Open-Air University

Lakes are essential ecosystems for the rural communities living nearby. They influence and affect the sustainable development of local communities. Lakes should be preserved, conserved, and maintained. With the EUbylakes project, lakes become the perfect stage to discuss the future of Europe freely. Eubylakes is about an Open-Air University for Europe and across Europe to discuss and design a talking path for our future Europe. It consists of an open learning academy divided into six modules and a final Lackathon.

Modules

The firsts three Modules examines the pillars of future Europe: Democracy, Cohesion, Equality. The seconds move on analysing the drivers of its sustainability: Climate Neutrality, Biodiversity, Digital Innovation. The last event is the Lakathon, a creative marathon to wrap-up the Modules learnings and to develop new ideas to shape the Europe of the Future.

Lakes

The Open-Air University set near six of the most beautiful European lakes: it starts alongside Alqueva (PT) and goes to Santillana (ES), Aiguebelette (FR), lseo (IT), Kerkini (EL) and Saimaa (FI) and ends back in Portugal.

Concept

Each Module is a five-day retreat that involves 65 participants among local stakeholders, artists, authors and citizens selected with a call-for-participants open to all. The selection criteria create a highly diverse group of participants, involving people from +7 countries and ensuring distinct perspectives join in into the debate.

On one side, design-thinking workshops, participant-led debates and non-hierarchical approach ensure a transformative learning experience in which each participant feel important and free to express him/her opinion. On the other side, public conferences and a Q&A session at the presence of the local press and the wider public, at the beginning and at the end of the events, introduce the project and disseminate the results of the Module and the lessons learned.

With lakesides background and contact with nature, informal learning activities and participant-led conversations, EUbyLakes (1) promotes forward-looking discussions on the future of Europe (2) increases participants' knowledge and understanding of EU, (3) contributes to citizens' awareness of EU, (4) establishes a permanent Open-Air University by Lakes.