Project ECHO: The Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Training Program for Sustainable Cities, conducted by Hacettepe University and Eskişehir Technical University, was implemented under the EU Erasmus+ funded EPD-Net (Ecological Planning and Design Network) Project. Aiming to strengthen ecological planning approaches for disaster-resilient and sustainable cities, the program was successfully completed with high participation based on the ECHO model. The program was carried out under the leadership of Eskişehir Technical University, in collaboration with Hacettepe University and international partners.
The EPD-Net Project, supported by the European Union's Erasmus+ Program, aims to establish an international learning network using AI-supported digital learning platforms, focusing on nature-based solutions, climate-resilient cities, and sustainable disaster management. One of the project's core components, the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model, has been adapted to the field of ecological planning and design with its structure that democratizes knowledge sharing and is based on peer-to-peer and experience-based learning.
The ECHO-based interactive training program conducted within this scope was completed with strong interaction. Throughout the program, which involved a multi-stakeholder participant profile consisting of academics, public and local government representatives, professional organizations, civil society organizations, and undergraduate and graduate students, the fundamental principle of the ECHO model, “an environment where everyone teaches and everyone learns,” was effectively implemented. Feedback from participants revealed that the program was highly positive in terms of learning outcomes, level of interaction, and content quality.
Within the scope of the EPD-Net Project, similar training and capacity development programs based on the Project ECHO model are planned to continue in the coming periods.