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The publication provides an in-depth analysis of Armenia’s political, economic, and structural vulnerabilities, emphasizing the nation’s reliance on Russia. Authored by Haykaz Fanyan, Armine Petrosyan, and Meline Abrahamyan under the CASE Reports series, the study outlines Armenia’s economic challenges and explores strategic opportunities to bolster resilience against shocks. The report focuses on: Geopolitical Context: Armenia’s strategic pivot to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) increased its economic ties with Russia, impacting trade and energy dependencies. Recent geopolitical tensions, including conflicts with Azerbaijan and the Russo-Ukrainian war, shaped Armenia’s political and economic landscape. Macroeconomic Trends: While Armenia achieved notable GDP growth, especially in 2022 due to increased exports to Russia, the report cautions against overreliance on volatile external factors. The authors identify rising public debt, fluctuating inflation, and an evolving fiscal landscape. Sectoral Analysis: Banking and Financial Sector: Post-COVID, Armenia’s banking sector saw growth, buoyed by Russian inflows. However, risks from external shocks remain. Energy Sector: The study details Armenia’s renewable energy potential while highlighting dependence on imported fossil fuels. Policy Recommendations: The report concludes with actionable strategies to diversify Armenia’s economic partnerships, reduce energy dependency, and enhance trade resilience. It underscores the importance of improving infrastructure and fostering regional cooperation. The report is a crucial resource for policymakers, academics, and investors, offering comprehensive data from 2007 to 2023 to inform Armenia’s path toward sustainable development.

Intergenerational Dialogue and the Future of Cities Join us for a webinar on the future of cities and how to have conversations on this topic with young people, older people and in intergenerational groups. This is an opportunity to gain information and tools to support dialogue about contemporary cities and their future in a variety of educational settings. During the webinar we will discuss, among other things: Aging populations and low fertility rates – how to talk about the impact of demographics on the future of cities. Migration and interculturalism of cities – how to help find your way in increasingly diverse urban communities. Climate change and its local effects – how to engage in collective action in the face of climate challenges. Digital transformation – how to support the development of digital skills and foster connectivity in cities. The Webinar will be held ONLINE 15 January 2025, 3PM-4PM in Polish

The “Future for All” Handbook is an insightful guide for designing and facilitating Futures Literacy Laboratories (FLLs), an innovative method to empower people to envision alternative futures and challenge their assumptions about the present. This publication, part of the “FUTURE FOR ALL” project, bridges generational gaps by engaging youth and seniors in interactive workshops aimed at fostering collaboration and fresh perspectives on societal challenges. Key highlights include: Introduction to Futures Literacy: Defined as the ability to imagine diverse futures to broaden thinking about the present, it is framed as a critical tool for navigating modern uncertainties and opportunities. Workshop Structure: The FLL approach unfolds in four phases: Reveal participants’ current assumptions about the future. Reframe these assumptions using imaginative scenarios. Reflect on new insights gained. Act by turning ideas into actionable plans. Practical Guidance: The handbook provides step-by-step instructions for workshop facilitators, from planning topics and logistics to utilizing exercises like the Polak Game and crafting custom reframing scenarios. Reframing Scenarios: Five imaginative narratives challenge participants’ thinking, such as: “Super Organisers”: Communities self-managing resources post-state service collapse. “Park City”: Transforming urban landscapes into collective green spaces. “New Art of Communication”: A cultural shift towards diverse interpersonal styles. Cross-Generational Focus: Tailored approaches are designed to resonate with youth, seniors, or mixed groups, such as envisioning “My Life in 2050” or “An Aging-Friendly Warsaw.” Outcomes and Impact: Participants emerge equipped to challenge assumptions, creatively engage with the future, and identify actionable steps to shape society. Supported by UNESCO and EU innovation frameworks, this handbook is a versatile resource for educators, policymakers, and community leaders aiming to harness the power of foresight for social progress. Its methodologies not only spark dialogue but also cultivate agency and resilience in addressing future uncertainties.

The publication is an educator’s guidebook designed to inspire and support discussions between youth and elderly participants about shaping the future of urban environments. Created as part of the “Future for All” project by CASE (Center for Social and Economic Research), this guidebook uses Warsaw as a case study but provides adaptable insights for cities globally. It is funded by the European Economic Area and Norwegian Financial Mechanism (2014–2021). The guidebook delves into critical themes, including: Demography: Addressing the implications of an ageing population, declining birth rates, and migration patterns for urban planning and social cohesion. Migration: Exploring the integration of diverse populations and fostering intercultural and intergenerational understanding. Climate Change: Highlighting urban sustainability through public initiatives like green spaces and waste reduction. Digitalisation: Emphasizing smart city development while bridging the generational digital divide. Central to its approach are intergenerational activities that foster collaboration and mutual understanding, with a focus on scenario planning, problem-solving, and community engagement. This resource equips educators with tools to promote critical thinking and inclusivity, encouraging young and older citizens alike to actively shape resilient and sustainable urban communities.

Key words: doctoral education, transversal skills, sustainable development,   On December 1st, the METEOR project started, funded under the Horizon program. The project, led by CASE and implemented with the participation of 11 other partner organizations and one associated partner from Brazil, will last 36 months. The overall aim of METEOR is to improve the transversal skills of current postgraduates and early career researchers, with consequent benefits to research ecosystems, in line with Open Science and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. METEOR emphasizes the capacity to collaborate, work in groups and to develop international transdisciplinary projects oriented towards societal challenges and doctoral employment opportunities. METEOR has 6 specific objectives (SO) corresponding to its work package structure: SO1: Effective Management (WP1). SO2: Collect, analyse and report evidence supporting the need for an innovative doctoral training program (WP2). SO3: Develop a comprehensive transversal skills training program comprising a suite of 10 online training resources, using participatory methodologies co-created with the PhDs, ECRs, institutions and researchers, to enhance the skills specified in the Call (WP3). SO4: Implement the resources from WP3 and related activities in online and in-person delivery mode, with online and F2F events, and Peer Mentoring Groups consisting of 4-6 researchers collaborating for 15 months, with a target of 300 +/- individuals in 50 groups, preparing 50+ proposals based on UN SDGs and focused on impact (WP4). SO5: Create policy and exploitation routes for increasing the scope of doctoral training at local and national levels (WP5). SO6: Communicate and disseminate METEOR activities and results to a wider audience and ensure project’s continuity beyond the funded period (WP6). METEOR activities will benefit doctoral candidates (employment prospects/ earnings), institutions (recruiting PhD candidates, better supervision, more impactful research), industry/public sector (employees with high level research and transversal skills) and society generally (more research focused on challenges). Grant: This project has received funding from Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) call: HORIZON-CL2-2024-TRANSFORMATIONS-01 under grant agreement No 101178320 — METEOR. Project leader: CASE – CENTRUM ANALIZ SPOLECZNO- EKONOMICZNYCH- FUNDACJA NAUKOWA (CASE) Partners: NORD UNIVERSITET (NU), THE OPEN UNIVERSITY (OU), UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI VERONA, (UNIVR), EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY – CYPRUS LTD (EUC), JYVASKYLAN YLIOPISTO (JYU), KASTAMONU UNIVERSITESI (KU), ILIA STATE UNIVERSITY (ISU), CEEI BURGOS (ES), HACETTEPE UNIVERSITESI (HU), ROSKILDE UNIVERSITET (RUC), SYNYO GmbH (SYNYO), State University of Bahia (UNEB, associated partner)