Author: PM

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the EU-funded ECOcircular-AI project! It’s been a remarkable journey, and we are proud to share the final results and deliverables with you. Our mission was to empower VET (Vocational Education and Training) educators and students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the circular economy, and we are confident that the resources we’ve created will continue to make a lasting impact.

Project Results are Now Live!

After months of hard work and collaboration, we have completed all project deliverables. The results are now publicly available and ready to be used by educators and trainees in the VET sector.

Here’s what you can access on our e-learning platform:

• Comprehensive Learning Materials: Ready-to-use lesson plans for educators, detailed learning materials, practical assignments, and self-assessment exercises.
• Digital Escape Rooms: Engage with our digital escape rooms designed to make learning about the circular economy fun and engaging.
• AI-Powered Support: Get instant answers and guidance from the AI chatbot.
• Community and Collaboration: Connect with other educators and students in our discussion forum to share ideas, best practices, and collaborate on projects.

All these resources are designed to be intuitive and easy to integrate into existing curricula, helping you bring the principles of the circular economy to life in your classroom.

The Final Partner Meeting in Barcelona

The project’s successful completion was capped off with our final transnational partner meeting in Barcelona, on September 15 and 16. Representatives from the three consortium partner organizations from Spain and Cyprus came together to review the final details of the project, celebrate our shared achievements, and ensure that all deliverables are ready for public launch. The consortium team also held an external advisory board session, where the members of the board were introduced to the project and the platform, and then reviewed the platform providing their feedback.

A Heartfelt Thank You

We extend our deepest gratitude to our consortium partners, our variety of stakeholders who provided advice and guidance over the duration of the project, and most importantly, to all our users including educators and students, who have already used the resources or will use them in the future. Your support and interest are what make this project a success.

We encourage you to explore the platform and take full advantage of the resources we have created.

The ECOcircular-AI team!

As the EcoCircularAI Erasmus+ project enters its final stage, the consortium is proud to share the latest developments and insights gained from extensive user testing. Focused on integrating circular economy principles into education through artificial intelligence, the project has transitioned from content creation to real-world application.

Testing phases completed: 

May 2025, the project successfully completed the pilot test in Spain 

• The pilot tests, carried out on May 19 with first-year students of the CFGS (Certificate of Higher Professional Training) in Administration and Finance at Jesuïtes Bellvitge – Centre d’Estudis Joan XXIII, confirmed the intuitive design of the platform and the interest of the practical cases. Among the areas for improvement are the accuracy of the AI chatbot and language translations, which are already being addressed.

Public presentation at EFEC Girona

On June 3, 2025, our partner IEF presented the project during the EFEC program closing ceremony in Girona. With 64 attendees including educators and international Erasmus+ guests EcoCircularAI’s early results sparked strong interest. Over 25 VET providers and volunteers committed to using the materials, and two awarded students will explore further learning opportunities.

Accessible, multilingual and interactive: the EcoCircularAI platform

The new EcoCircularAI learning platform is now fully operational and accessible in all official EU languages via https://elearning.ecocircular-ai.eu. Designed with inclusivity and user engagement in mind, the platform combines practical circular economy cases with AI-assisted learning. Students benefit from interactive exercises and real-life scenarios across sectors like e-waste, textiles, and hospitality, while teachers can rely on a dedicated section with training materials and AI tools to guide and assess learners. The chatbot, a central component of the platform, continues to evolve based on user feedback, ensuring a dynamic and adaptive learning experience for both learners and educators across Europe.

What’s coming

• User Guide release
• Public launch of the platform by the end of September

Stay connected: 

Follow EcoCircularAI on EPALE, Facebook, and LinkedIn to access resources and join the conversation on sustainable, AI-powered learning.

The EcoCircularAI Team

Project Progress: Circularity meets AI

As we reach the final phase of the EcoCircular AI Erasmus+ project, we’re excited to share important milestones and recent progress. The project brings together the partners to explore circular economy practices in education, and to test learning resources for the green and digital transition using artificial intelligence.

In recent months, the consortium has moved from content development to real-world testing. We’ve recently completed the pilot phase, a stage full of challenges, but also rich in valuable feedback. Dry runs and pilot sessions are key to fine-tuning our learning materials, tools, and platform usability.

Dry Runs: Testing, Learning, Adapting

In March, we conducted the online dry runs of EcoCircular AI with 24 participants from Spain and Cyprus, representing the fields of education, business, and technology. These internal testing sessions allowed us to evaluate the content, identify errors or unclear instructions, and gather constructive feedback from participants. They also helped us recognize the need to enhance the platform’s gamification, which led to the idea of developing a digital escape room.

Key insights from the dry runs:

• Some content required clearer guidance or more visuals to illustrate technical concepts.
  
• Suggestion of creating Interactive elements to increase engagement.
  
• Technical issues with the AI-chatbot, language problems mainly.

• The adoption of the tool and platform is influenced by both its user-friendliness and its perceived usefulness in supporting their work.
  

The feedback from these sessions helped improve the structure, clarity, and accessibility of the learning experience.

Pilot Test: real users, real impact

Following the completion of internal simulations and the incorporation of the feedback received, the project progressed to the pilot phase. This phase took place on May 19th in Spain and involved real users—specifically, students enrolled in vocational training programs in business administration and finance.

The pilot was conducted in a school setting, allowing for direct observation of participants’ interaction with the platform in a real educational environment. The experience proved to be highly enriching and presented various challenges, all of which provided valuable insights for the ongoing improvement of the platform’s content, functionality, and overall usability.

What we learned from the pilot phase:

✅ Learners faced some technical issues with language translations.
✅ Students liked the platform for its intuitive interface and real-life case studies.
✅ Participants expressed the need for more accurate and relevant responses from the AI chatbot.

Based on this feedback, we’re now working on improving the translations and the chatbot AI responses, apart from other technical issues.

What’s Next?

We’re currently in the refinement phase, integrating the feedback from pilots into the final versions of the platform and toolkit. Meanwhile, dissemination activities are increasing as we prepare for:

• 📢 Multiplier events the 15th and 16th of September in Barcelona
  
• 📘 Finalization of the EcoCircular AI Toolkit
  
• 🌐 A public launch of the learning platform by the end of September
  

🙌 Thank You to All Participants!

We’d like to thank everyone who took part in the pilots and dry runs, and all our partners for their commitment to shaping inclusive, practical, and future-ready training in AI and circular economy.

Stay Connected!

📍 Follow our progress and get involved in discussions on our platforms:

EPALE – Join the conversation on the Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe.
Facebook – Stay updated with our latest activities and project highlights.
LinkedIn – Engage with us on professional discussions and collaboration opportunities.

We encourage you to explore the platform and take full advantage of its new features.

The EcoCircularAI Team

ECOcircular AI is proud to announce a significant milestone in the development of its innovative e-learning platform. Following a successful dry run with educators, sustainability experts, and technology professionals, the project team is actively analyzing the valuable feedback received to enhance the platform’s user experience and educational content. The dry run took place on March 5, 2025, in the form of an online workshop, where 20 participants from Spain and Cyprus were divided into 4 groups and were able to examine the platform and its content in depth.

The ECOcircular AI e-learning platform (https://elearning.ecocircular-ai.eu/) is designed to equip educators with essential knowledge and tools to integrate sustainability and the concept of circular economy into their teaching. Through engaging materials and real-world examples, ECOcircular AI aims to inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious individuals.

During the dry run, participants tested the platform’s features, explored its learning modules, tried out its AI tool, and provided insightful feedback on usability, content quality, and overall effectiveness. This input is now being carefully reviewed to optimize the platform and ensure it meets the highest standards of digital education.

The revised changes will be implemented, making the platform more intuitive, interactive, and with a greater social impact.. Educators and learners are encouraged to stay tuned for upcoming updates and further opportunities to engage with the ECOcircular AI project.

ECOcircular AI is co-funded by the European Union and is dedicated to fostering sustainable education through innovative digital tools. For more information, visit our website at https://ecocircular-ai.eu/.

ECOcircular AI, an innovative initiative co-funded by the European Union, will tackle sustainable business education for lifelong learning students across Europe. This innovative project aims to promote ethical, sustainable, and entrepreneurial business practices by integrating artificial intelligence into vocational education and training (VET).

ECOcircular AI is committed to equipping C-VET and I-VET students, particularly those in finance and administration courses, with the skills needed to leverage AI for responsible entrepreneurship. The project focuses on training students in efficient resource management, socio-environmental risk assessment, and the development of AI tools designed to foster sustainable innovation.

At the core of the project is the creation of a free platform to help develop 3 main competencies in circular economy, with an AI tool to assist in the development of the knowledge. This tool, applied within circular economy frameworks, will help students and future entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of sustainable business with data-driven insights.

An interdisciplinary approach is key to the project’s success, bringing together partners with expertise in technology, sustainability, ethics, and entrepreneurship. The project will also include a pilot phase, where C-VET and I-VET students will test and refine the AI tool, ensuring it effectively supports education in circular economy principles.

As ECOcircular AI moves forward, it invites educators, learners, and stakeholders to engage with the project and explore the potential of this platform in fostering sustainable and responsible business practices. For more information, visit our website at ecocircular-ai.eu.