A new EU-funded project prepared by the AFCS team has officially begun, bringing together partners from Greece, Italy, Poland, and Bulgaria with a shared vision: to support Marketing and Communication Departments in integrating Artificial Intelligence and emerging digital technologies into higher education.
The project, FuturEd Forge, was officially launched with a successful kick-off meeting in Poland, where consortium partners had the opportunity to meet, align on the project’s objectives, and plan the first steps of the collaboration.
FuturEd Forge aims to bridge the gap between university education and real industry needs. By modernising academic courses, strengthening university–industry cooperation, and supporting both students and educators, the project will help prepare the next generation of professionals for a digital and AI-driven labour market.
The project consortium includes:
- Athens University of Economics and Business – Οικονομικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
- Powiślańska Akademia Nauk Stosowanych
- Higher School of Transport “Todor Kableshkov”
- Novareckon
- Università del Piemonte Orientale
Throughout the project, partners will work together to redesign marketing and communication courses with AI-enhanced content, provide specialised training for university teachers, and develop stronger links with industry partners to ensure that educational material remains relevant to current market needs.
FuturEd Forge will also include hackathons and business challenges involving more than 300 students, as well as a Virtual Incubator designed to support over 130 students and 70 educators in developing real AI-driven business ideas. In addition, crowdfunding and seed-funding activities will be organised to support the most promising student projects.
The project is expected to reach a wide audience across Europe, including more than 20,000 people through social media, 10,000 individuals through newsletters, posters, and events, and 5,000 industry professionals through conferences and project activities. Overall, FuturEd Forge aims to reach up to 50,000 people across Europe.
By combining education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration, FuturEd Forge will contribute to the modernisation of marketing and communication education and provide students with the skills, confidence, and practical experience they need to thrive in the future labour market.
The journey has officially begun, and the consortium looks forward to working together to create meaningful and lasting results.
