Agriculture 4.0. Information and Communication Technology for future Agriculture Erasmus Project

Project Title

Agriculture 4.0. Information and Communication Technology for future Agriculture

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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Agriculture, forestry and fisheries; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

In the process for finding a solution for today’s global agricultural challenges, such as food safety and food security, ICTs play one of the crucial roles. These types of technologies are important tools for connecting and facilitating the cross-sectoral findings and innovations in the industry for agricultural technologies. One of the main foundation for efficient and effective adoption of ICTs is the existence of proper educational and training system for knowledge and skills in the relevant area.
According to the Riga Conclusion in 2015, enhanced access to VET and qualifications for all, through more flexible and permeable systems, offering efficient and integrated guidance services and making available validation of non-formal and informal learning is one of the main objectives of the mid-term deliverables for 2015-2020 programme.
Based on the above the main project objective is to develop and implement specifically designed curriculum for ICTs knowledge and skills and delivering this curriculum through VET in agriculture for the purpose of achieving more successful adoption of these technologies, and contribute for the development of the agriculture sector and the rural areas. Considering the important role of the young farming population and the advisors in the agricultural extension for the development of the agriculture, we have put special attention on creating a curriculum for the following target groups: high school students, farmers as “users” and advisers and teachers as “mediators” in delivering the knowledge and skills.

In looking for similar approach used in the project proposal, the project ITShape (http://www.itstudy.hu/en/it-shape) was identify as most suitable model that can be adopted for the purposes of achieving the objectives of this project proposal. The competence frameworks, list of modules, learning guides and innovative methodology, pedagogical strategy to support effective teaching/e-learning activities developed, implemented and accredited in the ITShape project are base materials used in this project proposal.

Within the project, besides the direct beneficiaries (50 students, 30 advisors in NEA and 15 teachers) from the project activities will have a significant impact on the following stakeholders:

– Students in VET for agriculture
– Advisers of National Extension Agencies
– Policy makers in Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Education
– VET training centers for ICT education
– Other extension service providers in agricultural (Private advisors, NGO providing advisory services, etc.);
– Teachers/trainers in VET for ICTs in Agriculture
– The entire farming community in all partners’ countries

The project team plans to achieve the project objective by completing the following intellectual outputs and performing the following activities:
O1 Focused Needs Analysis
IO1-A1 Creating questionnaire
IO1-A2 Conducting field survey and in-depth-interview
IO1-A3 Creating database and analysis of data
IO1-A4 Writing a report for farmers and advisors needs for ICTs knowledge and skills

O2 E-collaboration platform for ICT for VET in agriculture
IO2-A1 Analyses of different existing e-platforms
IO2-A2 UX design
IO2-A3 Web development
IO2-A4 Content creation
Methodologies used in delivering this IO are:

O3 Curriculum for “Farming 4.0”
IO3 – A1 – Definition of the learning objectives and learning outcomes of the Curriculum
IO3-A2 – Determine the teaching approach (most appropriate teaching methods) and a
IO3-A3 – Allocation of ECVET credit points
IO3-A4 – Pilot implementation of the curriculum

O4 Guidelines for integration of curriculum
O4-A1: Analysis of the current situation in terms of the existing national VET programmes in
IO4-A2: Implementation of strategic seminars (multiplayer events) with experts in the field
IO4-A3: Development of final Guide with a set of guidelines and recommendations

O5 Handbook for improving ICTs knowledge and skills for VET for agriculture
IO5-A1 Authoring, review and publish handbook (ENG)
IO5-A2 Translate, localize and publish handbook (MK)
IO5-A3 Translate, localize and publish handbook for teachers (HU)

For achieving the above intellectual outputs the following methodologies will be used:
– Analysis of the research needs;
– Filed survey and in-depth interview
– Extract in excel
– Analysis of the databases and writing.
– Analysis of different e-platforms
– Definition of general design guidelines; Design of wire-frames; Design of mock-ups.
– Programming, Testing & debugging

In order to achieve boarder impact and better dissemination of all outputs from the project, the project team consider also organizing 3 multiplier events in each partner country:

1. Introduction of ICTs for VET for agricultural education (in all partnering countries)
2. Guidelines and e-collaboration platform (in all partnering countries)
3. Closing event (in all partnering countries)

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 161329,8 Eur

Project Coordinator

CANAKKALE ONSEKIZ MART UNIVERSITESI & Country: TR

Project Partners

• AGROINSTITUT NITRA STATNY PODNIK
• iTStudy Hungary Számítástechnikai Oktató- és Kutatóközpont Kft.
• ziraat odasi baskanligi bayramic
• AG FUTURA TECHNOLOGII DOOEL SKOPJE
• WIRELESSINFO