Coordinated by Lodz University of Technology since 2023, the project supports the development of skills useful in professional life by combining online education with learning through practical outdoor activities. The project is scheduled to conclude in November 2026.
Learning Through Action
Students from Poland, Italy, Spain, Lithuania and Portugal took part in the local pilot programmes. They tested the open online course (MOOC), “From University to Work”, as well as in-person workshops based on the learning-by-doing approach. Both forms of instruction support students in preparing for the transition from university to the labour market. In total, more than 200 people took the course, including 31 students from Lodz University of Technology.
The local activities were complemented by the OUT-DOOR International Summer School at the University of the Azores. It brought together 25 students from five European universities. Participants carried out outdoor activities, working on real-life challenges faced by the local community on São Miguel Island.
This form of learning made it possible to combine knowledge with practice, gain a better understanding of the local context, and develop the ability to collaborate in international teams.
Pilot Phase Review
The conclusions from the local pilot programmes and the summer school were discussed during a consortium meeting held at Lodz University of Technology at the end of September 2026. The meeting was attended by representatives of the University of Vigo, the University of Salento, Kaunas University of Technology, the University of the Azores, and the Spanish training company FEMXA.
The partners reviewed their experience of delivering the programme and discussed its relevance to preparing students to enter the labour market. They also considered ways of enriching the educational offer with courses that develop the cross-cutting competences described in the European DigComp, LifeComp and GreenComp frameworks.
From my perspective as the project coordinator, a particularly important outcome of this cooperation is the opportunity to bring together the experience and perspectives of partners from different countries and backgrounds. This approach fosters the development of modern teaching methods that build not only knowledge and practical skills, but also systems thinking, creativity, innovation, and the ability to collaborate effectively in diverse and changing circumstances.
The completed pilot phase has provided the consortium with experience that will enable it to further improve and disseminate the project’s outcomes. The OUT-DOOR project will conclude in November 2026.