CIVITAS summer course in Rethymno, Crete, Greece
Rethymno GreeceLearning CentreCIVITAS InitiativeELEVATE
The CIVITAS Summer Course in Rethymno, Greece presents a unique and inspiring learning experience for keen mobility leaders.From 18-21 July 2022, participants will dive deep (in-person!) into the latest insights in sustainable mobility planning.
Led by a team of experts and peers from across Europe, the 3.5-day event will make use of “action learning,” including of a mix of expert lectures, interactive tasks,and local challenges based case study group work. It is a unique experience through which participants will learn, be challenged, discuss their experiences, and meet peers from all over the world. Practical assignments will help participants apply the lessons learnt, and certifications will be awarded at the end of the course.
Participants will learn from renowned experts, with various themes and topics explored, including ongoing challenges faced by participants.
The Summer Course is a free event. In addition, a limited number of scholarships have been made available through the European-funded CIVITAS ELEVATE project to help cover costs for travel and accommodation.
Who should join?
The Summer Course is aimed at urban mobility professionals. The objective is to enhance personal capacities, build-up individual knowledge and skills, and to increase abilities to achieve urban sustainability goals. Applicants can, for example, be working as mobility professionals at:
- public organisations (municipalities, city administration, regional/national authorities)
- non-governmental organisations (city networks, philanthropies)
- universities and research organisations
- private organisations (consultancies, engineering firms, service providers)
We anticipate that project officers, project managers, policy advisers, policy officers, civil servants, consultants, experts, researchers, designers, engineers, mobility team leads, and managers would make highly suitable participants.
A limited number of seats are available for students.
Apply now!
Interested in joining this unique learning opportunity? Then take the following steps:
- Block the dates in your calendar. Course dates are: Monday, 18 July to Thursday, 21 July. We encourage applicants to reserve 17 July as a travel day, since the first class will start in the morning on 18 July. The final session will end on 21 July around 12:00 EEST (local time in Rethymno).
- Fill in the Application Form, and send to z [dot] verhoek [at] dtvconsultants [dot] nlby the deadline of 15 May at 23:59 CEST.
Access the application form at: https://forms.office.com/r/zjxcCrLq9a. There are limited spots available, so apply promptly to secure yours!
Additional background and details
The Summer Course is based on last year’s highly successful CIVITAS Winter Course, and on the 2016 CIVITAS Summer School programme, which took place in Málaga (Spain). Participants from across Europe participated in these innovative courses, expressing that they were particularly taken by the opportunities to “learn by experiencing”, and by the combination of learning with fun and social opportunities.
It is unfortunately not possible to achieve this impact (to the same extent) with online events. Hence, as long as COVID-19 pandemic regulations allow it, the July 2022 course will be held in-person. Please keep in mind that participants may have to show to a Digital COVID Certificate to participate in the Summer Course.
Parallel to the application process, we will continue to build-up the programme and provide prospective participants with all the information needed. Details regarding travel and hotel arrangements will be detailed and shared soon.
Meet the host: Rethymno (GR)
Located on the northern coast of the Island of Crete, Rethymno is a medium-sized city with growing tourism and mobility sectors. It has a population of only 63,000, but accommodates more than half a million tourists every year! When also accounting for visitors that explore the city on day-trips and cruises, the total number of annual visitors climbs to a remarkable 1.2 million.
It is no surprise that Rethymno is such a popular tourist destination. It features archaeological landmarks, magnificent beaches, traditional villages, cultural events, and world-famous gastronomy. However, its high seasonal tourism flow has posed rising challenges and strain on the local environment and the transport system.
Through the CIVITAS DESTINATIONS project, Rethymno introduced measures focused on accessibility, active mobility, and changing mobility behaviours. Demonstration actions promoting electric vehicles (ΕVs), enhancing walking, cycling and road safety, and improving public transport and shared mobility services were all taken on. Rethymno increased sustainable commuting across groups, including among school communities, older people, and people with disabilities, and saw a significant boost to e-mobility at the regional level.
Rethymno’s long-standing work with the CIVITAS Initiative, including hosting this year’s Summer Course, aims to improve local quality of life, and to strengthen its commitment to being a green tourism destination. Furthermore, this work complements its involvement in the European Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities and Rethymno's role as a signatory to the Covenant of Mayors (since 2011), which has sustainable mobility among its strategic pillars.
Questions about the Summer Course?
The Summer Course is organised by CIVITAS ELEVATE in cooperation with the Municipality of Rethymno and the CIVINET Greece-Cyprus. Please direct any questions about the course to:
- CIVITAS ELEVATE organising partner: DTV Consultants
Contact: Zwanet Verhoek (z [dot] verhoek [at] dtvconsultants [dot] nl)
And don't forget: the application form, which must be submitted by 15 May at 23:59 CEST!
Author: DTV Consultants