How do you train the next generation of EU project professionals to tackle sustainability? That was one of the key questions addressed at the Advanced EU Funding & Project Innovation Camp, held from June 2–6, 2025, in Athens, Greece. As part of the 5-day intensive training event, the SPM² project was presented as a hands-on tool for shaping competence-based learning in sustainability-driven project environments.
Led by European Academy, the camp brought together 37 EU project professionals from over 10 countries, spanning higher education institutions, research centers, SMEs, NGOs, public authorities, and consultancy firms.
From Research to Real-World Readiness
On Day 4 of the training, the SPM² project took the spotlight during the Project Showcases session. Prof. Dr. Danijela Ćirić Lalić, who also served as lead trainer throughout the Camp, introduced SPM² as a practical framework to close real skill gaps in sustainability integration across all phases of the project lifecycle—from Initiation to Closure.
The presentation focused on:
- Concrete survey data revealing which sustainability-related competencies EU project managers most often lack.
- How these findings can directly inform training strategies and curriculum design for EU-funded projects.
- Tools like the Competency Inefficiency Index (CII) that help organizations prioritize capability development.
“SPM² isn’t just theory—it’s a roadmap for making project teams fit for the green and digital transition,”noted one participant from a regional development agency.
Sustainability Training That Speaks the Language of EU Projects
Throughout the Innovation Camp, participants engaged in simulations of full project cycles, from concept to proposal design. The SPM² project offered tangible examples of how sustainability obligations are becoming central to EU funding logic—particularly in programmes like Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and Interreg.
SPM² was highlighted in multiple sessions, including:
- Competence frameworks for EU proposal teams
- Logic models and intervention strategies
- Embedding impact pathways into proposal design
The project’s data-driven approach helped trainers illustrate how project success increasingly depends on skills like stakeholder engagement, lifecycle thinking, and cross-sectoral integration—core themes in the SPM² framework.
Real Interest, Real Impact
Participants showed high interest in the SPM² approach, especially those working in capacity building and professional development roles.
Key takeaways included:
- A need to systematically embed sustainability-related skills into organizational EU project strategies.
- Opportunities to replicate SPM² insights in internal training programs.
- Relevance of the project’s tools for training newcomers and upskilling senior staff alike.
Extending the Reach of SPM²
The event also served as a high-visibility platform for dissemination:
- SPM² was formally presented within the European Academy training curriculum.
- The project was mentioned in multiple thematic modules beyond its showcase slot.
- A LinkedIn post summarizing the key highlights reached a broad professional audience across the EU funding community.
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