Context/Background This project aims to bring together a partnership of three organisations involved in Aquaculture education, namely Val vgs in Norway, Bord Iascaigh Mhara in Ireland and Lycèe de la mer in France. These participants already have a history of cooperation and are looking to expand and capitalise on this cooperation. Aquaculture is developing rapidly worldwide with an ever increasing demand for seafood, through this programme we hope to improve aquaculture education as a whole, whilst developing an improved workforce. Profile of participants Val vgs is a secondary school located in Nærøy municipality in Mid-Norway and offers education inside the use of natural resources, aquaculture, agriculture and horse management. Bord Iascaigh Mhara helps to develop the Irish Seafood Industry by providing technical expertise, business support, funding, training and promoting responsible environmental practice. Lycèe de la mer are working in vocational fields which are centred on sea matters : cultures Marines (oysters and mussels), Aquaculture (Fish), but also Naval Maintenance, Shipbuildings, as well as plastics and composite processing industry and internal fittings of boats. Concerning the aquacultural part, the High school trains approximately 60 pupils over 3 years supervised by a team of about fifteen teachers. Objectives The main objectives are to define and experience best practice in each country with an emphasis on improved production techniques and the possibilities afforded by the introduction of new/novel species, improve educational techniques and standards, leading to a better educated workforce for the developing aquaculture industry Description of Activities/Methodology During this partnership students and teachers will travel to the other participating countries to engage in study trips, workshops and on site industrial work experience. The host countries will coordinate the trips to their own organisations and industry and the benefit to the participants will also include language and cultural elements. Results/Impact These study trips and collaborations will be informative not only for the participants but also the host countries and the EU through a series of detailed dissemination routes and although the further education of the participants is the primary focus, this project will also lead to improvements in general education techniques through the process of sharing and joint development. Potential Longer Term Benefits Aquaculture will develop more rapidly through this increasingly motivated and improved workforce, encouraging further sharing and collaborations of ideas and techniques, helping to eliminate pitfalls and empower individuals to further develop and improve the aquaculture industry
Context/Background This project have aimed to bring together a partnership of three organisations involved in Aquaculture education, namely Val vgs in Norway, Bord Iascaigh Mhara in Ireland and Lycèe de la mer in France. These participants already had a history of cooperation and wanted to expand and capitalise on this cooperation. Aquaculture is developing rapidly worldwide with an ever increasing demand for seafood, through this programme we hoped to improve aquaculture education as a whole, whilst developing an improved workforce. Objectives The main objectives have been to define and experience best practice in each country with an emphasis on improved production techniques and the possibilities afforded by the introduction of new/novel species, improve educational techniques and standards, leading to a better educated workforce for the developing aquaculture industry Profile of Participants Val vgs is a upper secondary school located in Nærøy municipality in Mid-Norway and offers education inside the use of natural resources, aquaculture, agriculture and horse management. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) helps to develop the Irish Seafood Industry by providing technical expertise, business support, funding, training and promoting responsible environmental practice. BIM offers a 4-months competence course in aquaculture for adult learners. Lycèe de la Mer are working in vocational fields which are centred on sea matters : cultures Marines (oysters and mussels), Aquaculture (Fish), but also Naval Maintenance, Shipbuildings, as well as plastics and composite processing industry and internal fittings of boats. Concerning the aquacultural part, the school trains approximately 60 pupils over 3 years supervised by a team of about fifteen teachers. Description of Activities/Methodology During this partnership students and teachers have traveled to the other participating countries to engage in study trips, workshops, exercises/work experience at the school facilities and on site industrial work experience. The host countries have coordinated the trips to their own organisations and industry and the benefit to the participants have also included language and cultural elements. Results/Impact The study trips and collaborations have been informative not only for the participants but also the host countries and the EU through a series of detailed dissemination routes. Although the further education of the participants is the primary focus, this project have also lead to improvements in general education techniques through the process of sharing and joint development. Potential Longer Term Benefits The aquaculture industry will be able to develop more rapidly through more motivated and better educated workforce. By encouraging and facilitating a further sharing and collaboration about ideas and teaching methods this will help strengthen each student / worker and thus business when it comes to further development of the aquaculture industry.