NEREUS organises on the 13 November 11.00-12.30 (Brussels time), the 19th edition on education and training in the space sector will focus on the next generation on how to inspire, engage, and empower children, teenagers, and young adults to pursue space-related careers. Through presentations and discussion, the session will explore how youth across Europe connect with space through student initiatives, competitions, and educational programmes. It will highlight concrete examples from regional and national strategies that actively support young people’s involvement in space, showcasing how regions can serve as enablers of innovation, curiosity, and long-term commitment to the space domain.
Based on insights of a field research conducted as part of a Master’s thesis in European Ethnology at the University of Würzburg, which involved accompanying a student space association in Franconia, Bavaria region, and drawing from practical experience within the framework of the Aerospace Strategy of Baden-Württemberg region, the speaker will share perspectives on youth engagement in the space sector. As part of this strategy, collaboration with student associations such as KSat, HyEnD, and SeeSat has played a key role in supporting and showcasing student-led initiatives in aerospace. The speaker will provide a practical perspective on supporting youth through strategic initiatives, such as Mission Zukunft: On To New Horizons.
The education/training webinars have the objective to bring together the university community and partners of the network interested in education/training, capacity-building, and skills development, create new opportunities for partnerships and setting the frame for new ways of cooperation within and outside NEREUS.
Target group: Universities/research centres that are NEREUS-Associate members, universities based in NEREUS-member regions, other Universities interested in education/training, cooperation partners, NEREUS-regions that hosted the EO4GEO workshops in the past, and all NEREUS-members interested in the education/training regarding the use of space technologies;
Background:
The role of the education/training sector is crucial for the development of the regional economy and growth. New skills and interdisciplinary knowledge are needed given the numerous challenges such as unemployment, digitalisation, and green transition. The growing role of the space sector can provide solutions to a wide range of regional domains including agriculture, maritime activities, urban planning, air quality, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.
This info session will introduce key education players in the area of space and explore potential partnerships within but also outside the Network. In addition, it will present new education/training trends on the uptake and integration of space/geospatial data and services.
Education/training is also considered a key topic for regional strategies and future needs in space products, as experts are needed for the public and private sector at local and regional level. NEREUS is a European network of regions, currently composed of 23 Member regions and 38 Associate members (including universities) and its role is also to update members and participate in the development of an appropriate educational framework that will support regional growth and development.
