The Project “Training Plan on Bioenergy for the Agri-food Sector-RURAL BIOENERGY” is a project of cooperation for innovation of a partnership strategy for vocation education and training among 6 partners from 5 countries. RURAL BIOENERGY derives from the needs analysis that arises from the bioeconomy in rural areas. EU’s Horizon 2020 objectives have given rise to policies that encourage bioenergy projects related to the agri-food sector. This project is based on the promotion of rural areas manpower requirements in order to meet EU objectives, policies and strategies (principally Europe 2020 Strategy). The transition towards a circular economy also requires skilled labour with new and specific qualifications as well as the creation of employment opportunities. There is a training gap in this field and in the following years training will be demanded when the deployment of rural bioenergy will step up. Currently, some professional qualifications cover certain needs regarding energy and the agri-food sector. Nevertheless, it is necessary to develop specific professional qualifications that integrate the above mentioned aspects, as we find ourselves facing a confluence of different sectors and knowledge areas. PROJECT OBJECTIVES: - Development of a Training Plan on Bioenergy to contribute to the professionalization in rural areas on bioenergy . - Elaboration of the methodological guide for training and other educational resources and tools that contribute to the professional development of trainers/teachers/mentors and enhance the access to training and qualifications for all. - Development of transversal competence of “BIOENERGY SPECIALIST FOR AGRI-FOOD SECTOR” (for potential future recognition and validation in EQF or in participant countries). - To promote innovative pedagogical methodologies as a successful recipe for satisfactory transition to labor market. - To promote the cooperation and offer training opportunities for local communities as well as to facilitate the development of rural economy. The applicant is MANCOMUNIDAD ALTA SANABRIA, a Spanish local entity. The rest of the partners are the Spanish environmental company SERVIMA, the Portuguese association for the development CoraNE, the Italian Confederation of Farmers in Tuscany, CIA TOSCANA, the the Slovakian vocational training institution AGROINSTITUT NITRA and the Bulgarian engineering company in energy efficiency QUATTROGI. The project aims the involvement of the target groups in drafting the contents and the consensus of a methodology to develop the training route. It will be achieved through a fluid exchange of information and common experiences among a broad newtwork of stakeholder, direct and indirect participants, especially in rural areas: local Action Groups and rural develpment actors ; agricultural unions; associations for the valorization of biomass producers of renewable energy, bioenergy technology enterprises; environmental associations; institutes of rural youth and women associations; research centers and University; non-formal vocational training entities and with lifelong learning programs; formal Centres of VET; public and private entities of employment; associations of entrepreneurs; local authorities, educational authorities and other , etc The results of the Project will materialize in the following intelectual outputs: O1. Methodological guide for training O2. Structured training course O3. Educational materials for students O4. ICT educational platform and for knowledge and job exchange There will be also, as results, two multiplier events (E1 and E2) and one training activity (Short-term joint staff training event). Transnational Meetings: M1. Puebla de Sanabria (Spain) – November '17; M2. Braganca (Portugal) – May '18; M3. Florence (Italy) – January '19; M4. Puebla de Sanabria (Spain) – August'19 In a short-medium term, the positive impacts on the persons involved in the activities, among others: - Increased sense of initiative and entrepreneurship. - Higher levels of skills, employability and creation of new businesses (including social enterprises). - More positive attitude towards the European project and European values - Improvement of skills related to the beneficiaries professional profiles. - Promote quality youth work and the professionalization in rural areas - Increase competitiveness of the agribusiness sector by the formation of the rural population In the long term (after the life of the project), the participant organizations will benefit from the direct contribution of this project to the objectives of the laws and national and European regulations on bioenergy and rural development. The "RURAL BIOENERGY TRAINING PACKAGE” (OER) will have an impact on all local, regional, national and international stakeholders in participatory and community development groups and will contribute decisively to the sustainability of the project, as well as the ICT platform and other activities.
The Project “Training Plan on Bioenergy for the Agri-food Sectors-RURAL BIOENERGY” is a project of cooperation for innovation of a partnership strategy for vocation education and training among 6 partners from 5 countries. RURAL BIOENERGY derives from the needs analysis that arises from bio-economics in rural areas. EU’s Horizon 2020 objectives have given rise to policies that encourage bioenergy projects related to the agri-food sector. This project is based on the promotion of manpower requirements in rural áreas in order to meet EU objectives, policies and strategies. The transition towards a circular economy also requires skilled labour with new and specific qualifications as well as the creation of employment opportunities. There is a training gap in this field and in the following years training will be demanded when the deployment of rural bioenergy will step up. Currently, some professional qualifications cover certain needs regarding bioenergy. Nevertheless, it is necessary to develop specific professional qualifications that integrate the mentioned aspects, as we find ourselves facing a confluence of different sectors and knowledge areas. PROJECT OBJECTIVES: - Development of a Training Plan on Bioenergy to contribute to the professionalization on bioenergy in rural areas . - Elaboration of the methodological guide of new qualification and training and other educational resources and tools that contribute to the professional development of trainers/teachers/mentors and enhance the access to training and qualifications for all. - Development of the new competence of worker “BIOENERGY SPECIALIST FOR AGRI-FOOD SECTORS” (for potential recognition and validation in the future). - To promote innovative pedagogical methodologies as a successful recipe for satisfactory transition to labour market. - To promote the cooperation and offer training opportunities for local communities as well as to facilitate the development of bioenergy use and rural economy. The applicant is MANCOMUNIDAD ALTA SANABRIA, a Spanish local entity. The rest of the partners are the Spanish environmental company SERVIMA, the Portuguese association for the development CoraNE, the Italian Confederation of Farmers in Tuscany, CIA TOSCANA, the Slovak vocational training institution, AGROINSTITUT NITRA and the Bulgarian engineering company in energy efficiency, QUATTROGI. The project aims the involvement of the target groups in drafting the contents and the consensus of a methodology to develop the training route. It will be achieved through a fluid exchange of information and common experiences among a broad network of stakeholder, direct and indirect participants, especially in rural areas: local Action Groups and rural development actors ; agricultural unions; associations for the valorisation of biomass producers of renewable energy, bioenergy technology enterprises; environmental associations; institutes of rural youth and women associations; research centers and University; non-formal vocational training entities and with lifelong learning programs; formal Centres of VET; public and private entities of employment; associations of entrepreneurs; local authorities, educational authorities , etc In order to involve that stakeholders, the consortium has done a great effort in dissemination activities: around 20 dissemination seminars have been held, in addition to other project presentation meetings; 4 Newsletters have been disseminated; news and articles published; website; blog; mailings; social networks, etc The results of the Project will materialize in the following intelectual outputs: O1. Methodological guide for training O2. Structured training course O3. Educational materials for students O4. ICT Platform (for training and for knowledge and job exchange) There has been also two multiplier events (E1 and E2), one training activity (Short-term joint staff training event C1) and 4 Transnational Meetings: 1. Padornelo (Sanabria -Spain); 2. Bragança (Portugal); Florence (Italy); 4. Lubián (Sanabria- Spain). "RURAL BIOENERGY TRAINING PACKAGE” (OER) will have an impact on all local, regional, national and international stakeholders in participatory and community development groups and will contribute decisively to the sustainability of the project, as well as the ICT platform E-learning, the website and other activities (articles, Newsletters…) In the short and medium term, the positive impacts of the project are: training in bioenergy, professionalization of the rural population; promotion of bioenergetic uses; increase competitiveness of the agricultural and agroindustrial sectors; improvement of teacher skills and curricula for vocational training, promotion of initiative and entrepreneurship; greater employability and creation of new companies; more positive attitude towards Europe as a common space.