InnoRenew CoE organized a “train-the-trainers” event to teach trainers from Ukraine about the New European Bauhaus (NEB) and how to provide further training for different audiences related to NEB topics.

The event is part of the NEB Academy Hub Ukraine initiative, which is implemented by InnoRenew CoE and supported by U-LEAD. This initiative aims to prepare the basis for the establishment of a NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine. For this to happen, knowledgeable and well-trained professionals are critically important actors in the NEB community of practice in Ukraine.

The 3-day training brought 19 professionals that were selected through an open call to the InnoRenew CoE’s facilities in Izola, Slovenia. The trainees came from diverse organizations, such as the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, Promprylad Foundation, Regional Center for Advanced Training of Kyiv region, and more. They had diverse background and experiences, which enriched their contributions to the collaborative training approaches used in the 3-day course. Their experience as educators, trainers, and professionals in the fields of bio-based materials, architecture, sustainable design and construction, modular construction, maintenance and service life performance, circularity and lifetime extension, inclusive design, regeneration, and urban design will strengthen the value of NEB training they provide in the future.

Experts from InnoRenew CoE provided lectures on various topics, including the principles of the NEB, its best practice examples such as the InnoRenew CoE building, the specifics of designing timber buildings, the NEB Compass and Investment Guidelines, and stakeholder mapping based on the NEB Toolbox. Other lectures covered were innovative teaching methods provided by dr. Wojciech Jakub Pajerski, the reconstruction of the Servite Monastery in Koper as a NEB example related to cultural heritage renovation, innovative biomaterials and circularity, the role of acoustics in NEB, best practices examples for NEB Academy Hub training provided by dr. Anna Sandak, and the NEBAP HUB & NEB SUD. Additionally, dr. Anna Sandak presented also about Innovative biomaterials and circularity.

Additionally, the InnoRenew CoE team moderated a discussion that provided suggestions for the initial steps in establishing a NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine. The discussion focused on identifying participants for co-design workshops to outline the Hub’s objectives, overall structure, and its most critical initial activities. At the same time, participants got hands-on experience with co-creating training materials to ensure the knowledge is relevant, understandable, and resonates with the intended groups of learners.

In Ukraine, the NEB Academy Hub Ukraine initiative is engaging local stakeholders and national experts to understand the needs of the rebuilding efforts and to develop solid foundation for a future NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine and its integration into the wider network of NEB Academy Hubs across Europe.

With this training, the InnoRenew CoE team aimed at making a significant step towards preparing the trainers to spread knowledge about sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful construction. When the NEB Academy hub in Ukraine will be operating, they will be able to work with others in Europe to generate and share training content, build a sustainable and long-term NEB Academy, and change our built environment, and our communities, for the better.

The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of its author(s). U-LEAD with Europe: Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development Programme is a multi-donor action of the EU and its member states Germany, Poland, Denmark and Slovenia to support Ukraine on its path to strengthening local self-government. U-LEAD promotes transparent, accountable, resilient and responsive multi-level governance in Ukraine and empowers municipalities.