Objectives: To develop a new competence framework based on the framework designed by the EC JRC, the CitizensComp to be used in community actions to expand the group of citizens interested in codesign solutions for community issues and challenges; To develop a model for community challenge monitoring to help the Future and Actual citizens measure and understand which are the most urgent community topics; To develop a capacity-building model for young people to become community problem solvers by applying product and service ideation and design methodologies. This model will be based on the educational methods of challenge-based learning, wherein young people will be presented with concrete local challenges and tools to codesign solutions and test them; To develop a gamified approach to the entire process to be the “gym” for the young people that will learn how to build their competences while being engaged in a gamified experience, impacting both the community and the individuals; and To engage policymakers to activate community-based “open forums” that will map, discuss, and activate the resources needed to solve community challenges.
Urban development has focused on smart infrastructure, often overlooking the need to prepare citizens—especially young people—for life in digital and sustainable cities. To address this, the EC introduced competence frameworks to strengthen entrepreneurial, digital, soft, and life skills, and to promote awareness of individual roles in the green transition. Several challenges need to be addressed: • Limited youth participation in civic life; • Insufficient skills and competencies among young people to fully participate in active citizenship; • Inability to effectively identify local needs, understand barriers, and design practical, community-based solutions; • Lack of integrated, innovative learning pathways combining entrepreneurial, digital, soft, and green skills into a coherent educational experience; • Minimal application of the EC’s competence frameworks (e.g., GreenComp), in real-world, local contexts; and • Shortage of engaging, hands-on, and gamified educational approaches. The Future Citizens project addressed these by placing young people at the center of the vision for “future cities,” empowering them with skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to become proactive, informed, and engaged citizens.