Summary

The BUSTING project supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by integrating innovative education in STE(A)M fields, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and promoting equal opportunities by expanding rural students’ access to resources and advanced educational activities, in accordance with SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities). Through exposure to state-of-the-art technologies, the development of skills needed for a knowledge-based economy, and the exploration of themes such as the circular economy, renewable energy, and emerging technologies, the project also supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The project’s initiatives are further aligned with the Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3) of the South-Muntenia Region, which prioritizes the development of human capital in innovative fields such as advanced technologies, sustainability, and digitization. The proposed activities, including collaboration between universities, teachers, and students, contribute to the development of critical competencies for innovation, thereby strengthening the regional research and education ecosystem. At the same time, through its impact on the training of younger generations and the support of innovative educational resources, the project contributes to the implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2030, with an emphasis on education, research, and the transition to a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.

Benefits, key activities, societal impact:

i. Developing technical and transversal skills aligned with the requirements of the regional labour market through applied learning activities and co-creation of interactive experiments (mini-projects, Science Week, etc.);

ii. Stimulating interest in STEM through a project dynamic designed to enhance the attractiveness and accessibility of science (caravans, experiments, competitions), thereby inspiring students to pursue careers in STEM fields;

iii. Strengthening collaboration between academia and pre-university education through the exchange of good practices and the co-creation of open-access educational resources in mixed teams of students, teachers, and researchers, thus reinforcing the connection between education and research;

iv. Reducing educational disparities by prioritizing the selection of students from rural areas and involving teachers from all counties of the South-Muntenia region, thereby contributing to equal opportunities in accessing modern education supported by innovative resources;

v. Alignment with the SDGs, through the integration of themes related to sustainability and innovation that hold local and regional relevance and impact.