The second educational module of the REOPEN (1 Sep 2025 – 31 May 2028) “Next Generation Workforce – Empowering Young People for Improved Employment” project took place during 2-6 November 2026. The first 4 days were arranged fully online (3 hour online, 14 – 17 pm of EST time), and the last day was carried out in a hybrid mode (starting at 13:30 pm). In total, 865 young people/ students have pre-registered to participate in the REOPEN educational programme during October-November 2026. The programme includes 3 modules: Module-1 on Soft Skills and Competences, Module-2 on Digital and Green Skills, and Module-3 on AI Skills.
The Module-2 goal was focused on the (1) Digital Skills – abilities to use confidently and effectively digital devices, software, and online resources; and (2) Green Skills – knowledge, abilities and attitudes required to promote substantial practices and to address environmental challenges. The Module-2 was prepared and carried out in the DigiCampus e-educational system, hosted by the University of Helsinki, Finland. This Module included a series of lectures on basic computer literacy, digital communication and collaboration tools, information literacy, data analysis and interpretation, and green skills. This Module includes a series of lectures (in total 14) and practical exercises (2 per each lecture). For each lecture a home-work assignment (HWA, as a quizzes or questionaries) was given at the end of each day of the training, and it was required to complete in order to obtain 1 ECTS credit (issued by the Open University of the University of Helsinki). Each lecture included about 15 min presentation followed by about 10 min for the 1st exercise, and then, continued again by 15 min presentation followed by 10 min for the 2nd exercise. All materials (slides of the lectures, practical exercises, and homework assignments) were available for all participants who finalised registration in the DigiCampus. On daily basis the video-recordings of delivered lectures were also provided for the participants.
On 2 November, Monday, session on “Introduction to REOPEN and Module-2 & Basic Computer Literacy” started with the welcome words and introduction to the REOPEN project aim, objectives, online educational modules, internships, and the introduction to the Module-2 programme, lectures, exercises, homework assignments, reporting to obtain the project certificates and ECTS credits. Two lectures – L#1 “Using of operational systems & understanding basics of word processors and spreadsheets” and L#2 “Digital and remote work skills & navigating the internet, browsers, search info online” – were delivered. At the end of the first day, the HWAs for the delivered lectures were given to students as well as videorecording.
On 3 November, Tuesday, session on digital skills “Digital Communication and Collaboration Tools, and Information Literacy” took place. Three lectures – L#3 “Communication through e-mail, Slack and social media channels”, L#4 “Using Zoom, MS Teams and Miro-board, and L#5 “Finding, evaluating, and using information from online sources” – were delivered. At the end of the second day, the HWAs for the delivered lectures were given to students as well as videorecording.
On 4 November, Wednesday, session on digital skills “Information Literacy, Data Analysis and Interpretation” took place. Three lectures – L#6 “Protecting personal and professional information online”, L#7 “Understanding and using data to make informed decisions”, and L#8 “Using of innovative AI technologies” – were delivered. At the end of the third day, the HWAs for the delivered lectures were given to students as well as videorecording.
On 5 November, Thursday, session on “Data Analysis and Interpretation, Understanding Environmental Issues, and Renewable Energy Technologies” took place. The last lecture on digital skills – L#9 “Elaboration of digital content, data management” – was delivered as well as two first lectures on green skills – L#10 “Understanding environmental issues: knowledge of climate change, biodiversity loss, other environmental problems” and L#11 “Renewable energy technologies: knowledge of renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro)”. Compared with lectures and exercises on digital skills, the green skills’ lectures and exercises included as tasks the watching of videos on topics, for example, of Planetary boundaries as safe operating space for humanity, Biodiversity and climate interactions, Principles of solar energy, Introduction to wind power and others. At the end of the fourth day, the HWAs for the delivered lectures were given to students as well as videorecording.
On 6 November, Friday, the final session on green skills “Sustainable Resource Management, Circular economy principles, and Environmental Impact Assessment” took place in a hybrid mode. Three lectures – L#12 “Sustainable resource management: skills in water conservation, energy efficiency, other sustainable practices”, L#13 “Circular economy principles: understanding and applying circular economy concepts (reducing, reusing, recycling)”, and L#14 “Environmental impact assessment: skills in evaluating environmental impact of different activities and making informed decisions” – were delivered. Information resources were actively used in the green skills’ exercises, in particular, the water footprint product gallery helping to learn which products are more or less water intensive and how polluting their production is, ways to cut food waste and support the planet, circular business models rethinking on how value is created, single-use plastic bags and their alternatives and recommendations from life cycle assessments. Top of Formhow is the global transition to a circular economy progressing, lifestyle test to see personal impact on the environment. At the end of the last day of the training, the HWAs for the delivered lectures were given to students as well as videorecording. Moreover, the participants were reminded about instructions for reporting on completed homework assignments in the DigiCampus, obtaining REOPEN certificates and 1 ECTS credit. On 6 November, some students participated in a face-to-face meeting in the capitals of Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. In particular, less than 10 students attended in Tallinn, 12 students attended in Helsinki, and more than 30 students joined onsite in Riga. More than 70 students participated online on the last day of the training. After arrival in these 3 cities, participants were welcome by local hosts, students introduced themselves, and joint photo were made. In total, about 120 persons attended the hybrid meeting.
It should be noted that among more than 800 pre-registered young people, there are many persons who are also taking simultaneously the required school classes/ university lectures/ other commitments. During the training week, the daily number of online participants varied from 80+ up to 150+ with the largest number of attendees on Monday, 2 November. Because some participants cannot always on daily basis to attend online the REOPEN educational training. Therefore, the access to all materials and homework assignments of the Module-2 was extended until the 13 November 2026 for all registered persons (in total, 260) in the DigiCampus.
The next last REOPEN educational Module-3 on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Skills” will take place online during 23-27 November 2026, and in a similar way with the last day (27 November) to be arranged as a hybrid meeting.
Text by: Hanna K. Lappalainen, Sini Bäckström, Sunil Thakur, Alexander Mahura, UHEL-INAR