{"id":3300,"date":"2026-03-05T13:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/?p=3300"},"modified":"2026-03-05T13:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T13:05:00","slug":"youth-ideas-for-sustainable-buildings-the-path-from-inspiration-to-innovative-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/youth-ideas-for-sustainable-buildings-the-path-from-inspiration-to-innovative-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Youth Ideas for Sustainable Buildings: the Path from Inspiration to Innovative Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On February 27, organized by the <\/span><b>Institute for Research in Environment, Construction, and Energy (IECE)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><b>Faculty of Civil Engineering \u2013 Skopje<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a hackathon brought together 17 teams of young visionaries to shape the future. The hackathon <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYouth Ideas for Sustainable Buildings\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was not just a competition &#8211; it was a movement demonstrating that the green transition in North Macedonia has its new leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>A process that started with knowledge<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The journey of the young innovators began long before the final event. The process started on February 13, when during the introductory session, 17 teams from 10 schools across the country and their mentors were introduced to the challenge. A key part of this preparatory period was the mandatory online course <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIntroduction to Circular Economy\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on IECE\u2019s educational platform. This course served as a crucial theoretical foundation, allowing students to understand circular economy foundations and main principles even before taking their first step in their projects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The teams were divided into two groups and worked on two different scenarios designed to spark their creativity:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>\u201cCircular Campus \u2013 Sustainable School of the Future\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A challenge to create educational spaces with zero waste and maximum energy independence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>\u201cCircular Transformation of an Abandoned Public Building\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A vision for giving new life to forgotten structures through sustainability principles.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>CO-IN \u00a9 Model: Synergy for innovation<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What set this event apart was the application of the <\/span><b>CO-IN <\/b><b>\u00a9<\/b><b> model (Collaborative-Innovative Model)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 a concept designed to enable collaboration and innovation. This approach created a strong bridge between the academic community, industry, and the NGO sector. In addition to the organizers IECE and the Faculty of Civil Engineering, the implementation process was supported by established partners such as <\/span><b>Junior Achievement Macedonia<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Construction Institute Macedonia (CEIM)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>BAU Accelerator<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Small Business Chamber<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from North Macedonia also contributed significantly, while two four-member mixed jury teams closely monitored and evaluated the ideas, seeking the perfect balance between innovation and applicability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hackathon was organized within the framework of the project <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Western Balkans Circular Economy Hub<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, supported by the <\/span><b>RECONOMY Programme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">KATALIZATOR<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> project, co-funded by the <\/span><b>Erasmus+ Programme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Recognition for the best solutions<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the project presentations and detailed evaluation by the jury, the most successful teams were announced. As an incentive for their dedication and innovation, three awards were given for the best solutions in each of the two scenarios.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the organizers ensured that recognition was shared with all participants &#8211; all students received certificates and symbolic awards, as gratitude for their efforts and encouragement for further development of their knowledge and interest in sustainable construction.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3297\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3297\" class=\"lazyload size-large wp-image-3297\" src=\"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-1024x768.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271024%27%20height%3D%27768%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201024%20768%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271024%27%20height%3D%27768%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4805-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3297\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The two teams that won first place in the two hackathon challenges<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Transformation for participants and the community<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The benefits of this process were visible through the experiences of all involved. For the students, this event meant much more than a simple certificate.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Skills and Career Orientation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Theoretical and practical knowledge on circular economy and direct contact with potential future universities and companies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Teamwork<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Facing real environmental challenges through collaborative problem-solving.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;This is an experience that changes your perspective and teaches you new things. I recommend it to anyone interested in the planet\u2019s future.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; <\/span><b>Joci Gjorgjevska<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, student at the High School <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cZdravko Cvetkovski\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Support for teachers and schools<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mentor teachers gained access to over 70 professional courses on sustainability through IECE\u2019s platform, enabling long-term enhancement of the teaching process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;My expectations were exceeded. I was pleasantly surprised by the students\u2019 motivation, which is a result of the interesting topics and good organization.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; <\/span><b>Aleksandra Arsovska<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, mentor teacher at Gymnasium <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGoce Delchev\u201d \u2013 Kumanovo<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3296\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3296\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-3296 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-1024x768.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271024%27%20height%3D%27768%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201024%20768%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271024%27%20height%3D%27768%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_4674-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3296\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Students working on their solutions during the hackathon<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For schools, this project meant improved research-based teaching and strengthened collaboration with the academic community, placing them on the map of educational institutions actively working on sustainable development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This hackathon was not just a competition, but a powerful confirmation that the youth in North Macedonia possess the vision, knowledge, and energy to be the true drivers of the green transition. Through the synergy of the CO-IN <\/span><b>\u00a9<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> model and the joint dedication of IECE, the academic community, and industry, we demonstrated that a sustainable future is not just a distant goal &#8211; it is a reality we are already building today together with the new generations of leaders in construction.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On February 27, organized by the Institute for Research in  [&#8230;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3300"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3302,"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions\/3302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcirculareconomy.com\/bs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}