Project title: ‘Innovative Education towards Sustainable Food Systems’In face of global population growth, resource constrains and growing environmental as well as public health concerns, there is a strong need for a shift towards more sustainable development. As most of the mentioned global problems are strongly influenced by the current unsustainable food systems including diets, high priority is given towards developing strategies to improve sustainability of food production and consumption models. At the same time there are hardly any study programmes and modules targeting this important subject globally and the sustainable food is still a niche market in many European countries, hardly supported by well-educated and skilled university graduates. Therefore, SUSPLUS project will support cooperation between eight European universities to develop and implement innovative educational materials and methods in the subject of sustainable food systems, thus provide university students with necessary knowledge, competencies and skills to support this important sector, but also increase their employability.The project will begin with an in-depth analysis of students' understanding of the sustainable food system concept and their expectations towards education within this subject area, followed by the development of innovative teaching contents and by testing them with students and lecturers during educational activities, including e-learning, Intensive Study Programme, lectures about different aspects of sustainable food systems given by university students in schools, students’ Small Research Projects in cooperation with enterprises representing sustainable food sector. Building a student and alumni network in the topic of sustainable food systems is also planned. Reports, programmes and syllabuses of the above mentioned educational activities will be produced and disseminated within the Partnership and beyond, to be implemented into existing teaching programmes. In addition, a guide/booklet on the sustainable food system concept will be jointly elaborated by the project consortium and disseminated to all interested stakeholders.
Context/background of the project We are facing nowadays a global population growth causing increasing natural resources limitations and environmental problems. Loss of biodiversity and pollution of the environment are provoking drastic changes in the ecosystems and human health. The only way is to introduce sustainable development on the Earth - reasonable usage of the natural resources and less invasive farming systems. We need to develop sustainable models of the future farming, husbandry and food production systems. We observe that sustainable food systems are not enough covered by the study programs in the European Universities. Without well educated alumni we are not able to provide leaders for the sustainable development. Therefore we need new teaching programs and innovative teaching / learning methods in order to achieve all necessary goals. Objectives The aim of the project is to support cooperation between eight European Universities to develop and implement innovative educational materials and methods in the subject of sustainable food systems. The goal is to provide students with necessary knowledge, competencies and skills and to support sustainable food sector and increase students’ employability. Number and profile of participating organisations 1. Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW) – a leader of the consortium - is the oldest and the biggest agricultural university in Poland. 2. University of Copenhagen is one of the largest institutions of research and education in the Nordic countries. 3. Estonian University of Life Sciences is the only university in Estonia with the sustainable development of natural resources as the priority. 4. University of Kassel is the newest university in the state of Hessen. Interdisciplinary research is a priority for the University of Kassel. 5. University of Applied Sciences (MUAS) is a valued, innovative partner on a regional, national and international level. It is one of the largest applied science universities in Germany. 6. ISARA – Lyon is a French Higher Education Institution. One of the specialities is agroecology and sustainbble development. 7. University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy is a private non-profit institution, active in the area of sustainable food systems and innovative education. 8. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid is the oldest and largest technical university in Spain. It is the main Spanish University that deals with agricultural issues. Description of undertaken main activities I. SUSPLUS survey Task: In-depth analysis of students' understanding of the sustainable food system concept and their expectations towards education within this subject area. The survey has been conducted with ca. 100 respondents in every University. II. Development of innovative teaching tools & contents Tasks: development of tools and contents (for e-learning, Intensive Study Programme, Small Research Projects, lectures in schools). III. Testing materials & methods: A. E-learning module 'Sustainable Food Systems & Diets’. Virtual e-learning platform with on-line video lectures, group works, on-line quizes. Participants: 32 students (4 from each country) from BSc and MSc studies B. Intensive Study Programme 'Sustainable Food Systems & Diets’ Time: 23 rd July – 4 th August 2017. Place: Kiry (Tatra Mountains) & Warsaw. Participants: 32 students (4 from each country) from BSc and MSc studies. Lecturers: 10 lecturers (3 from coordinating university and 1 from each other university). C. Small Research Projects Description: Students will cooperate with stakeholders active in the area of sustainable food systems, to find, analyse and describe best practise examples within the food chain. Participants: 4 students from each partner university (2 teams x 2 students, supervised by University lecturers). D. Lectures in schools Description: Lectures about sustainable food systems were given by the students in schools (secondary schools) under supervision of the university lecturers. Participants: 4 students from each partner university (2 teams x 2 students). Results and impact attained • Reports, programmes and syllabuses of the mentioned educational activities are produced and disseminated within the Partnership and beyond, to be implemented into existing teaching programmes. • In addition, a guide/booklet on the sustainable food system concept is jointly elaborated by the project consortium and disseminated to all interested stakeholders. • Dissemination: a) Building a network in the topic of sustainable food systems b) 1st SUSPLUS international conference 'Sustainable Food Systems - Outcomes of the SUSPLUS project’ (Nuremberg, 14 II 2018) c) 2nd SUSPLUS conference 'Sustainable Food Systems - Outcomes of the SUSPLUS project’ (National – in each country, V – IX 2018) d) SUSPLUS conference 'Sustainable Food Systems – results of the SUSPLUS project’ – International, Terra Madre, Torino, 22 IX 2018