IO3 Digital actions for the upskilling of grassroot communities

Digital actions for the upskilling of grassroot communities focuses on bottom-up innovation, driven by the communities themselves. Such initiatives see HEI staff and students join communities with expertise to achieve their goals, technical support and advice, and also community expansion. In the majority of cases these are communities’ groups comprising or representing people experiencing fewer opportunities. Specifically, O3 aims to: – offer an opportunity to various communities, including people with fewer opportunities, to voice their environmental, social or other concerns; – Engage HEIs more in a supportive role for various citizen groups in EU countries, including vulnerable citizen groups (such as NEETs (NOT in Education, Employment or Training), migrants, refugees, marginalized communities, seniors, unemployed women etc.) to build technical skills and capacities as a response to the pandemic; – encourage co-creation activities between grassroots communities and HE staff and students willing to tackle communities’ challenges and help communities find a solid, scientifically based reply to their needs, and – report on results of the process in terms of HE change fueled by HE involvement in communities’ needs for a better future.