On September 9th, 2024, the GenB project held its third and final Capacity Building Webinar, concluding the English Master Course series for GenB Ambassadors. This advanced-level session, held online with participants from across Europe and beyond, ran from 18:00 to 20:00 CET and aimed to equip ambassadors with critical communication skills, enabling them to effectively promote and explain bioeconomy topics to their peers.
The agenda featured five key modules designed to enhance various soft skills:
- Introduction to communication: Setting the foundation for effective and strategic messaging.
- Public speaking: Techniques to boost confidence and engage audiences.
- Writing articles: Guidance on crafting clear, compelling written content.
- Videomaking: Practical tips for creating engaging video content.
- Simplifying bioeconomy topics: Methods to break down complex bioeconomy concepts for general understanding.
The webinar was a great success, with attendees leaving equipped with valuable skills essential for both their ambassador roles and their broader personal and professional development. The training highlighted the importance of effective communication in bioeconomy, particularly when addressing youth and the wider public.
This final webinar was the culmination of a three-part series that began with Basic Level 1 on April 3rd, 2024. The first session provided a theoretical foundation, focusing on bioeconomy concepts, their applications, sustainability challenges, and the jobs and skills they create. It also addressed misconceptions, preparing ambassadors to communicate both the opportunities and the challenges within the bioeconomy field.
The second session, Basic Level 2, held on May 16th, 2024, provided hands-on experience with practical tools from the GenB toolkit. Participants learned how to use interactive materials such as quizzes, educational games, and videos to effectively engage different audiences. This session emphasised practical application, empowering ambassadors to make bioeconomy education accessible and engaging for their communities.
For those unable to attend, the webinar recordings and presentations are available on the GenB website. In addition, a specially prepared handout has been developed, summarising all three modules of the English Master Course series. This handout provides direct links to the relevant sections of the video, as well as accompanying PowerPoint slides for each module, ensuring participants can catch up on the content at their own pace.
GenB ambassadors and young people can still access these valuable materials and continue their journey toward becoming effective advocates for a sustainable bioeconomy. For more information or access to the webinar materials, please visit the GenB website or contact the project team via the email.