Innovative education for sustainable development in peripheral rural areas Erasmus Project

Project Title

Innovative education for sustainable development in peripheral rural areas

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change

Project Summary

To enable the development of new knowledge in collaboration between researchers, teachers and stakeholders in society, it is important that higher education graduates, apart from having field-specific knowledge, are exposed to working cultures of potential employers. Especially in complex situations, such as peripheral rural areas, there is a well-known gap between theory presented in academic courses and applications of this knowledge for sustainable development. Acquiring and practicing life-long learning skills such as reflection, observation, visioning, participation and dialogue should be integral part of learning cultures. A group of European High Education Institutes have developed an already tested cooperation through the successful completion of a Horizon 2000 project (High Nature Value farming: Learning, Innovation and Knowledge; Horizon 2020, 2016-19, www.hnvlink.eu). A mutual understanding will help structure both modules and curricula, but also individual courses concentrated on these areas through a multidisciplinary approach.
The partnership aims to enhance the sustained implementation of the innovative model for HE education within and outside the partnership. More specifically, the project will:
1) build understanding on the specific skills and competencies needed by the labor market and societal needs in such regions,
2) support curricula development to ensure learning for the skills and competencies;
3) strengthen collaboration between HE and potential regional and cross-regional employers,
4) support professional competencies of the HE educators in such regions, and
5) contribute to the international pool of open educational resources (OER).
Work as a multinational communal network has so far had an enormous beneficial impact on testing of field approaches concerning sustainable development of peripheral areas. It is estimated that these areas cover about 30% of the utilized agricultural area and around 15% of agricultural holdings in the EU (Keenleyside et al. 2014). By further implementing innovative student-centered and project based approaches in all the participating institutions, we are certain that this increased transnational effort can achieve the project’s objectives and our vision. An already existing tradition of mutual cooperation and engagement of new participants as well as a considerable share of own resources put into the project activities will ensure the sustainability of the efforts after the project is completed.
The intellectual deliverables of the project will be presented in six (6) discrete outputs:
IO1) The assessment of the education needs and gaps for the sustainable development of the EU peripheral rural areas
IO2) E-learning course
IO3) Bank of Case Studies
IO4) Digital Teaching Platform and Digital Learning Resource
IO5) Syllabus and materials for Intensive Study Activity
IO6) Reflective report on the approach and methodology adopted
The above structure will allow us to enhance skills and competencies of one hundred (100) participating students and almost fifty (50) academic staff and researchers. The IO’s above, including an Intensive Field Study Activity in a selected peripheral area in the vicinity of the leader partner’s campus will allow us test the selected methods. This includes the most suitable methods for developing important skills and fostering lifelong and self-governed learning.
The proposed project will further sustain and build cooperation across the network of partnering institutions concerning peripheral areas. The four (4) proposed transnational meetings will focus work on particular deliverables to be completed at various stages of the project. Additionally, the multiplier events will focus on participatory approach for the sustainable development of peripheral areas between local key actors, such as administrative and technical staff, market representatives, local government, and academic staff other than the ones involved in the partnering HE institutions.
The consortium vision to further enhance existing knowledge for EU peripheral areas by delivering tested results of its proposed approach. We plan to expand in the future beyond the project’s two (2) year completion by joint personnel /student exchange programs, common curriculum and syllabus change among some of the potential opportunities.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 199315 Eur

Project Coordinator

PANEPISTIMIO THESSALIAS & Country: EL

Project Partners

• Centre international des Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes – Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier
• UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRICOLE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA CLUJ NAPOCA
• UNIVERSITY OF NATIONAL AND WORLD ECONOMY
• HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO
• SVEUCILISTE JOSIPA JURJA STROSSMAYERA U OSIJEKU
• GALWAY-MAYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY