«Geo-Ergon-Paideia» is a transnational exchange project aiming at training school high school students (secondary level- gymnasium) in becoming future eco-farmers. It started on September 2016 and ended on September 2018. The project's objectives were: 1. To set-up a series of online open courses on eco-farming and start-up business 2. To teach agricultural entrepreneurship to school students 3. To provide a learning environment for current and future eco-farmers in innovative entrepreneurship 4. To empower a large number of students, parents, and stakeholders to set-up or develop their own business 5. To support school students, through capacity building, to ensure the sustainability of the natural environment and the development of the local economy. 6. To develop a network of students, stakeholders, entrepreneurs and academic professionals to promote innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector. 7. To enhance the cooperation among schools in Europe. Project partners The University of the Aegean (UAEGEAN)coordinated the project. A school from Greece (Gymnasium of Geraki in Lakonia), a school from Romania (Gymnasium school Adrian V. Radulescu), the Municipality of Evrotas (Greece) and the Municipality of Murfatlar (Romania) constituted the partnership, along with the research institute IZES (Germany) and the Non-governmental organization“KEAN” - Cell of Alternative Youth Activities (Greece). Geo-Ergon-Paideia was addressed to gymnasium students who live in the selected rural areas in Greece and Romania. Apart from the students, the project also engaged farmers, the parents of the students, local and governmental authorities, young entrepreneurs, academic professionals, researchers and stakeholders. The project involved diverse activities and tools for interacting; Learning, Teaching and Training Activities, Multiplier Eventsand produced a set of Intellectual Outputs. Learning, Teaching and TrainingActivities-included two summer schools, one specialised study visit (experiential learning) anda short training activity in parallel with the final networking event. Summer schools were held in Greece and Romania and the lectures were given by academics and experts. Theexperiential learning activity was organized by IZES inBliesgau UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Germany). The last training activity was materialized in Athensin parallel with the closing session of the project and was focused on actions contributing to the development of urban agriculture in a sustainable city. Eight Multiplier Events(workshops with local stakeholders) were organised, in total, in the participating countries. More than 300 stakeholdersattended those events; local representatives, farmers, entrepreneurs and trainers from all participating project groups. The Multiplier events enabledall the interested parts to participate in an open dialogue for the development of the eco-farming business sector, the exchange of knowledge, the transfer of good practice experiences and innovative methods of entrepreneurships.Questionnaires were used to ensure the workshops’ efficiency and provide feedback to the project. Business Planswere developed by students with the support of their teachers as a result of team work (teams of 3-4 students). The development of Business Plans was enhancedby theMultiplier Events, and the relatedguidelines prepared by the UAEGEAN. All business planswere presented and awarded at the final Networking Event. Project results: 1. Raising awareness on professional perspectives in the agricultural sector 2. Promotion of the “Brand my land” concept. 3. Introduction of school students to basic concepts of entrepreneurship. 4. Integrated educational approach towards a rural sustainable development concept 5. Adoption of positive attitude by students towards launching their own farm company. 6. Transfer of entrepreneurship-related knowledge and experience 7. Teamwork in classroom was encouraged 8. Training of teachers in supporting students on formulating and developing their business plans The following Intellectual Outputswere delivered: - The “e-learning platform and collaboration space”which will remain open at least two years after the end of the Project - provided by the University of the Aegean - “Open courses for School students: “Start-up Farm” – Phase I and II (new curricula). - “E-Handbook for Open courses "GEO-ERGON PAIDEIA" (e-guide for teachers - “Network-Cluster of Future Eco-farmers”.Project beneficiaries and the general public have the opportunity to participate in this cluster and take advantage of the project tools and results.Forty-three Memorandums of Cooperation were signed between the consortium and stakeholders. - “E-Guide for Teachers and Policy Makers - Entrepreneurship for Young Eco-farmers”. Recommendations are based on the material provided in the Web Platform, the Multiplier Events, the provided classesand evaluation results of the Project.
The «Geo-ergon Paideia» project (in Greek: Γεωργών Παιδεία - Γεωργών Παιδιά) is a transnational exchange program which aims at training school students of the secondary level of education in becoming future eco-farmers. The main purpose of the project is to implement a sustainable strategic partnership between European universities –research centres, municipalities and schools in order to reinforce the concept of agricultural education and sustainable development in rural areas through an integrated interdisciplinary approach. University of the Aegean is coordinating the project and is responsible for the project management as well. A school from Greece (Gymnasium of Geraki in Lakonia), a school from Romania (Gymnasium school Adrian V. Radulescu), Municipality of Evrotas (Greece) and Municipality of Murfatlar (Romania) constitute the partnership along with IZES (Germany) and KEAN (Greece).The project's objectives are:1. Setting up a series of online open courses on eco-farming and start-up business2. Teaching agricultural entrepreneurship to school students3. Providing learning environment for current and future eco-farmers in innovative entrepreneurship4. Empowering a large number of students, parents, and stakeholders to set-up or develop their own business5. Supporting school students, through capacity building, to ensure the sustainability of the natural environment and the development of the local economy.6. Development of a network which will include students, stakeholders, entrepreneurs, academic professionals to promote innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector in rural regions.7. Enhancement of transnational cooperation among schools in Europe.The program is addressed to students attending the second class of lower secondary school (gymnasium), who live in the selected rural areas in Greece and Romania. Apart from the students the participants of the project (around 200) include farmers, the parents of the students, local and governmental authorities, young entrepreneurs, academic professionals and researchers and stakeholders.The training program is organised with the following transnational learning activities:a) open courses “Start-up Farm” to school students at the Gymnasium of Geraki in Greeceb) open courses “Start-up Farm” to school students at the Gymnasium School Adrian V. Radulesku in Romania andc) Experiential learning workshop in Saarbrücken (Germany) through a study visit at the research institute IZES and the Bliesgau UNESCO Biosphere ReserveThrough multiplier events (Local workshops with stakeholders and Final Event -Networking) all the interested parts will participate in social dialogue for the development of eco-farming business sector , exchange knowledge, good practices and innovative methods of entrepreneurship.The expected results could be summarized as:1. Raising awareness of school students regarding professional perspectives in the agricultural sector in their region. 2. Raising awareness regarding the importance of transferable skills for professional development. 3. Introduction of school students to basic concepts of entrepreneurship . 4. Development of an integrated educational approach towards a rural sustainable development concept .5. Ideas for the development of a new summer school on eco-farming. 6. Increase in students’ business skills and positive attitude towards launching their own farm company. 7. Transfer of entrepreneurship-related knowledge and experience, between project partners, and stakeholders. This program intends to develop an integrated approach in order to bridge the gap between skills, education and labour market needs at local level in the agriculture sector that could potentially serve as a model for future use and adjustment. In addition, this project will promote interdisciplinary collaboration among different organizations, institutions and stakeholders. The development of a network of stakeholders will enhance the exchange of good practices and further collaboration leading to potential synergies.The intellectual outputs produced by the project will be available to the wider public through the e-learning platform, managed by the University of Aegean. An open access policy will be maintained throughout the duration of the project and at least two years after the completion of the project.