BACKGROUND & CHALLENCES The EU has prioritised the promotion of sustainable agriculture, also referred to as “climate-smart” agriculture, and has signed up to relevant international commitments. Digital technologies are central for the development of a smarter, resource-efficient, more competitive agricultural sector. The digital divide between urban and rural areas in Europe, a barrier towards this goal, still persists, notwithstanding EU’s efforts and various activities to improve digital skills in rural areas. It should further be noted that in terms of initial and continuous education and training, the vast majority of farm managers in the EU rely solely on practical experience; Work-Based Learning (WBL) is, thus, vital for achieving the development of climate-smart and digital skills in the sector and, in turn, VET programs and WBL schemes need to update their offerings and skills portfolio, to better address learners’ climate-smart and digital skill training needs, and to develop training opportunities for upskilling existing workers on the basis of such competences. OBJECTIVESThe project aims at adapting VET and WBL provision to existing and emerging occupational needs, and strengthening the climate-smart and digital skills of workers in agriculture. The AgriSmart objectives are to: - Design a course curriculum on climate-smart and digital practices, addressing current and future occupational needs.- Introduce various training delivery methods and innovative open access pedagogical resources, tailored to sectoral characteristics, to support VET and WBL provision. - Increase the capacities and enhance cooperation between public and sectoral stakeholders, to promote the integration of climate smart and digital skills development in training offerings and regional policies, thus reaching out to agricultural communities. PROJECT PARTNERSHIPThe partnership comprises 6 organisations from 6 countries, from the world of research and agricultural training. The lead partner, UNIMI, is home to one of the strongest faculties of Agricultural and Food Sciences. DEULA-Nienburg, ARID and AGROINSTITUT are leading VET providers in agriculture with significant experience in the development of training programs and WBL activities. EXELIA and INNOVELA are experts in R&D and delivery of innovative learning methodologies.ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY- Analysis of current and future skills and knowledge needs leading to the development of learning outcomes.- Development of the structure of a curriculum on climate-smart and digital skills for the sector of agriculture and creation of corresponding training and assessment materials to be offered as OERs.- Development of Vocational Open Online Course (VOOC) infrastructures on climate-smart and digital skills for agriculture, promoting the uptake of innovative and flexible practices in VET.- Development of a Mentor’s Toolkit for the integration of the AgriSmart learning outcomes in agriculture WBL. - Involvement of key policy public and private stakeholders for the integration of the project results in VET and WBL offerings and regional policies.- Sharing of outputs through multiplier events, inviting target groups to uptake AgriSmart results and to act as further multipliers.RESULTS & IMPACT- A set of learning outcomes (clustered into learning units) for the development of climate-smart and digital agricultural skills. - A modular course for VET provision and OERs. - A VOOC comprising the AgriSmart course in its online form. - A Mentor’s toolkit for the integration of the AgriSmart learning outcomes in agriculture WBL.- A position paper for the integration of the project results in VET offerings and regional policies.- A set of resources for the promotion and implementation of training on climate-smart and digital skills in agricultural communities.-A Statemen of Support on the validity of the developed learning outcomes. - 6 national information days (one in each partnership country) to promote project results and set an open discussion on sectoral skills development needs and ways to address them.POST-PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY- The AgriSmart learning materials will be integrated into VET providers’ practices enhancing learning offerings through the integration of climate-smart and digital skills development.- Farm managers and workers will be able to access the AgriSmart VOOC to improve their skills through self-directed training and use the Mentor’s toolkit - Public and private stakeholders will make use of the position paper for the integration of the project results in VET offerings and regional policies and the resources for the promotion and implementation of training on climate-smart and digital skills in agricultural communities.

"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 , etcIn 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."

"In the process for finding a solution for today’s global agricultural challenges, such as food safety and food security, ICTs play one of the crucial roles. These types of technologies are important tools for connecting and facilitating the cross-sectoral findings and innovations in the industry for agricultural technologies. One of the main foundation for efficient and effective adoption of ICTs is the existence of proper educational and training system for knowledge and skills in the relevant area.According to the Riga Conclusion in 2015, enhanced access to VET and qualifications for all, through more flexible and permeable systems, offering efficient and integrated guidance services and making available validation of non-formal and informal learning is one of the main objectives of the mid-term deliverables for 2015-2020 programme. Based on the above the main project objective is to develop and implement specifically designed curriculum for ICTs knowledge and skills and delivering this curriculum through VET in agriculture for the purpose of achieving more successful adoption of these technologies, and contribute for the development of the agriculture sector and the rural areas. Considering the important role of the young farming population and the advisors in the agricultural extension for the development of the agriculture, we have put special attention on creating a curriculum for the following target groups: high school students, farmers as “users” and advisers and teachers as “mediators” in delivering the knowledge and skills. In looking for similar approach used in the project proposal, the project ITShape (http://www.itstudy.hu/en/it-shape) was identify as most suitable model that can be adopted for the purposes of achieving the objectives of this project proposal. The competence frameworks, list of modules, learning guides and innovative methodology, pedagogical strategy to support effective teaching/e-learning activities developed, implemented and accredited in the ITShape project are base materials used in this project proposal.Within the project, besides the direct beneficiaries (50 students, 30 advisors in NEA and 15 teachers) from the project activities will have a significant impact on the following stakeholders:- Students in VET for agriculture - Advisers of National Extension Agencies - Policy makers in Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Education - VET training centers for ICT education - Other extension service providers in agricultural (Private advisors, NGO providing advisory services, etc.); - Teachers/trainers in VET for ICTs in Agriculture- The entire farming community in all partners’ countries The project team plans to achieve the project objective by completing the following intellectual outputs and performing the following activities: O1 Focused Needs AnalysisIO1-A1 Creating questionnaireIO1-A2 Conducting field survey and in-depth-interview IO1-A3 Creating database and analysis of dataIO1-A4 Writing a report for farmers and advisors needs for ICTs knowledge and skills O2 E-collaboration platform for ICT for VET in agricultureIO2-A1 Analyses of different existing e-platformsIO2-A2 UX designIO2-A3 Web developmentIO2-A4 Content creationMethodologies used in delivering this IO are:O3 Curriculum for ""Farming 4.0""IO3 - A1 - Definition of the learning objectives and learning outcomes of the CurriculumIO3-A2 - Determine the teaching approach (most appropriate teaching methods) and a IO3-A3 - Allocation of ECVET credit pointsIO3-A4 - Pilot implementation of the curriculumO4 Guidelines for integration of curriculumO4-A1: Analysis of the current situation in terms of the existing national VET programmes in IO4-A2: Implementation of strategic seminars (multiplayer events) with experts in the field IO4-A3: Development of final Guide with a set of guidelines and recommendationsO5 Handbook for improving ICTs knowledge and skills for VET for agricultureIO5-A1 Authoring, review and publish handbook (ENG) IO5-A2 Translate, localize and publish handbook (MK)IO5-A3 Translate, localize and publish handbook for teachers (HU)For achieving the above intellectual outputs the following methodologies will be used: - Analysis of the research needs; - Filed survey and in-depth interview- Extract in excel- Analysis of the databases and writing. - Analysis of different e-platforms - Definition of general design guidelines; Design of wire-frames; Design of mock-ups.- Programming, Testing & debuggingIn order to achieve boarder impact and better dissemination of all outputs from the project, the project team consider also organizing 3 multiplier events in each partner country:1. Introduction of ICTs for VET for agricultural education (in all partnering countries)2. Guidelines and e-collaboration platform (in all partnering countries)3. Closing event (in all partnering countries)"

"The energy and environmental sustainability of human activity plays a central role in the policies of the European Union. The rapid and sometimes uncontrolled, world economic development that we have seen in recent decades, has resulted in excessive emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG - Green House Gas) with devastating consequences for the climate and the environment, as evidenced at the signing of the Kyoto Protocol and numerous subsequent demonstrations. This is accompanied by the steady increase of the needs of a growing world population, which triggers the need to increase production, first of all those agribusiness. In this context, it is clear the strategic role played by agriculture in relation to the sustainability of its products and the responsible use of rural land and its resources. Increasing attention, at the level of scientific orientation and training activities, is then paid to the so-called green economy and professional skills necessary to develop economic activities based on standards of environmental sustainability , energy , economic and social . The goal of 20% of energy production from renewable sources by 2020, as required by Directive 2009/28/EC involves the development and enhancement of all sources and in this framework biomasses play a key role. Farms, agritourism and agroforestry, have access to a wealth of varied and substantial biomass used for energy purposes, such as bits of herbaceous crops and trees, mowing and pruning trees and shrubs cutting coppice woodland, manure from livestock , food residues. The treatment and management of biomass and its use in systems of different types are therefore an essential starting point for a culture and practice of the use of renewable energy sources in agricultural enterprises. In addition to the biomass agricultural enterprise can benefit and modular inserting meditated and sustainable solar thermal systems for water heating, photovoltaic panels as a cover of stables, warehouses and workshops with photovoltaic panels wind, geothermal and hydropower , in areas that have such resources. The project will make available interactive training materials that help learn the different problems and opportunities relating to the use of renewable energy sources, environmental and competitive advantages resulting from it, the technical and technological characteristics of the existing plants and learning the skills necessary to realization of an energy plan corporate and rational management of plant and agricultural and forestry activities connected.This approach aimed at new professional skills in agriculture, goes in the direction of the Lisbon Strategy in March 2000 to give rise to a European society based on knowledge, the Fischler Reform of 2003 to develop a competitive agriculture, sustainable and multifunctional from Convention of Rio de Janeiro for the reduction of the environmental impact of economic activities (footprint) and the Kyoto Protocol and subsequent international agreements to reduce greenhouse gas and the effects of global warming and climate change. Through a partnership structure that includes all the needed skills and thanks to a broad and timely issues posed and opportunities offered to farms from the renewable energy sector , the project will match the training needs of European farmers who wish to integrate the use of renewable energy sources to fossil fuels in their businesses.The project starts from experiences performed in the last years by the different partners by using the achieved teaching materials and adapting the techniques and technologies available for carrying out plants working by use of biomass and other kind of renewable energy sources (RES). The final training products of the RESAVE project will be different of the previously existing teaching materials for a strategic approach focused on the rural space for the sustainable development of an energy network from renewable sources and for a series of characteristics that make their use particularly effective for i) farmers, livestock breeders and managers of agritourism and agro-forestry farms ; ii) agronomists and land surveyors, students of technical and vocational and university faculties of agriculture, engineering, biology, chemistry and technicians of assistance services for re-use of farm animal waste and crops residues.The course, available online and interactive will be constituted of 4 Modules, preceded by a preliminary general module entitled ""Farm management for environmental sustainability and energy and production effectiveness of the agricultural business"", that provides a legal and management framework of reference for the use at farm of renewable energy sources."

The importance of the beekeeping sector is much greater than we might judge from the amount of its contribution to the gross production value of the economy, as 84% of plant species and 76% of Europe’s food production depend on pollination by bees, so that the economic value thus produced exceeds the value of the honey produced by a long way. The significance of production of honey and bee products in maintaining the ecological balance and biological diversity is also plain to see. This importance is also clearly presented at EU level: The European Parliament resolution of 1 March 2018 on prospects and challenges for the EU apiculture sector (2017/2115(INI)) calls on the Commission to adopt recommendations in order to support different national high-quality basic and vocational beekeeping education programmes in the EU; considers that programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ should nurture research and training in the field of apitherapy; stresses the growing importance of apitherapy as a natural alternative to treatment using conventional medicines, and therefore encourages all Member States to promote those products among medical and paramedical practitioners and the public in the EU.The ApiHealth Project: “Improving the professional development opportunities in the Apitherapy sector in terms of health“, aimed at designing a training curriculum in apitherapy, complemented by up-to-date and technology-enhanced training materials to meet the needs of training in this field and indirectly to promote the benefits of apitherapy as a means of increasing income for beekeepers, medical staff and other interested professionals. The project implementation period had initially been scheduled for 24 months but due to the pandemic situation this period has been extended by 6 months, with the end in April 2021.APIHEALTH project adapted the curriculum and materials to specific regional and national needs, developed modules and chapters on complex issues such as different aspects of the use of bee products in alternative medicine, gathered examples of good practice examples from all participating countries and provided interactive and innovative open educational resources in apitherapy sector.The main target groups were beekeepers and people interested in apitherapy, young farmers, agricultural advisors, students and learners of agricultural schools; additionally, the project addressed educational institutions (public, private), adult education centres’ instructors ( in the field of beekeeping, alternative medicine and food sector), related vocational high school instructors (agriculture, veterinary, pharmacy, beekeeping) and environmental local and regional development foundations / agencies. The main aims of the APIHEALTH project were:•Create a curriculum based on apitherapy and bee products and to create completely updated teaching materials on bee products in alternative medicine;•Promote entrepreneurship education for developing active citizenship, employability and creating new business, support future learning and career pathways for individuals, in accordance with their personal and professional development;•Update and improve instructors’ knowledge and support related professional groups and environmental institutions and training centres needs for training related to bee products and their use in alternative medicine.•Create a network of stakeholders at local and regional level to raise awareness of relevant institutions in the field;•Increase the income of beekeepers through the use of bee products in alternative medicine.The results of the project were materialized in the following Intellectual outputs:•O1: Training methodology•O2: Curriculum of the apitherapy course•O3: Training content on apitherapy•O4: E-learning platform•O6: ApiHealth HandbookIn the final stage of outputs development, these were validated by selected participants during pilot testing, and the final results were improved according to their feedback and recommendations. The project has developed user-driven, professional products and interactive training tools, which are unique in Europe; it had a major impact not only in terms of target beneficiaries, but also through the relevance, usefulness and transferability of the project results.ApiHealth is a sustainable project and it developed innovative practices which are fully transferable to other areas. The project outputs- Training methodology, ApiHealth Curriculum, ApiHealth Manual and the main training tool within the project- e-Learning platform- all these can be used as a model for educational processes, as a guideline how to proceed with the educational and methodological aspects of trainings not only in the subject of apitherapy, but it can also be adapted into other fields and sectors in adult education.