In March 2025, three online pilot training sessions were held within the framework of the international project DEMo4PPL – Digital Education Modules 4 Participatory Planning, funded by the Erasmus+ programme. The sessions were jointly organized by the project partner institutions and targeted students from various academic fields, aiming to build knowledge and practical skills related to citizen participation in planning processes. The training format included interactive lectures, digital tools, team-based activities, and the analysis of real-life case studies.
On 17 March 2025, a session titled “Public Participation and Local Development Strategies: Practical Implications” was delivered by Prof. Dr. Giancarlo Cotella and Dr. Erblin Berisha from Politecnico di Torino (Italy).
On 18 March 2025, Dr. Petros Rodakinias from the University of Thessaly (Greece) delivered a lecture presenting different types of digital applications used for citizen participation in planning processes.
On 24 March 2025, Prof. Dr. Vesselin Blagoev from Varna University of Management (Bulgaria) delivered the final session, titled “Introduction to Management Skills and Techniques for Participatory Planning.” The lecture provided an introduction to core concepts and methods related to the effective application of management practices in the context of citizen participation.
The training sessions reaffirmed the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in education and highlighted the role of citizen involvement in planning processes for the sustainable development of both tourism and urban destinations.
The DEMo4PPL project is implemented in partnership between the University of Thessaly (Greece), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), Varna University of Management (Bulgaria), University of Łódź (Poland), and the Hellenic Association of Urban and Regional Planners (SEMPXPA, Greece).
Проектът DEMo4PPL се реализира в партньорство между Университета на Тесалия (Гърция), Политехническия университет Торино (Италия), Висшето училище по мениджмънт (България), Лодзкия университет (Полша) и Гръцката асоциация на урбанистите и регионалните плановици (SEMPXPA).
