CITYINNOEDU – Building a Digital Education Community for AI-Ready Schools

Published at 12 March 2026 | Romania

General details

EDIHs involved

Customer

Customer type: PSO
Customer turnover: The CITYINNOEDU Community – Open Schools for Smart Communities brings together a regional network of educational institutions.The community includes over 70 educational institutions, ranging from kindergartens and primary schools to high schools, inspectorates, educational resource centers, and inclusive education institutions. Through the CITYINNOHUB European Digital Innovation Hub, this ecosystem collaborates to strengthen digital competencies, explore innovative educational technologies, and integrate artificial intelligence tools into teaching and learning processes.The CITYINNOEDU initiative creates a collaborative environment where educators, school leaders, and technology partners exchange best practices, test new digital tools, and build the digital capabilities needed to prepare students for the future of work.Members of the community:Colegiul Național Mihai EminescuColegiul Național Pedagogic „Constantin Brătescu”Liceul Tehnologic TomisLiceul Teoretic „Lucian Blaga”Liceul Teoretic „Traian”Liceul Teoretic „George Călinescu”Liceul Teoretic „George Emil Palade”Liceul Tehnologic „Gheorghe Miron Costin”Liceul Tehnologic de Electrotehnică și TelecomunicațiiLiceul Teoretic „Decebal”Liceul Tehnologic „Dimitrie Leonida”Școala Gimnazială nr. 30 „Gheorghe Țițeica”Școala Gimnazială nr. 10 „Mihail Koiciu”Liceul Energetic ConstanțaColegiul Național de Arte „Regina Maria” ConstanțaInspectoratul Școlar Județean ConstanțaLiceul Tehnologic „Ioan N. Roman”Școala Gimnazială nr. 2 CernavodăColegiul Național „Mircea cel Bătrân” ConstanțaȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 6 „Nicolae Titulescu”Școala Gimnazială „Grigore Moisil” NăvodariLiceul Tehnologic „I. C. Brătianu” Nicolae BălcescuGrădinița cu Program Normal „Zubeyde Hanim”Școala Gimnazială nr. 43 FerdinandȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 1 Eforie NordȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 12 „B. P. Hasdeu”Școala Gimnazială nr. 23 „Constantin Brâncoveanu”Liceul Tehnologic Economic „Elina Matei Basarab” Râmnicu SăratȘcoala Gimnazială „Panait Cerna” CernaGrădinița cu Program Prelungit „Dumbrava Minunată” TulceaȘcoala Gimnazială „Constantin Găvenea” TulceaLiceul Teoretic „Ștefan cel Mare” Râmnicu SăratInspectoratul Școlar Județean TulceaCasa Corpului Didactic TulceaLiceul Tehnologic „Ion Podaru” OvidiuȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 1 LuminaLiceul Teoretic „Carmen Sylva” EforieȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 1 TuzlaLiceul Teoretic MurfatlarȘcoala Gimnazială „Adrian V. Rădulescu” MurfatlarȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 1 Poarta AlbăȘcoala Gimnazială „Ion Borcea” AgigeaLiceul Teoretic „Mihail Kogălniceanu”Școala Gimnazială „Gheorghe Lazăr” CorbuȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 1 SeimeniCentrul Județean de Resurse și Asistență Educațională ConstanțaCreșa nr. 1 MangaliaLiceul Teoretic „Nicolae Bălcescu” MedgidiaGrădinița cu Program Prelungit „Lumea Florilor” NăvodariȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 28 „Dan Barbilian” ConstanțaȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 1 VulturuȘcoala Gimnazială OstrovGrădinița cu Program Prelungit nr. 42Grădinița cu Program Prelungit nr. 57Grădinița cu Program Prelungit „Veseliei” NăvodariGrădinița cu Program Prelungit „Perluțele Mării”Grădinița cu Program Prelungit „Căsuța de Turtă Dulce”Grădinița cu Program Prelungit „Tic-Pitic” HârșovaGrădinița cu Program Prelungit nr. 10Grădinița „Curcubeul Magic”Grădinița cu Program Prelungit nr. 6Școala Gimnazială nr. 2 „Poet Ovidiu”Grădinița cu Program Prelungit „Azur”Grădinița cu Program Prelungit „Lumea Copiilor”Școala Gimnazială nr. 7 „Remus Opreanu” ConstanțaȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 33 „Anghel Saligny” ConstanțaȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 37 ConstanțaȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 38 „Dimitrie Cantemir” ConstanțaȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 22 „I. C. Brătianu” ConstanțaȘcoala Gimnazială nr. 24 „Ion Jalea” ConstanțaGrădinița cu Program Prelungit „Steluțele Mării” ConstanțaDirecția Generală de Asistență Socială și Protecția Copilului ConstanțaCentrul Școlar pentru Educație Incluzivă „Albatros” Constanța

Challenges

Education systems are increasingly expected to prepare students for a digital society shaped by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Teachers and schools must integrate digital tools into teaching practices while helping students develop future-ready skills such as digital literacy and responsible use of technology.

However, many educational institutions face difficulties adopting innovative digital solutions. Teachers often lack access to practical training on how to use AI tools, digital platforms, and educational technologies effectively in the classroom. At the same time, opportunities to exchange experiences with peers or interact with technology providers remain limited.

In the South-East region of Romania, educators from Constanța, Tulcea, and Buzău counties expressed the need for a collaborative environment where they could explore digital tools, share best practices, and better understand how emerging technologies can support teaching and learning.

To address these challenges, the CITYINNOHUB European Digital Innovation Hub launched the CITYINNOEDU Community – Open Schools for Smart Communities, supporting educators in developing digital competencies and engaging with the digital innovation ecosystem.

Solutions

To support digital transformation in education and strengthen teachers’ digital competencies, the CITYINNOHUB European Digital Innovation Hub launched the CITYINNOEDU Community – Open Schools for Smart Communities. The initiative created a collaborative learning environment where educators, school leaders, and technology partners explore practical ways to integrate digital technologies and artificial intelligence into teaching and learning.

CITYINNOEDU operates through regular monthly workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions, combining technology demonstrations, peer learning, and interaction with EdTech providers. This community-based approach allows educators to experiment with digital tools, exchange experiences, and gain confidence in applying innovative technologies in classroom activities.

The sessions focused on key digital education topics, including: Leadership and Best Practices in Digital Education; External Funding for School Digitization; Cybersecurity and Technological Innovation; Building the Jobs of the Future through Digital Skills; Artificial Intelligence in Education; Getting Started with Canva; AI Challenges – AI Solutions; Digital Accessibility in Education; Open Educational Resources; AI Resources for Teachers; AI + Alpha + Z – Mathematics for the New Generations; LevelUp Digital in Education; Smart Teaching with NotebookLM; Gemini & NotebookLM – A Successful AI Duo; and AI in Education from Experience – Innovation Marketplace.

Sessions were delivered in physical, online, and hybrid formats, enabling participation from educational institutions across Constanța, Tulcea, and Buzău counties. Technology partners contributed demonstrations and expertise, allowing educators to explore innovative tools and better understand their potential impact on teaching practices.

Through this structured program, CITYINNOEDU established a regional community of educators focused on digital innovation, AI literacy, and future-ready skills for students.

Results and Benefits

Results and Statistics

The CITYINNOEDU Community has rapidly evolved into a dynamic regional ecosystem supporting digital transformation in education. Through regular workshops, technology demonstrations, and knowledge-sharing activities, the initiative has created measurable impact in terms of participation, community growth, and digital skills development.

Between October 2024 and February 2026, the CITYINNOEDU initiative organized 16 thematic workshops and training sessions focused on emerging technologies and digital innovation in education.

Community growth

The program successfully engaged a large and diverse education ecosystem including:

73 educational institutions participating in the CITYINNOEDU community
Institutions ranging from kindergartens and primary schools to high schools, inspectorates, and educational support organizations
Participants from three counties in the South-East region of Romania: Constanța, Tulcea, and Buzău

This cross-regional participation demonstrates the growing relevance of the initiative as a regional platform for digital education innovation.

The community includes not only schools but also education authorities, teacher training institutions, and specialized educational support organizations, creating a collaborative environment where educators can share experiences and explore digital solutions together.

Participation and engagement

Across all sessions organized within the initiative:

16 workshops and technology-focused sessions
1,095 total participants
events delivered in physical, online, and hybrid formats

Several sessions attracted over 100 participants, demonstrating strong interest from educators in digital innovation topics.

The most attended sessions included:

Accessing and Using External Funding for School Digitization – 187 participants
Smart, Organized and Creative Teaching with NotebookLM – 110 participants
Gemini & NotebookLM – A Successful Digital Duo – 108 participants
AI + Alpha + Z: Mathematics for the New Generations – 100 participants

These sessions highlight the strong interest of educators in artificial intelligence tools, digital collaboration platforms, and innovative teaching technologies.

Collaboration with technology partners

CITYINNOEDU successfully involved multiple technology and innovation partners, strengthening the connection between the education sector and the digital innovation ecosystem.

A total of 10 technology partners contributed to the sessions, including organizations specialized in robotics, educational technologies, AI solutions, and digital learning platforms.

The most active partners included:

Shape Robotics – 6 sessions
APED – 6 sessions
Graphtec Design – 3 sessions
Microsoft – 2 sessions
Crucial Systems – 2 sessions

Additional partners included Samsung, Lenovo, Livresq, EduApps, and Adservio, providing demonstrations, expertise, and practical insights into digital technologies for education.

Benefits for the education ecosystem

As a result of the initiative, educators and educational institutions reported several important benefits:

improved digital competencies among teachers and education professionals
increased confidence in using AI tools in teaching activities
stronger collaboration between schools and technology providers
opportunities to test and explore digital tools before classroom adoption
creation of a regional community of practice where educators exchange experiences and best practices.

Beyond quantitative indicators, the CITYINNOEDU initiative has established itself as a regional hub for digital education innovation, supporting educators in navigating technological change and preparing students for the future of work in the AI era.

Perceived social/economic impact

The CITYINNOEDU Community has a positive impact on education by helping teachers develop digital skills and learn how to use new technologies in the classroom. Through practical workshops and exchanges with technology partners, educators gain confidence in using digital tools and artificial intelligence in their teaching.

These new skills help improve the learning experience for students and prepare them for a future where digital technologies play an important role in many jobs. Students benefit from more interactive learning methods and from developing skills such as digital literacy, creativity, and problem solving.

CITYINNOEDU also created a regional community connecting schools, education authorities, and technology partners. Teachers from different counties, Constanța, Tulcea, and Buzău, can share ideas, learn from each other, and explore innovative tools together.

In the long term, strengthening digital skills in education helps prepare a future-ready workforce and supports the digital transformation of society.

Measurable data

The CITYINNOEDU Community generated measurable results in participation, ecosystem building, and digital skills development:

16 technology-focused sessions organized between October 2024 and February 2026
1,095 participants across all sessions
73 educational institutions involved in the community
Participation from 3 counties: Constanța, Tulcea, and Buzău
10 technology partners contributing with demonstrations and expertise
Sessions delivered in physical, online, and hybrid formats

Most attended sessions:

External Funding for School Digitization – 187 participants
Smart Teaching with NotebookLM – 110 participants
Gemini & NotebookLM – A Successful AI Duo – 108 participants
AI + Alpha + Z: Mathematics for the New Generations – 100 participants

These indicators show the strong interest of educators in digital tools, artificial intelligence, and innovative teaching technologies, as well as the rapid growth of the CITYINNOEDU community.

DMA score and results - Stage 0

The initial Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA Stage 0) was conducted across participating educational institutions to establish a baseline for their level of digital readiness. The results revealed significant variation in digital maturity, with scores ranging from 6 to 68 points, reflecting different stages of digital adoption among schools, kindergartens, and education support institutions.

Most institutions recorded scores between 20 and 45, indicating a developing level of digital maturity where basic digital tools are used, but more advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence tools, digital collaboration platforms, and data-driven educational practices, are still emerging.

The assessment provided valuable insights into the strengths and gaps in digital competencies, infrastructure, and technology integration, helping identify priority areas for support through CITYINNOEDU activities. These baseline results informed the design of targeted workshops and community learning sessions focused on topics such as AI in education, digital content creation, cybersecurity, and digital accessibility.

Overall, the DMA Stage 0 results highlighted the need for structured support in digital skills development and technology adoption, confirming the relevance of the CITYINNOEDU initiative in supporting the digital transformation of educational institutions.

DMA score and results – Stage 1

A comparison between the initial Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA Stage 0) and the follow-up evaluation (DMA Stage 1) shows clear progress in digital maturity among participating institutions. Across the institutions assessed in both stages, the average increase was approximately +9 points, indicating measurable improvement in digital readiness after engagement in CITYINNOEDU activities such as digital skills workshops, technology demonstrations, and peer learning sessions.

A particularly strong improvement was recorded by the Constanța County School Inspectorate, whose DMA score increased from 6 in Stage 0 to 33 in Stage 1, reflecting significant progress in digital coordination capacity and the adoption of digital tools at institutional level.

These results confirm that participation in the CITYINNOEDU community contributes to strengthening digital competencies and advancing the digital transformation of educational institutions, supporting their transition toward higher levels of digital maturity and more effective use of digital technologies in education.

Lessons learned

What worked well (Do’s)

A key success factor of the CITYINNOEDU initiative was the community-based learning approach, where educators exchanged experiences and explored practical uses of digital technologies in teaching. Sessions that included demonstrations of concrete tools—such as AI assistants, digital content platforms, and collaborative learning technologies—generated strong engagement because teachers could immediately relate them to classroom activities.

The monthly rhythm of the sessions helped create continuity and allowed participants to gradually build digital competencies. Collaboration with technology partners and EdTech providers also proved valuable, offering educators direct exposure to innovative solutions and real-life applications.

The hybrid format of the events enabled participation from institutions across several counties, including Constanța, Tulcea, and Buzău, contributing to the growth of the community.

What could be improved in future implementations

One challenge was the limited availability of teachers, who often face heavy workloads. Future initiatives could include more flexible formats, such as shorter sessions or recorded workshops.

Another improvement opportunity is the creation of CITYINNOEDU Community Ambassadors. Based on participation and engagement, selected educators could promote digital practices within their institutions and support peer learning, helping scale the impact of the initiative.