The University of Belgrade recently hosted the in-person portion of the Second International Summer School of the GreenFORCE project, focusing on “Communicating Just Green Transitions – Navigating the Path to a Sustainable Future.”

Held from May 13 – 17, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia, this event brought together students and experts to explore the vital role of communication in advancing sustainable practices.

Collaborative Effort

This initiative was a collaborative effort involving students from POLIS University (AL), University of Belgrade – Faculty of Geography (RS), and Polytechnic University of Turin – R3C Responsible Risk Resilience Centre (IT). Contributions also came from other project partners, including Co-PLAN, Institute for Habitat Development (AL), Nordregio (SE), and Center for Economic Analyses Association (MK).

The preparatory phase included online lectures in April, where students were introduced to the concept of Just Green Transition, setting the stage for the intensive onsite activities in Belgrade.

Program Overview

The summer school program was meticulously designed to convey the significance of sustainability through effective communication strategies. By integrating interdisciplinary approaches, technology, hands-on exploration, collaboration, and advocacy, the event aimed to empower students to become ambassadors of a sustainable future.

The first day of the event kicked off with a welcoming address by Velimir Šećerov, Dean of UB-GEF, and Aleksandar Đorđević, GreenFORCE UB-GEF Team Coordinator. This was followed by a synthesis of the event presented by Aleksandar Đorđević and Branko Protić. The morning session included lectures by Vojislav Žanetić on the importance of public communication in science, and Simona Žikić, Ph.D., and Pavle Trifunović on the role of social networking in a hyperconnected society. In the afternoon, participants engaged in hands-on activities under the guidance of communication tutors.

The second day included the lectures:

• “Posted to be spotted” by Fahri Dashwalli, covering key topics such as leveraging Instagram, X, and Facebook for visibility;
• “Veni, Vini, Video” by Tijana Dedić focusing on the essentials of making and posting videos on YouTube, Instagram, and Tik Tok;
• “From Cast to Cast” by Luka Bešlagić, Ph.D., discussing the essentials of making podcasts and minicasts.

The afternoon was dedicated to practical exercises, further developing participants’ communication skills.

The third day consisted of a student’s visit to the UNDP office to gain real-world insights into sustainable practices. The visit was followed by a creative workshop focused on practical creation under the supervision of JGT tutors.

The fourth day was dedicated to hands-on practice and creation, allowing students to apply their learning in real-time scenarios. This was then followed up by a city tour of Belgrade, providing a cultural context to their learning experience.

The final day began with group presentations and discussions, where each student group shared their work. The event concluded with final remarks by Aleksandar Đorđević and Branko Protić, solidifying the participants’ learning and planning the next steps.

Through this immersive experience, students were equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively communicate the principles of sustainability, ensuring a just and green transition for future generations.