Banatean High School, Otelu Rosu, in Western Romania, Timisoara region, was the focus of a week of activities in October 2023 around the theme of learning cities and regions. The event is part of a wider ‘Schools for Learning Cities’ project involving other cities in Nocera, Umbria (Italy), Alcora (Spain), Platon (Greece) and Modiin (Israel).  The programme included a 2-day conference entitled ‘Log into the Future’ with the key themes being sustainability, digitalisation, and social inclusion.

The conference was opened by the Deputy Mayor, Goja Grigore and Maurizio Morini, Coordinator of the ERASMUS + Project Municipalities and Schools for Learning Cities and Professor Chelbea Daniela Georgina, Principal, Otelu Rosu School.  Rob Mark, Keynote speaker and PASCAL Learning City Coordinator spoke about the challenges for schools in engaging with other partners in the city and region and for the delivery of lifelong learning for the whole community. 

The programme included a festival day where members of the schools and community could engage in new activities. Workshops included themes on robotics, embracing Romanian traditions, gastronomy and developing personal development skills.  The OMYA company, a local employer based at a local marble quarry, opened its doors to visitors providing a lecture and tour of the factory and quarry.  A priest and counsellor from the local Orthodox Episcopate of Carantebes also spoke about the need for social inclusion. The West University of Timisoara provided a workshop which enabled participants to see real robots at work and experience their potential as a learning resource.  Speakers and visitors included representatives from the Mayor's Office, the University of Timisoara, and the Local Education Department. Altogether around 200 people attended the event.

Attendess at the first learning city conference and festival in Otelu Rosu, Romania

The event was organised by staff and students at the school, including past students now working in the professions.  A party of young students also travelled from the Instituto Omnicomprensivo Dante Alighieri School, Nocera, Italy to learn from the festival and to bring back new ideas for their second learning city festival in 2024.   

A selection of photos from the event (click to enlarge):