University College Cork recently hosted the initial transnational project meeting of the ‘Climate change and Healthy AgeinG: co-creating E-learning for resilience and adaptation’ (chAnGE) project, where Professor Suzanne Timmons of the Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, UCC, is the lead coordinator. This €1.5 million EU-funded Erasmus+ project is an alliance of universities, vocational education and training providers, and health & social care organisations, across Ireland, Portugal, Finland, Austria & Greece. Together we are co-creating a suite of online micro credentials for health and social care workers who deliver care to older people.

From April 15-17, the research partners of the “Climate change and Healthy AgeinG: co-creating E-learning for resilience and adaptation” (chAnGE) project convened at the Regional Hospital Villach in Austria for a meeting. The gathering focused on reviewing the current status and future direction of our efforts to improve healthcare for older adults in a changing climate.

This meeting, integral to our project’s progress, successfully fostered reconnection and strengthened team collaboration among partners from diverse regions, including Ireland, Portugal, Finland, Austria, and Greece. Highlights included detailed discussions on the structure of micro-credentials and strategic planning for upcoming deliverables, ensuring our educational offerings remain innovative, accessible, and impactful.

Progress Update: Advancing the Climate Change Micro-Creditation Program

From September 10–12, the second Transnational Partner Meeting (TPM) of the “Climate change and Healthy AgeinG: co-creating E-learning for resilience and adaptation” (chAnGE) project was held online. This meeting provided a valuable opportunity for partners to exchange insights and experiences related to the development of the micro-credentials (MCs).

A central focus of the discussions was the progress made in creating content for the Climate Change Micro-Creditation Program. The Moodle platform, selected for its adaptability and user-friendliness, has served as the foundation for this initiative. Since May, the first project partners have been actively working on developing and uploading their educational materials to the platform.

The meeting highlighted the collaborative spirit of the project and the commitment of all partners to delivering innovative, accessible, and impactful educational resources. We look forward to continuing this important work together as we move toward our shared goals.

Final Steps for the First Micro-Credentials and Strategic Outreach Planning

From January 20–22, the third Transnational Partner Meeting (TPM) of the “Climate change and Healthy AgeinG: co-creating E-learning for resilience and adaptation” (chAnGE) project was held online once again. The virtual format provided a valuable opportunity for project partners to exchange updates, reflect on recent progress, and share their experiences over the past months.

Final Preparations and Expanding Outreach

From May 13–15, the fourth Transnational Partner Meeting (TPM) of the chAnGE project took place in Athens.

This in-person meeting marked an important moment for the “Climate change and Healthy AgeinG: co-creating E-learning for resilience and adaptation” (chAnGE) project, as partners gathered to reflect on the final challenges before launching the first Micro-Credentials (MCs).

A major focus of the discussions was the translation of the MCs into the five project languages. This step was crucial to ensure that people across all partner countries can participate in the courses—even those who may not feel confident engaging with the content in English.

In January 2026, the seventh Transnational Partner Meeting of the chAnGE project took place online, bringing partners together once again to reflect on progress and define the next strategic steps.

A central focus of the meeting was the status of the pilot phase. Partners presented updates on participant engagement, completion rates, and overall experiences with the Micro-Credentials (MCs). Particular attention was given to the feedback collected from learners during and after the course delivery. The consortium discussed both strengths and areas for improvement, analysing what worked well in terms of content, structure, and accessibility, and where adjustments could further enhance the learning experience.

Beyond reviewing the feedback, the discussion concentrated on what could be learned from the pilot phase. Partners reflected on how the MCs supported knowledge-building around climate change and healthy ageing, how participants perceived the practical relevance of the materials, and how the multilingual approach contributed to accessibility and inclusion. These insights will guide the refinement of the courses and strengthen the overall impact of the project.

In May 2026, the eighth Transnational Partner Meeting of the chAnGE project took place in Lisbon, Portugal, bringing partners together in person as the project entered its final phase.

A central focus of the meeting was the progress of the stakeholder interviews. Partners shared updates on interviews already conducted with learners, experts involved in the development of the Micro-Credentials, and representatives of healthcare service providers. At the same time, plans were coordinated for the remaining interviews to ensure a consistent approach across all partner countries.

The consortium discussed the valuable feedback collected so far and reflected on the first emerging findings regarding the relevance, accessibility, and practical value of the Micro-Credentials. These insights will play an important role in the final evaluation of the project and help identify opportunities for further improvement.