The Mountain Education and Innovation Manifesto (MEIM) is a strategic document, the result of a consultation aimed at young people living in the mountain areas of the world, which the UNIMONT – University of Milan centre presented at Expo 2020 Dubai during the week dedicated to “Climate and Biodiversity”, in October 2021.
As part of the participation of UNIMONT – University of Milan in Expo 2020 Dubai, the Edolo centre in collaboration with the Mountain Partnership launched an opportunity for training, discussion and dialogue on strategic issues that characterize sustainability and life in mountain areas. The procedure involved over 100 young people from 28 countries around the world in the creation of a Manifesto that asks political decision-makers and the world of education and training to develop policies and training programs in line with the needs expressed by the young people themselves.
The Mountain Education and Innovation Manifesto (MEIM) is based on the belief that education and lifelong learning, with an interdisciplinary approach, are fundamental in providing the population with the tools required to interpret the criticalities and potential of the “mountain system” and consequently implement innovative practices to build a competitive and sustainable future in these areas.
The young people who participated in the consultation highlighted the need for adequate education that enables them to effectively address the environmental impacts of climate change in mountain areas, as well as the need to create virtual and physical networks through use of new technologies. In addition, the MEIM emphasizes the importance of research and innovation aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship able to make up for the lack of services and facilitate the development of a sustainable and innovative economy in mountain areas.
The process of dissemination and signing of the MEIM that the UNIMONT centre is carrying out aims, therefore, to follow up on the requests of young people, increasing awareness and knowledge on specific topics of mountain areas, encouraging their inclusion in school and university programs of mountain-related matters, facilitating the creation of networks with mountain inhabitants and creating new business opportunities for young people who live and want to invest in these territories.
All institutions that intend to commit to the implementation of actions aimed at promoting new opportunities and synergies for young people in the mountains are invited to sign the MEIM by 26th November, 2021. The final document signed by all interested parties will be presented during the International Mountain Day (11 December 2021), as well as shared internationally.
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