changes in our life styles, opportunities to be physically active are decreasing. This phenomenon is especially apparent in urban areas where sedentary lifestyle is the new norm amongst the working age population. While there is a body of empirical evidence showing associated health risks, it has also been proven that anyone who increases their level of physical activity, even after a long gap, can obtain health benefits irrespective of their age. In other words, it is never too late to start.

To promote a healthy and physically active lifestyle in the urban environment, a group of cities have joined forces and created the VITAL CITIES network. The network was formed as part of URBACT, a European exchange and learning programme, with the purpose to facilitate social inclusion and combat inactivity. Participating cities entered a dialogue and learning process to find out how to redesign and reconstruct public spaces and turn them into a low threshold sport facilities close to people's homes.

The result of the process is a set of innovative tools and methods to be used in urban design and planning to reshape public spaces linked to sport and physical activity. The findings and conclusions of VITAL CITIES are relevant for the different governmental levels, including the European Commission.

INT-HERIT TRANSNATIONAL MEETING IN ALBA IULIA

The INT-HERIT network organised this meeting in Alba Iulia for two dozen attendants coming from all the partner cities involved in this URBACT III Project. An opportunity to travel to the core of one of the most relevant historical places in Romania.

REVISITED SITES

On the occasion of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, Europa Nostra and its President Maestro Plácido Domingo invited all citizens in Europe and beyond to contribute to the #Ode2Joy Challenge. The best entries in the Ode2Joy Challenge will be included in a special video of the project which will be shown on 22 June during the European Heritage Awards Ceremony at the Berlin Congress Centre.

The URBACT Local Groups meaning during implementation stage

Implementation Networks (IN) are a new initiative within the URBACT Program, joining European cities involved in the implementation phase of their local urban plans. The particular features existing in this step predetermine the conditions around all dimensions included in their performance. One important topic in this process is how an efficient participatory approach should be promoted, according the URBACT method recommendation.

Transfer networks, an URBACT Learning Lab to build capacity and promote cohesion across Europe

You might not expect Twitter to be the place for informed debate on the future of the EU Cohesion Policy. But you’d be wrong. Amidst the white noise on this social media platform, a fascinating catalogue of exchanges is developing.

Investing in skills and competencies

PEER REVIEW: An useful learning tool during the implementation of activities in the INT-HERIT cities

Peer Review is a helpful and frequently used methodology in the URBACT Programme as well as within the frame of the INT-HERIT Project.

Social Inclusion Successful initiatives in Turin

June 2018, by Valeria Vacchiano, Tiziana Eliantonio, Fabrizio Barbiero

Following the previous article about the critical situations of some Turin’s areas, we present some projects/initiatives that are trying to tackle some of the problems faced by the citizens and the local society.

Nantes - ‘‘Attracting talent with and for digital tools useful for all”

The City of Nantes chose to digital as a priority. It provides startups to develop their activities in a
simplified way, and now have a strong local dynamic. In 2014, Nantes obtained the Metropolis
French Tech label. Since then, a lot of start-up companies set up here and many posts are created.
In Nantes, more than 1000 posts are vacant. Higher education of the region cannot supply enough
young graduate compared to the needs of the companies. The City has to work hard to resolve this
problem. With the Local Group, the City tries to implement a strengthened cooperation with public
authority, NGO’s, startups and inhabitants, in order to develop and attract Gen Y creative talents in
the digital sector.

IMPROVING EMPLOYABILITY AND LABOUR INSERTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS A STRATEGY FOR TALENT RETENTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY

Employability and labour insertion of young people is a critical issue in the current socio-economic scenario. This is the reason why public authorities and institutions have to play an important role and not to avoid the responsibility they have with society. In this sense, the education system in general and the University system in particular are called to play a key role in order to achieve this objective. However, they have also to consider the “alma mater” character of the University in the sense that its role is to engender and change people through science and knowledge and train free citizens with democratic convictions, critical thinking and ethical commitment. We also have to bear in mind that the mission of the University is to train students in those skills and competences demanded by employers, thus contributing to the socio-economic development of the area.
 

Teach the Kids Coding!

Over six weeks this spring some of the young minds of Kristiansand have gotten an exciting introduction into the inner workings of the digital world when Lær Kidsa Koding (Teach the kids coding!) returned to Kristiansand public library this February. More than 20 children between the ages of 8 and 12 came by to join in on some fun and interactive tasks, including making games and programming LEGO robots.