Building Capacity Through Virtual Workshops: Advancing Innovation and Collaboration in Asian HEIs
As part of its mission to support institutional development in higher education institutions (HEIs) across Asia, the SCALE – “Smart City ASEAN Network” project launched a series of online capacity building workshops. These workshops are a central element in fostering professional growth among academic, technical, and administrative staff, particularly in the implementation of the Institutional Virtual Model (IVM). By connecting educators and professionals across continents, the initiative strengthens cross-cultural collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The consortium planned and delivered nine virtual workshops, each tailored to a core aspect of the IVM and open to all Asian partner HEIs. Topics ranged from pedagogical innovation in distance education to design thinking, smart city competencies, and internationalization strategies. Notably, the workshops drew strong participation, with individual sessions attracting between 54 and 140 attendees. Highlights include:
- Innovation in Distance Education: Pedagogical Approaches and Technological Applications
by Dr. Fotis Lazarinis (HOU) – 21 May 2024 – 60 participants - Instructional Design and Content Development Methodology
by Dr. Fotis Lazarinis (HOU) – 18 June 2024 – 117 participants - Emerging Smart City Professions and Skills & Smart Cities Maturity Indexes
by Prof. Vyron Damasiotis (UTH) – 26 June 2024 – 129 participants - E-learning, Online Learning and Microlearning
by Ms. Katerina Triantafyllidi (ReadLab) – 3 July 2024 – 95 participants - Professional Courses and the SCALE VLE
by Mr. Luis Torres and Mr. Giannis Terpo (ReadLab) – 3 July 2024 – 89 participants - Design Thinking
by Prof. Panos Fitsilis (UTH) – 26 June 2024 – 140 participants - Technology Transfer Offices and IPR Management
by Prof. Ioannis Chatzigiannakis (SDR) – 20 June 2024 – 54 participants - Entrepreneurship and Funding & Innovation
by Prof. Andrea Vitaletti (SDR) – 20 June 2024 – 65 participants - HEI Internationalization and SDG Strategies
by Dr. Gerasimos Vonitsanos (HOU) – 4 July 2024 – 66 participants
Through these dynamic sessions, SCALE not only enriched the knowledge base of participating institutions but also laid the groundwork for lasting partnerships and continued innovation in smart city education. The workshops exemplify the project’s commitment to equipping HEIs with the tools and networks needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital and urban landscape.