Are you passionate about urban innovation and sustainability? Whether you’re a young professional, student, city official, or international expert, the Next Generation Academy in San Sebastian is the perfect venue for you to engage creatively in designing solutions for the cities of tomorrow.
Cities are places to live, but also ecosystems that nurture personal and professional growth. In this spirit, San Sebastian, a city with an innovative streak and commitment to sustainability, is hosting the Eurocities Next Generation Academy. This one-day event will allow you to engage with like-minded individuals and experts from across Europe in an experience that combines learning, collaboration, and practical action.
The challenge
This iteration of the Next Generation Academy will focus on bridging the gap between the environmentally sustainable needs of the emerging labour market and the aspirations of young talent. In an increasingly globalised world, where flexibility, meaningful work, and values-driven careers are so important to the younger generation, cities like San Sebastian are working hard to attract and retain this demographic. Over the past 25 years, the city has transformed its socio-economic model, focusing on creating a knowledge-intensive economy. This challenge-based event will explore how to design innovative public policies that align the needs of the local economy with the demands of young people, ensuring that cities remain competitive and able to foster a thriving, engaged community.
During this full-day journey, you’ll be part of a hands-on project that tackles this real-world challenge. The programme is structured around four workshops, culminating in a field trip that offers practical insights and direct engagement with the urban landscape. Joining will allow you to connect with peers and professionals in your city, collaborate with international counterparts and bring fresh perspectives to local governance.
The event will be part of San Sebastian’s Innovation Week, WeekINN.
Can I attend?
People below 30 years old, falling into the categories below, are welcome to apply to attend:
- Local university students and young professionals
- City officials and civil servants
- International urban professionals
By participating in the Next Generation Academy, you’ll gain valuable knowledge and skills while contributing to shaping policies that could have a lasting impact on urban development across Europe. This is your chance to be part of a collective effort to design a sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant future for our cities.
Discover the full programme and details of the call for participants here.
Click here to apply to attend the academy.
The Eurocities Next Generation Academy is co-developed and co-organise by Eurocities, as part of the Eurocities Academy, and the NGA Collective (formerly known as Young Leaders Academy), with the Vilnius event co-organised by Fomento San Sebastian, San Sebastian’s innovation agency.