A delegation from American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) successfully participated in an international training program on “Smart Transportation” under the Soho Erasmus+ Project, hosted by IUT Lumière Lyon 2, University Lyon 2, France, on June 15–19.
The AIUB Soho team was led by Prof Md Abdur Rahman, pro vice chancellor, AIUB, and comprised Prof Md Saniat Rahman Zishan, director, Faculty of Engineering; Chowdhury Akram Hossain, head, Department of Computer Engineering; and Abir Ahmed, special assistant, Faculty of Engineering.
The five-day training program brought together participants from partner institutions in Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Vietnam, with the objective of enhancing international collaboration and capacity building in sustainable and smart tourism.
The program commenced with a welcome address by Prof Aicha Sekhari Seklouli, local project coordinator at University Lyon 2.
Inès Flora Negrini Sandez, international project manager of University Lyon 2, briefed the participants regarding the logistics and support arrangements for the training period.
Throughout the week, participants attended a series of lectures, workshops, and interactive discussions conducted by distinguished academicians and experts from University Lyon 2.
Thanh-Ha Bargas delivered sessions on “Sustainable Public Transport for Tourism Destinations” and “Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) in Tourism – Strategy Frameworks.”
Sessions on “Environmental and Social Impacts of Sustainable Tourism Transportation” were jointly conducted by Prof Aicha Sekhari Seklouli and Nizar Haous, emphasizing the social and environmental dimensions of sustainable mobility.
Subsequently, Prof Yacine Ouzrout delivered sessions on “Smart City Transportation Solutions for Tourism” and “Data Analytics for Sustainable Tourism Transportation,” highlighting the role of digital technologies and data-driven approaches in the development of smart tourism ecosystems.
Prof Aicha Sekhari Seklouli, together with experts from the industry, conducted sessions on “Sustainable Tourism Destination Planning.”
The participants received hands-on training on evaluating carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and selecting responsible and environmentally sustainable tourism options.
The training concluded with an educational visit to Ville du Beaujolais, located approximately two hours from Lyon.
The participants were warmly welcomed by the local tourism authority and the mayor Sixte Denuelle, who shared the region’s vision for sustainable tourism development.
The visit provided valuable insights into the community’s history, cultural heritage, and sustainable transportation management practices.
Throughout the entire training period, Inès Flora Negrini Sandez, Niloofar Fatemipanah and Thaïs Chianca Machado, provided exceptional logistical and organizational support, ensuring the smooth execution of all academic and cultural activities.