Global programme: Erasmus Plus
Specific programme: Capacity Building Higher Education
Call: ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE
Project number: CUP J86E23000000006
Duration: 24 Months (11/1/2023 - 10/31/2025)
Project Manager: Serena Bernardini
UNINETTUNO Project Manager: Serena Bernardini
Website: https://reed-project.eu/
Summary
The ultimate goal of REED is to help shape a new generation of business and technology leaders, informed, possessing the necessary critical thinking, and well educated on all pressing issues related to the rapid expansion of the digital economy, starting at the university and working closely with the academic staff. We aim to contribute to EU's agenda for a more inclusive, green and fair society in a trickle-down manner, starting at higher education, training academic staff, enhancing existing courses and curricula, help shape a new generation of leaders and experts and ultimately help societal awareness and response to a critical challenge.Description
The REED project was developed after extensive dialogue between academic, industry and policy experts addressing a pressing societal challenge: the dark side of the digital economy (World Economic Forum, 2020). The digital revolution is changing the way we live and interact, but it is neither sustainable nor equitable. Issues such as data security, privacy, monopolies, the digital divide, negative externalities affecting climate change, exploitation of rare earths and more are mere examples of the impact of rapid digitalization for societies and the environment.
With REED we aim to assist university lecturers in their attempt to innovate and adapt their course content and practices to reflect the aforementioned societal needs. We aim to not only provide them with state-of-the-art material addressing the topics above but also train them in how to effectively embed and deliver the new content in their classes. What is more, we aim to reward teaching excellence by offering a certification to all participating lecturers.
Objectives
With REED we intend to provide university lecturers not only with state-of-the-art material, addressing societal needs and critical challenges, but at the same time with the tools to effectively adopt innovative and socially relevant new teaching practices. The smooth and effective integration of the new content In relevant classes in line with the need for higher societal awareness is a key objective of REED.
Parallel objectives are:
1) to empower lecturers and students to become better-informed “Technological citizens” who have an excellent knowledge of technology while being aware of the ethical issues raised by technology and its applications by rewarding excellence in learning, teaching and skills development. Future European leaders in business and technology should expand their mindset taking into account social responsibility alongside technological knowledge. To increase the impact and foster the long-term sustainability of our project, we will enable our target audience to get certificated in responsible and ethical technology content and teaching.
2) the promotion of interconnected higher education systems. Cooperation with university institutions and
other educational institutions at other levels between the EU countries and beyond is essential to achieve the objectives of this project. It is worth mentioning that in order for this project to be successfully completed, specialists from various fields such as academia, NGOs and industry experts are additionally going to work together. REED brings together experts in digital transformation, higher education, youth entrepreneurship and sustainability promoting cooperation between different geographic areas of Europe and fields of knowledge.
3) the synergy of technological sciences with REED such as sociology, philosophy, psychology and history. REED aims to stimulate innovative learning and teaching practices. Promoting cooperation between different fields of knowledge expands the educational affordances of technologies and mindset to include a critical view to raise awareness of digital technologies' societal impact.
UNINETTUNO Role
UNINETTUNO is project coordinator and involved in all project activities.