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.