Learning Agriculture by Comparison of Agricultural production in Partner Schools Erasmus Project

Project Title

Learning Agriculture by Comparison of Agricultural production in Partner Schools

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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Economic and financial affairs (incl. funding issues); Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Agriculture, forestry and fisheries

Project Summary

Students from partner schools have for several times visited various European countries and they never had any chance to compare real conditions of farming. Students have only obtained some general data dealing with subsidies and the farming methods. This project enabled them to get real information about concrete methods and results of farming during the vegetative seasons in a sample of four European countries. It brought them new view on a real life of the farmers in these countries and the conditions in agricultural sector there. The project was undertaken by four EU partner agricultural schools (CZ,SE,UK and DK). The partners were selected according to their branch of studies and comparable curricula, and also in respect of different growing terms and climatic conditions. Agriculture in the partner countries has different level as for the technologies and general conditions, however, there ware some general principles that could be shared and adopted. The project objectives were the improvements of knowledge and skills concerning agricultural education and the school graduated and improvements of teaching methods in the European framework by means of comparison of methods and techniques used during a concrete crop growing. The improvement applied to both the participants of the project, concrete students of four EU agricultural schools and their teachers and, consequently, to other students and teachers of agricultural schools who met the outcomes of the project. The improvements were based on the presentations of the best training practices used in individual participating countries, on the sharing examples of good practice, on the development of student motivation, responsibility and independence, mutual understanding within the EU, professional relationship, and on the changes in the relevant curricula by implementation of well proven, suitable innovative methods and techniques. For the purpose of the project feedback there were a questionnaire investigating the participants’ experience, evaluation, motivation and ideas concerning with their future career in agriculture. Each of the schools followed a general framework set by the management of the project to ensure coequality across the participating teams was achieved. Each of the schools set up a student company consisting of students where each of them worked at an appropriate position, such as a director, an agronomist, etc. The activities of the companies were monitored by teachers of practical training. Each of the companies used a one-hectare plot of arable land for growing a set farm crop. The grown crop was the same at each of the participating countries and its kind was specified and agreed on at the first meeting. The students produced winter wheat (UK) and spring wheat (CZ,SE,DE). They compared the ways of growing in detail – tillage operations, machinery, seeds, fertilizers, crop protection methods, harvesting, yields, ways of selling, selling prices, costs and profit. The experience were presented on 4 face to face meetings and 5 on line video conferences serving for a mutual current communication.The meetings served for the choice of the concrete crop the student grew, for the discussion dealing with the terms and methods of cultivation, for setting the timetable, agreement on the communication platforms and frequency. At the first meeting the teachers also introduced the presentations dealing with the system of education in the participating countries and the agenda of the next three meetings will also be determined. Regular progress updates were undertaken during the three next meetings, together with student presentations describing the procedures carried out and sharing the results. It was also held an extra meeting to finish the students questionare and the comparable form of the final brochure. The results and findings of each of the student companies after harvesting and selling the product will be compared and processed into a final report and one of the outputs – a final brochure. The participant also disseminated in their schools and local agribusiness conditions the results of each of the international meetings to share the experience with other students, teachers, and general public. The final report will be presented at the meeting of EUROPEA in October 2018. It is an international organisation which represents 28 national associations dealing with agricultural education.The prospective impact of the project will mean changes in the methods, and implementation of innovative methods into the curricula as the results of the project will serve for further improvement of teaching methods and for enhancing the relevant curricula. The students got valuable knowledge and experience in a real setting of agricultural production, allowing them to improve the procedures and the economics of their future possible business. They acquired new skills and improved their professional abilities, including English language skills.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 108775 Eur

Project Coordinator

Vyssi odborna skola a Stredni zemedelska skola, Benesov, Mendelova 131 & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• Easton & Otley College
• Jordbrugets Uddannelsescenter Århus
• Munkagårdsgymnasiet