Eco Circular AI Project Newsletter 3 – May 2025
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