Development of a European study program : International Master’s Degree for the Environmental Security Sector Erasmus Project

Project Title

Development of a European study program : International Master’s Degree for the Environmental Security Sector

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal)

Project Summary

The field of Higher Education has been recognised as one of the key drivers within the EU2020 Strategy to overcome the socio-economic crisis, to boost growth and jobs, and to foster equity and inclusion. Moreover, one of the key priorities for HE is the reinforcement of the “Knowledge Triangle”, through the support of innovation, entrepreneurship, and university-business cooperation. This specifically applies to those traditional sectors, such as the environmental-related sectors, where changes in education and training are required to equip the future workforce with the new skills for the new demands generated by the changing patterns of economic growth as a result of climate change (e.g.: water sources, tourism impact).
Nevertheless, the European Security and implicit Environment Security is a key driver of sustainable growth with a significant contribution to Europe‘s overall economic health, competitiveness, creativity, innovation, employment, and growth. Staff qualifications along youth unemployment remain one of the crucial points in Europe. To boost the recruitment of highly prepared staff requires initiatives addressing training to make the sector attractive and capable of transforming both the academic knowledge and high-level basic and transversal competencies required to be useful and applicable.
Objectives
The aim was to develop an International Master’s Module Programme for environmental security in Europe. The new Master’s module programme offers an adapted curriculum to equip the young generation with the specific, basic and transversal competences currently required in the environmental-related industries. This international Master Module Programme
provides students with opportunities to gain additional skills by studying and training abroad.
For these reasons, this Strategic Partnership developed a flexible learning pathway in line with the needs of learners and companies in the environmental security-related
sectors. The project provided a joint study program between Higher Education and Stakeholders and Training that are providing enterprises innovation, expertise and
added value.
Partnership
ENSEC was a Strategic Partnership composed of eight entities from regions that are highly influenced by the climate change and environmental security aspects industry: Four universities, three SMEs with technical research and training centres and one industry association representatives.
Main activities consisted in:
-Conducting surveys, comparative analysis and evidence-gathering, studies of real life cases in order to have a real idea of the needs of skills and competences in the
European Environmental Security industry.
– Development of a module-based curriculum with the integration of different learning modes such as distance, face to face or blended learning employing innovative approaches.
– The creation of learning and training materials together with methods, pedagogical approaches and tools.
– Capacity buildings and networking activities.
The consortium developed a Study Report on current skills needs on the European Environmental Secuiry industry, a ModuleCurriculum together with a learning content and
an e-Learning platform that is freely and widely distributed. Four Multiplier Events have been conducted at the end of the project.
Results and impact.
ENSEC contributes to the modernisation and reinforcement of education aligned to the needs and opportunities offered by traditional industries.
The project provides, assesses, and seeks the recognition of basic skills needed in the environmental security sector. ENSEC also addressed transversal skills, such
as entrepreneurship, foreign languages and digital competences. HE students and staff, and also everyone involved in the development of this initiative had the chance of
increasing their sense of initiative and entrepreneurship, their competences in foreign languages and, of course, increasing their skills and capabilities for employability in an
industrial sector which is the main key driver in many European regions. It is estimated that in the next five years there will be about 350 students benefiting directly from the
educational materials developed within the project. These will become better equipped to contribute to the development of the environmental security sector, to fulfil the demand of highly
qualified staff, to foster entrepreneurship in the sector. The fact that the Programme is taught in English facilitates the mobility of staff from one EU country to another and through this, the integration is facilitated.

Project Website

http://www.ensec-project.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 335813 Eur

Project Coordinator

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE NEW UNIVERSITY & Country: UK

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITATEA TRANSILVANIA DIN BRASOV
• ASSOCIACAO COMERCIAL E INDUSTRIAL DO FUNCHAL – CAMARA DE COMERCIO E INDUSTRIA DA MADEIRA
• Eesti Metsakeskus OÜ
• UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID
• Universidade da Madeira
• Projects Abroad UK
• ECOSISTEMAS VIRTUALES Y MODULARES SL