Validation and recognition of two units of competition in ornithological tourism in the Natura 2000 network. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Validation and recognition of two units of competition in ornithological tourism in the Natura 2000 network.

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cooperation between educational institutions and business; Recognition, transparency, certification; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The achievement of the targets set in European policies for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity requires increased efforts for proper integration and consideration into sectoral policies, for only thus be understood and strengthened the positive links between conservation of natural heritage and economic and social development. This demand is particularly required in the tourism sector, one of the most important in terms of its economic impact at European level.

Biodiversity is increasingly being one of the motivating factors for travel, as the variety of natural landscapes and well-preserved ecosystem acts as a basic appeal of tourist destinations. These destinations have been reinforced with the creation of the Natura 2000 network (SCI and SPAs).

OBJECTIVE: To recognize and validate two new Competition Units at European level that respond to the demand for product creation and promotion of ornithological tourism in relation to biodiversity:
1. Interpret the natural heritage associated to avifauna to visitors of the Natura 2000 network.
2. Provide escort services to tourists and visitors and design ornithological itineraries.

TARGET GROUPS: It is estimated a total of 16.000 direct and indirect beneficiaries involved in the implementation of project activities and its dissemination and transfer:
• Ornithologists and ornithology enthusiasts.
• Experts in nature tourism.
• SPAs and environmental managers (Natural Parks, Biosphere Reserves, SCI and SPA’s, nature reserves …)
• Guides and interpreters of nature.
• SPAs of Biosphere Reserves and the Natura 2000 network.
• Entrepreneurs of rural tourism.
• Agents of local development.
• Leisure, active and nature tourism companies.
• Centers and Entities on education and training (formal and informal).
• Qualified college staff (biologists, environmentalists …).
• Rural women with no qualifications looking for their first job.
• Young people entering unemployment.
• Adults at restructuring and long-term unemployed.
• Part-time rural workers.

ACTIONS:
1) Intellectual Outputs
• Training modules
• European Guide to Good Ornithological Practice
• Manual and tutorial.
• Pilot course for the testing of skills.
• Computerized database
• OER multimedia materials.

2) Multiplier events:
• 5 Dissemination Seminars.

3) Joint training event for staff: 15 participants

4) Others:
• Transnational Meetings.
• Partnerships with stakeholders.
• Job Agency.
• Online Content.
• Social networks.
• Results Dissemination Plan.

METHODOLOGY:

A) Designing a basic non-formal training plan to stimulate entrepreneurship, competitiveness and employment through the development and acquisition of skills and competencies related to the real needs of the Natura 2000 network.
B) Integration of an innovative approach to teaching and learning in the field of ornithological tourism, through an integrated use of ICT and the OER.
C) Favouring equal opportunities and employability in the area of influence of SPAs.
D) Start of the RVA curriculum process in the System of Qualifications and Vocational Training in each country, integrated into CEDEFOP, meeting the requirements of MEC and the principles of quality assurance EQAVET.
E) Establishment of a Dissemination Plan to provide information on the project results to key stakeholders.

RESULTS:
• Result 1: Training modules: 15
• Result 2: European Guide to Good Ornithological Practice : 600 beneficiaries.
• Result 3: Pilot course. Impact: 120 students.
• Result 4: OER methodological guide. Impact: 500 beneficiaries.
• Result 5: Project web page. Impact: 3600 users and downloads.
• Result 6: Database. Impact: 50 enterprises.
• Result 7: Dissemination seminars. Impact: 10 seminars (250 participants)
• Result 8: Transnational meetings. Impact: 4 meetings with 10 participants in each one.
• Result 9: 2 Multiplier Events.
• Result 10: Staff training course for 15 beneficiaries.
• Result 11: 25 stakeholders.

LONG-TERM BENEFITS:
The beneficiary organizations of the project and the main beneficiaries will benefit from the direct contribution of this project to the objectives of the laws and national and European regulations on tourism and natural heritage:

• The inclusion of key competencies on ornithological tourism, tested and validated in terms of qualification (MEC) and job creation.

• Increased awareness of European policies on biodiversity and sustainable tourism, facilitating the exchange of experiences between different sectors at local, national and international level, and contributing to labor mobility of educational authorities as workers in the nature tourism sector.

Project Website

https://sites.google.com/view/euro-bird-eng

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 197310 Eur

Project Coordinator

INSTITUTO DE RESTAURACION Y MEDIO AMBIENTE & Country: ES

Project Partners

• SOCIEDAD ESPANOLA DE ORNITOLOGIA SEO
• CoraNE – Associação de Desenvolvimento dos Concelhos da Raia Nordestina
• BALGARSKA FONDATSIYA BIORAZNOOBRAZIE
• Czech Society for Ornithology