Tested by Communities, Validated by Users: LEAP II Training Receives Strong Positive Feedback Across Europe

Municipalities, organisations, learners, and citizens highlighted the accessibility, practical relevance, and real-life applicability of the LEAP II sustainability training programme

Following the development of its sustainability-focused micro-learning materials, the LEAP II – Local Adult Education Policy II project carried out an extensive testing and validation phase involving consortium partners, municipalities, educational organisations, NGOs, learners, and citizens from different European countries. The validation process confirmed a strong level of satisfaction among participants and demonstrated the practical value of the training materials for both institutional and everyday use.

The testing and validation activities were organised as part of the project’s Work Package 3 and aimed to assess the quality, usability, accessibility, and relevance of the training courses developed by the consortium. The process combined both internal peer review among project partners and external pilot testing involving end users and stakeholders.

During the internal validation phase, consortium partners reviewed and assessed each other’s training units, focusing on structure, clarity, visual presentation, interactivity, and practical usefulness. Overall, reviewers highlighted the strong organisation of the learning materials, particularly appreciating the clear structure of the modules and their practical orientation. Around 90% of the reviewed content was evaluated as “clear” or “very clear,” while suggestions mainly focused on adding more visual elements, local examples, and interactive features to further strengthen the micro-learning experience.

The project then moved to the external validation phase, where the training materials were tested directly by local authorities, educational institutions, NGOs, public sector representatives, learners, and citizens. In total, feedback was collected from more than 100 participants across different language versions and target groups.

Feedback from municipalities and organisations was particularly positive. Participants highlighted the accessibility of the language, the practical applicability of the content, and the usefulness of the materials for awareness campaigns, educational programmes, staff training, and local sustainability initiatives. Many institutions stated that the courses could be integrated into their own activities or used as support resources for community engagement projects.

Local authorities also appreciated the flexibility of the micro-learning format, which allows participants to follow short and focused units without requiring extensive training time. Several respondents noted that the materials could help municipalities promote environmental awareness among citizens while also strengthening internal staff competences related to sustainability and community action.

Learners and citizens involved in the pilot testing expressed similarly strong levels of satisfaction. Participants consistently described the courses as easy to navigate, visually engaging, understandable without prior specialised knowledge, and highly relevant to daily life. Many respondents appreciated the practical nature of the topics, the interactive elements, and the inclusion of European examples, links, and sustainability initiatives.

Several participants specifically highlighted the value of the micro-learning approach, noting that the short and structured units made sustainability education easier to follow and more adaptable to busy personal and professional routines. Others praised the balance between accessibility for general audiences and the inclusion of useful resources and references for more advanced learners and professionals.

The validation process also provided important recommendations for further improvement. Participants suggested increasing the number of visual and multimedia elements, improving mobile optimisation, introducing additional quizzes and interactive exercises, and incorporating even more local examples and case studies. These recommendations were taken into account during the final refinement of the courses.

As a result of the feedback received, the LEAP II consortium strengthened several aspects of the training programme, including the integration of additional graphics and videos, enhanced interactivity, improved technical usability, and greater consistency in translations and terminology. The final version of the courses therefore reflects not only the expertise of the consortium partners, but also the direct contributions and experiences of the communities and users involved in the pilot phase.

Overall, the testing and validation activities confirmed that the LEAP II training materials successfully respond to the growing need for accessible sustainability education and community-oriented green skills development across Europe. The strong positive feedback demonstrates the potential of micro-learning approaches to support lifelong learning, local engagement, and sustainability awareness among diverse audiences.

The LEAP II project was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, supporting innovation and cooperation in education, lifelong learning, and sustainable development across Europe. All project materials and training resources are available in multilingual and open-access formats to maximise accessibility and long-term impact.

To explore the LEAP II training courses and access all project resources, please visit:
https://www.leap2local.eu/2/index.html