ECCE BUILD – LE FLOCON Erasmus Project

Project Title

ECCE BUILD – LE FLOCON

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Open and distance learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

“ECCE Build Le Flocon” brought together a diverse transnational partnership to create a new Vocational Certificate in Sustainable Construction, developed in two parallel systems recognising that vocation skills and Higher Education achievement are of equal value.
The project created a Model for Sustainable Communities through two main aims:
1. To adapt teaching and learning techniques to be accessible by all regardless of prior qualifications,.
2. To influence the design of Sustainable Communities across Europe – Sustainability in all its senses, environmental, social, economic and practical with specific emphasis on Sustainable Construction.

Background:
Across Europe rural areas are in decline. Young people move away from remote areas to be educated, then to find work. This decline has significant impact on local services & on the environment. Keeping communities diverse and inclusive is a challenge that must essentially be met to maintain equality of opportunity for those people continuing to live and work in rural areas. Rural buildings are often difficult to maintain as traditional skills die. Thus alters the face of our villages which threatens our cultural heritage.
This project built a Model for Sustainable Communities bt creating bespoke a training programme incorporating flexible, participative vocational training in traditional construction techniques alongside the essential ingredients of personal and professional development and empowerment. The resulting ECCE Build Certificate is recognised in both VET & HE. sectors.
The Objectives included:
1. Discovering old & new techniques of Sustainable Construction. Learning together with partners. Designing & delivering the ECCE Build Certificate with recognition of qualifications so that vocational training is measured to be equal academic study.
2. Understanding how better use of natural materials brings community benefits and influences future design of buildings.
3. Creating a series of exhibition example community buildings as a legacy to the project activity and as a focus for further work.
4. Establish a Network for Sustainable Communities across Europe

Methodology :
Participative teaching & learning methods were used throughout the project. Supported by the expertise of University of Jaime 1, Castellon Spain and their experience of the e-Brick House, alongside the traditional methods of vocational training the partners designed and delivered the new training course. This further developed the ECCE Methodology of contributory learning developed in an earlier Erasmus+ programme. Each partner contributed specific expertise to further develop the process of teaching and learning.
The new course consists of 6 Learning Modules with each partner leading on their specialist area. The focus is on sustainability in all its forms throughout the project. The project examined constraints in the town-planning regulations in each country as well as environmental issues relating to social housing and alternative construction methods.
But the project was not just about buildings and construction, the partners showed that in designing Sustainable Communities the keys lie within techniques of empowerment, communication, open informal learning and pride of place.
The project trained 63 participants with 24 of them becoming trainers to work within their local communities. Practical sessions were endorsed by distance-learning. One new environmentally sustainable building was created by each partner. Using different local building materials the training Modules included ancient skills and traditional construction methods alongside environmentally friendly technologies for the conservation of energy and efficient use of natural resources. Trainee participants were previously unqualified in construction and in most cases will be drawn from disadvantaged groups.

Partners:
Led by La Colporteuse, the project leaves a legacy of environmentally friendly community buildings created through joint training workshops. The local action groups in progress continue the work. UJI University (Spain) collaborated with partners to oversee training and to work towards the parallel recognition of professional and higher qualifications. The ecological village of Lammas in Wales (United Kingdom), ProVita, a community of social enterprises in rural Romania, and the living museum of Fundación Uxio Novoneyra in Galicia (New Zealand) have concluded the partnership. Each building relied on local expertise and traditional skills, complemented by partner experience and contributed to the sustainable communities model.
Results:
A new training course – ECCE Build Certificate, recognized as a professional qualification with a credit transfer value for European use. Remote learning portal created for a wider profit.
EuroPass certificate by 63 participants.
6 old units (buildings) created for community use.
A new network created to support the development of sustainable communities across Europe

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 156930 Eur

Project Coordinator

La Colporteuse & Country: FR

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITAT JAUME I DE CASTELLON
• FUNDACION UXIO NOVONEYRA
• Lammas Low Impact Iniatitives Ltd
• Henwood Seven Limited
• Asociatia ProVita pentru nascuti si nenascuti
• FRIDAY PEOPLE LIMITED