The worlds population is growing and resources are getting more and more scarce. To feed the growing population, the food production must be enhanced worldwide. Technologies must become more efficient, effective and sustainable. Therefore a smart and skilled labor force is needed, worldwide. Companies are struggling to find well educated and skilled workers in the food producing and processing sectors all over Europe.
Many European countries are seen as front-runner in the agricultural sectors. From all over the world, delegations visit European countries to look at local production techniques and post-harvest techniques and activities. Not only the sector itself is seen as exemplary. The education sectors, or more specifically a functioning vocational education sector is seen as a key precondition to a successful agricultural sector. Many regions look at Europe for this system.
The project partners aim to enhance food production in Europe. Production methods, processing, transport, logistics and trade should become larger and more efficient. The partners will reach these objectives by investing in distributing specialist knowledge and skills from the various partner countries all over Europe. Their key to do this is International Vocational Education in the field of Agriculture.
The project ‘Feeding the World through ECVET in Agriculture’ brings together two ECVET networks in the field of Agriculture: AHENE and AgriECVET. Together with additional new educational partners, qualification, curriculum and learning material specialists, the network partners will devote themselves to the development of international learning modules in specialist fields of food production and related activities. These modules will aim at various specialist knowledge and techniques from each partner country: National specialties. The modules will be developed and offered to the vocational students of all partner institutions in an international carousel.
Activities
– Teacher training in National specialties and didactics;
– Development of innovate educational materials about specialist topics related to food production techniques in the participating countries;
– Exchanging students;
– Finding improved methods for recognition of learning activities internationally in the home curricula.
Methodology
– The partners will use the ECVET approach as the leading system in this project, but will specify the methodologies used to the specific needs of the partners and their stakeholders (companies from the sector).
Results and impact envisaged
– 12 educational modules in the field of food production, processing, transport, logistics and trade;
– 1 manual for the recognition of international learning activities in the agricultural sector;
– 25 Teachers trained in the various partners specialties;
– 72 students trained in relevant international agricultural knowledge and skills.
Although all courses in this project are developed as digital modules. For the stand-alone workbooks of the educational modules, click here. For the theory books click here.
Longer term benefits
Vocational students of today form the labour force of tomorrow. These students will be trained well in the essential sector innovations. This will enable them to be front-runners in the agricultural companies of the future that will be able to produce more food in a more efficient and sustainable way, taking away food shortages and weak links in the production and logistical chains worldwide. In this way, our students will be feeding the world in the years to come!