Constructor University, together with six partner institutions from Tanzania, Zambia, Italy, and Germany recently received a substantial EU grant for their project "Youth Virtual Exchanges for Global Impact Projects” (YouthTeamUp). The project, funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Program, aims to strengthen knowledge and improve local living conditions through practical Global Impact Projects (GIPs).
The YouthTeamUp project, developed by Dr. Omid Fatahi Valilai and his team, enables young people to realize the GIPs with the help of virtual exchanges. The project, funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Program, supports seven institutions, Constructor University being the coordinating institution. An overview of the funding provided to the different institutions is available online.
In the first phase of YouthTeamUp, so-called "Shallow Virtual Exchanges" are used to jointly identify and discuss project ideas and teach soft skills, such as intercultural collaboration and critical thinking. Basic technical skills, such as programming, and other digital and practical skills for innovative problem solving are also promoted and learned here. In a second phase, the transcontinental GIPs are implemented in small groups via "Deep Virtual Exchanges" and the skills learned are applied in cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data. As participants in this program are equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset for innovation, their employability in an ever-evolving job market is enhanced.
The impact of the YouthTeamUp project is substantial: Through the creation of over 15 high-impact GIPs and over 250 virtual exchanges, it not only contributes to positive change and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, but also promotes bottom-up collaboration and knowledge sharing between Africa and Europe on a broader scale.
The GIPs are developed and implemented by young people from Africa and Europe. They are guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on societal challenges such as environment & climate change, agriculture & food security, health & gender equality, and education & inequality.
Project contact person:
Dr. Omid Fatahi Valilai | University Distinguished Lecturer in Industrial Engineering
ofatahivalilai@constructor.university | Tel.: +49 421 200-3077
About Constructor University:
Founded in 2001, Constructor University is a top-ranked, English-language, private university, with a campus in Bremen, Germany. With its interdisciplinary approach, advanced digital learning tools and accredited programs, it equips students with fundamental knowledge, critical thinking and practical skills to build their professional career and address the world’s most pressing challenges.
The University emphasizes a synergetic and entrepreneurial spirit, offering program mentoring from top-tier professors and industry experts. Partner collaborations include the Constructor Institute in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Carnegie Mellon, the National University of Singapore, the University of Geneva, and industry references such as JetBrains and ChemDiv.
Internationality and diversity lie at the heart of Constructor University, with more than 110 nations at its vibrant and close-knit campus community in Bremen. There, students enjoy active campus life, with access to clubs, professional networks and academic counselling, essential to their personal and academic growth.
Research-centric faculty projects at the University are funded by the German Research Foundation, the European Union's Framework Program for Research and Innovation, and globally leading companies.
The greater Constructor Knowledge ecosystem includes Constructor University in Bremen, Germany, and Constructor Institute in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. It is a provider of education services with education tools, worldwide traditional and online educational services, as well as advisory and strategic services to education customers in the fields of student recruitment, communications, and marketing support.