RURAL BIOENERGY: Training Plan on Bioenergy for the agri-food sector Erasmus Project

Project Title

RURAL BIOENERGY: Training Plan on Bioenergy for the agri-food 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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Energy and resources; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The Project “Training Plan on Bioenergy for the Agri-food Sectors-RURAL BIOENERGY” is a project of cooperation for innovation of a partnership strategy for vocation education and training among 6 partners from 5 countries.

RURAL BIOENERGY derives from the needs analysis that arises from bio-economics in rural areas. EU’s Horizon 2020 objectives have given rise to policies that encourage bioenergy projects related to the agri-food sector. This project is based on the promotion of manpower requirements in rural áreas in order to meet EU objectives, policies and strategies. The transition towards a circular economy also requires skilled labour with new and specific qualifications as well as the creation of employment opportunities.
There is a training gap in this field and in the following years training will be demanded when the deployment of rural bioenergy will step up. Currently, some professional qualifications cover certain needs regarding bioenergy. Nevertheless, it is necessary to develop specific professional qualifications that integrate the mentioned aspects, as we find ourselves facing a confluence of different sectors and knowledge areas.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
– Development of a Training Plan on Bioenergy to contribute to the professionalization on bioenergy in rural areas .
– Elaboration of the methodological guide of new qualification and training and other educational resources and tools that contribute to the professional development of trainers/teachers/mentors and enhance the access to training and qualifications for all.
– Development of the new competence of worker “BIOENERGY SPECIALIST FOR AGRI-FOOD SECTORS” (for potential recognition and validation in the future).
– To promote innovative pedagogical methodologies as a successful recipe for satisfactory transition to labour market.
– To promote the cooperation and offer training opportunities for local communities as well as to facilitate the development of bioenergy use and rural economy.

The applicant is MANCOMUNIDAD ALTA SANABRIA, a Spanish local entity. The rest of the partners are the Spanish environmental company SERVIMA, the Portuguese association for the development CoraNE, the Italian Confederation of Farmers in Tuscany, CIA TOSCANA, the Slovak vocational training institution, AGROINSTITUT NITRA and the Bulgarian engineering company in energy efficiency, QUATTROGI.

The project aims the involvement of the target groups in drafting the contents and the consensus of a methodology to develop the training route. It will be achieved through a fluid exchange of information and common experiences among a broad network of stakeholder, direct and indirect participants, especially in rural areas: local Action Groups and rural development actors ; agricultural unions; associations for the valorisation of biomass producers of renewable energy, bioenergy technology enterprises; environmental associations; institutes of rural youth and women associations; research centers and University; non-formal vocational training entities and with lifelong learning programs; formal Centres of VET; public and private entities of employment; associations of entrepreneurs; local authorities, educational authorities , etc

In order to involve that stakeholders, the consortium has done a great effort in dissemination activities: around 20 dissemination seminars have been held, in addition to other project presentation meetings; 4 Newsletters have been disseminated; news and articles published; website; blog; mailings; social networks, etc

The results of the Project will materialize in the following intelectual outputs:
O1. Methodological guide for training
O2. Structured training course
O3. Educational materials for students
O4. ICT Platform (for training and for knowledge and job exchange)

There has been also two multiplier events (E1 and E2), one training activity (Short-term joint staff training event C1) and 4 Transnational Meetings: 1. Padornelo (Sanabria -Spain); 2. Bragança (Portugal); Florence (Italy); 4. Lubián (Sanabria- Spain).

“RURAL BIOENERGY TRAINING PACKAGE” (OER) will have an impact on all local, regional, national and international stakeholders in participatory and community development groups and will contribute decisively to the sustainability of the project, as well as the ICT platform E-learning, the website and other activities (articles, Newsletters…)

In the short and medium term, the positive impacts of the project are: training in bioenergy, professionalization of the rural population; promotion of bioenergetic uses; increase competitiveness of the agricultural and agroindustrial sectors; improvement of teacher skills and curricula for vocational training, promotion of initiative and entrepreneurship; greater employability and creation of new companies; more positive attitude towards Europe as a common space.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 279301 Eur

Project Coordinator

MANCOMUNIDAD ALTA SANABRIA & Country: ES

Project Partners

• CoraNE – Associação de Desenvolvimento dos Concelhos da Raia Nordestina
• Agroinstitut Nitra, statny podnik
• SERVIMA, servicios ambientales y recursos educativos S.L.
• QuattroGi Ltd
• CONFEDERAZIONE ITALIANA AGRICOLTORI TOSCANA