Call for Applications: 20th International Summer School 2025 “Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy in CEI Member States”

Call for Applications: 20th International Summer School 2025 “Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy in CEI Member States”

August 8–17, 2025 | Ethno Village Čardaci, Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 20th edition of the International Summer School (ISS 2025), organized under the theme “Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy in CEI Member States.”

This year, ISS 2025 celebrates two decades of fostering knowledge, innovation, and collaboration among young leaders from across the Central European Initiative (CEI) region.

The Summer School will be held at Ethno Village Čardaci, a unique eco-complex in Bosnia and Herzegovina powered by renewable energy sources including biomass, geothermal, solar energy, and a mini-hydro power plant. This inspiring setting exemplifies how renewable energy can drive sustainable local development.

Program Focus
ISS 2025 will equip participants with essential knowledge and practical skills in key areas such as:

  • Clean Energy and Renewable Energy Sources (RES)

  • Energy Efficiency

  • Circular Economy

  • Just Transition

  • EU Taxonomy and CBAM

Participants will engage in a dynamic program that combines theoretical sessions, practical case studies, and site visits to renewable energy facilities.

Program Highlights

  • 10 days of intensive learning and hands-on activities

  • Lectures by leading experts from the CEI region

  • Group work on real-life governance challenges

  • Site visits to renewable energy projects

  • Final group presentations

  • Access to the extensive REIC Alumni Network with nearly 400 members

Who Should Apply

  • Master’s and PhD students

  • Young researchers

  • Young professionals and policymakers

  • Candidates from CEI member states are priority: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine

Application Details

Full application call can be found HERE

Join us at ISS 2025 to broaden your knowledge, build your skills, and connect with peers and experts dedicated to creating a sustainable future.

by REIC Admin

Join Webinar ‘Learning Lab’, on the 5th of May, 2025!

DECA Project is excited to invite you to a webinar on 5th May 2025, at 10:00 CET.

What makes this session unique?
We’ll delve into not only how Pixel Energy has been enabling the smooth set up and management of RECs across Austria, but also learn about their involvement in the EU LIFE funded DISCOVER project and how it may have some synergies with project DECA. There will be plenty of time for discussion too!

Good to know:
“The DISCOVER project bundles multiple actions for creating and delivering services to Community Energy Projects (CEPs), to provide guidance and professional support on technical, economic, financial and legal aspects covering all phases of a CEP lifecycle”

What you’ll learn in this session:
• The Technological & Operational Management of Energy Communities
• Community Energy Financing & Investment Options
• Possible synergies between the Projects DISCOVER (EU LIFE) and DECA (Interreg Danube).

Guest Speaker:
Helmut Hergoltz, Managing Director of Pixel Energy

Date & Time: 5th May 2025, at 10:00 CET
Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/37vmae88

This session is open to all—whether you’re involved in policy, research, community development, or renewable energy projects, this is a great opportunity to learn from real experiences and gain practical insights.

We’d love for you to join us and spread the word within your network!

by REIC Admin

REIC to Organize the 20th International Summer School "Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy"

The Regional Education and Information Centre for Sustainable Development in South-East Europe (REIC) is organizing the 20th edition of its International Summer School titled "Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy", which will take place from August 8 to 17, 2025, at the Ethno Village Čardaci, Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Summer School gathers young professionals, Master's and PhD students from CEI member states, offering an interdisciplinary program focused on clean energy, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, circular economy, just transition, EU Taxonomy, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Special attention will be given to connecting energy and climate policy knowledge with practical skills needed to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The program includes lectures, workshops, group work on case studies, and site visits to renewable energy facilities. In addition to professional development, the Summer School offers opportunities for networking and future collaboration among participants, lecturers, and experts from the region and beyond.

Over the past 20 years, REIC has successfully gathered nearly 400 alumni who now work in international organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and NGOs worldwide. This year's Summer School continues that tradition of empowering young leaders in the fields of sustainable energy and climate change.

The organization of this important event is supported by the CEI Central European Initiative - www.cei.int.

More information about applications and the program will soon be available on our website and social media channels!

For all inquiries, please contact us at info@reic.org.ba.

by REIC Admin

Građanska energija: Od A do Zajednice

Pozivamo vas da se pridružite dvodnevnom treningu u Potocima kod Mostara i naučite kako osnovati i voditi Zajednicu obnovljive energije.

Građanska energija nije samo pitanje korištenja obnovljivih izvora – ona predstavlja zajednički rad građana na lokalnim rješenjima za globalne izazove. U Dunavskom regionu postoji veliki potencijal za razvoj projekata obnovljive energije koje vode građani, ali taj potencijal još uvijek nije u potpunosti iskorišten. Vrijeme je za promjene.

U okviru projekta DECA - Danube Energy Communities Accelerator, koji se realizuje kroz program Interreg Danube, organizujemo niz treninga usmjerenih na razmjenu znanja i inspiraciju za pokretanje građanskih inicijativa u energetskom sektoru.

Ko može učestvovati?

Trening je namijenjen građanima, lokalnim organizacijama i udruženjima građana, kreatorima politika, kao i svima onima koji žele zajednicu staviti u središte energetske tranzicije.

Detalji događaja

  • Datum: 15. i 16. april 2025. godine

  • Lokacija: EkoDizajn i permakulturno imanje NEŠTO VIŠE, Potoci, Mostar

  • Prevoz: Za učesnike iz Mostara obezbijeđen je prevoz.

Prijavite se putem sljedećeg linka: Prijava

Šta vas očekuje?

15. april 2025.

  • Pokretanje i upravljanje Zajednicom obnovljive energije

  • Pravni i organizacijski okviri za osnivanje zajednice

16. april 2025.

  • Planiranje, finansiranje i tehničke mogućnosti projekata

  • Korištenje digitalnih i pametnih rješenja za upravljanje energijom

  • Uloga društvenog poduzetništva u energetskoj tranziciji

Oba dana predviđene su praktične radionice kroz koje ćemo zajedno kreirati koncept Zajednice obnovljive energije.

Detaljna Agenda se nalazi OVDJE.

Broj učesnika je ograničen.

Budite dio pokreta koji transformiše zajednice širom Dunavskog regiona. Pridružite nam se, naučite, povežite se i poduzmite prve korake ka održivoj energetskoj budućnosti.

Za više informacija posjetite: Više informacija

by REIC Admin