Online vocational training course on maintenance of turf sport fields Erasmus Project

Project Title

Online vocational training course on maintenance of turf sport fields

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: Open and distance learning; Recognition (non-formal and informal learning/credits)

Project Summary

In 2016, a consortium of 7 European entities presented the TELETURF project within the European Union’s call for proposals entitled ERASMUS+ for education, training, youth and sport, which was finally approved and financed.
The project, with an estimated duration of two years, had as its main objective the improvement of the safety and quality conditions of the artificial turf sports fields, as well as extending their useful life, all of this through the improvement of their maintenance. The aim was to achieve this objective through the creation of a free online course in four languages (English, French, Dutch and Spanish), the main and core intellectual product of our project.
With this project it was estimated that an economic saving of 750M€ per year could be produced at European level through the reduction of the cost of renovation of artificial turf surfaces.
It should be remembered that the level of maintenance and its quality also influence other factors such as the playability, safety or aesthetics of the playing field, making them accessible to schools, sports organisations, local communities and citizens. The latter is important to achieve as the promotion of healthy living through physical activity and sport is one of the recommendations of the HEPA 2014-2017 Sports Work Plan.
Likewise, there are associated benefits that are not negligible: the reduction of polluting emissions and energy savings by reducing production due to the extension of the useful life of the fields; or improve the professionalization of workers in the economic sector of maintenance of sports facilities. These benefits are in accordance with the main European policies.
The 7 entities that have developed this project are:
Researchers – Suppliers:
– Valencia Biomechanical Institute (IBV)
– ISA-Sport (Netherlands)
– CESPEVAL (Company specializing in maintenance of fields)
End users:
– Association of European Capitals of Sport (Belgium)
– Municipality of Marseille (France)
– GEPACV
– Fundación Deportiva Municipal de Valencia (which also plays the executive role in the project)
The project was structured in six different work packages:
– Project management. All the control tasks of the project, including the elaboration of a Quality Plan and a Final Quality Report.
– Development, integration and adaptation of curricular contents. Through quantitative work methodology (surveys) and qualitative work (interviews and discussion groups), reports were elaborated with the learning requirements and preferences, basic tools to develop the contents.
– Implementation and validation of the pilot course. Once the contents were developed in English and Spanish, they were implemented in an online pilot course, with the participation of students from several European countries, whose feedback was fundamental.
– Implementation of improvements and translation. Once the contributions of the students who finished the pilot course were received, the improvements were implemented in the final version and these definitive contents were translated into English, Spanish, French and Dutch.
– Dissemination of the project. Continuous task during the two years of work: preparation of a Dissemination Plan, creation of the corporate image, website and a whole series of complementary actions included in two Dissemination Reports. Also to be highlighted are the multiplier events held in Marseille and Brussels, the latter in the European Parliament.
– Exploitation of the Project. Initial and final Exploitation Plan that guarantees the survival of the work carried out in the post-project stage.
With the work carried out, we can affirm that the impact achieved is very similar to the ambitious forecasts established at the beginning of this journey. Although it is too early to determine whether the objectives have been met (the improvement in maintenance and all the added advantages it entails can only be evaluated over the years), it is important to point out how well our project has been received by the sectors involved in it. The diffusion made through the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces and FAGDE (national association of sports managers) has led to multiple bodies and national managers interested in getting more information about TELETURF and participate in the first editions of the course. The same can be said at an international level: when the results of the project were presented at the European Sports Gala organised by ACES, in front of dozens of consistories from all corners of Europe, the name TELETURF was managed to reach international areas that have already shown their interest in taking advantage of the results obtained.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 146050 Eur

Project Coordinator

Fundación Deportiva Municipal de Valencia & Country: ES

Project Partners

• INSTALACIONES Y MANTENIMIENTOS DEL CESPED ARTIFICIAL, S.L
• FEDERATION DES ASSOCIATIONS DES CAPITALES ET VILLES EUROPEENNES DU SPORT AISBL
• INSTITUTO DE BIOMECANICA DE VALENCIA
• GESTORS ESPORTIUS PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIACIÓ COMUNITAT VALENCIANA
• Kiwa ISA Sport
• VILLE DE MARSEILLE