Context/background Aquaculture is a sector with opportunities and challenges: production of high-quality food in a more sustainable way, and new breeding techniques, alternative raw materials for feed, and other innovations contribute to this. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future. They address the global challenges we face related to the green sector, for example food, energy, and water. This project contributes to the SDG’s and European objectives by targeting following subjects: - Ensure the development of food security, food safety, and sustainability within the sector - Levelling differences across Europe - Optimize innovative effectiveness - Promote new entrepreneurship with sustainability at the forefront of their operations - Accountability to climate objectives - Exchange of students, staff, professionals working in the sector between partners in international education and enterprises - Increase and enhance labour quality and -mobility within the sector Through education on European level and scale, this project wants to responds to the opportunities, and also wants to make a positive contribution to the challenges. Based on the needs of industry, European Objectives, and the SDGs (related to food, soil, water and energy) this project contributes to the development of future employable employees, able to work internationally within the sector, and thus give shape to European labour mobility. A high-quality workforce must be created that responds to challenges facing the sector, and innovations needed in order to contribute to European aquaculture objectives. Objectives of the project With this project a long-term cooperation starts with a consortium of European VET schools, University colleges, and international industry within the sector of aquaculture. They work together on the development of training, that meet the needs of industry and the European objectives and SDG’s in aquaculture. The project aims to achieve these goals by developing European training at EQF level 4, at EQF level 5, and in work based learning programs for lifelong learning. Methodology and description of activities To ensure the outcomes are properly connected to the aquaculture industry, within this project it is important to examine the needs of industry. Which requirements (competences, knowledge, skills, and also autonomy, responsibility and complexity) require the companies of their staff? Based on input from enterprises, VET- and University colleges develop outcome based learning units EQF 4, and international training for EQF 5. Main project activities o 3 outcome based International learning units for employment at EQF level 4: workers on EQF 4, able to work in their own and other EU countries with the different production techniques, e.g. recirculation systems, pond and flow systems in freshwater cultivation, and cages and shell cultures in salt-water cultivation. o International outcome based training EQF level 5: employee/employer working at EQF 5 has knowledge, skills, competence and experience in an international context. Industry needs staff at EQF level 5, able to face challenges in the above mentioned objectives for aquaculture. o Work based learning programs/Lifelong learning. Outcome based learning in a work based setting is supported by different training programs and assessment of recognized prior learning (RPL). These programs lead to more quality in the sector and also to labour mobility. Number and profile of participants In the project are 7 project partners representing education: VET colleges and University colleges. Most colleges also offer short term courses. The 8th partner is a an enterprise in research in Aquaculture, and also offering short term courses. The combination of partners represents also education on all main production methods and aquaculture species. There is a widespread range of different kinds of aquaculture industry involved in the project as associate partner. 1 European association, 4 national associations and 9 enterprises give input and feedback in project products. During 3 pilots 52 learners are involved to test the learning units and other project product. They will contribute to improvements. Results and impact envisaged and finally the potential longer term benefits A long term aim is to raise the quality of skills of (starting) professionals and raising the quality standards in the industry, thus achieving the European objectives for aquaculture. The learning units are incorporated in education abroad, into the partner’s curricula and make it sustainable. Student exchange contributes to the development of one Europe where labour mobility is evident. The establishment of an European platform for education and industry in aquaculture and a Transnational network for professional education will ensure sustainability and long term development of education on aquaculture.
A high-quality workforce must be created that responds to challenges facing the sector, and innovations needed in order to contribute to European aquaculture objectives. To achieve this, Aqua-view has the following objectives Aqua-view aims to start a long-term cooperation with a consortium of European VET schools, University colleges, and international industry within the sector of aquaculture. They work together on the development of training, that meet the needs of industry and the European objectives and SDG’s in aquaculture. The project aims to achieve these goals by developing European training at EQF level 4/EQF level 5, and in work based learning programs for lifelong learning. Partners in the project aim to work towards a systematic exchange of students and workers in the branch between the partner Colleges (for school based training) and industry (for work based training). Through education on European level and scale, Aqua-view responds to the opportunities, and also wants to make a positive contribution to the challenges in de sector. Aqua-view aimed and aims to contribute to the development of future employable employees, able to work internationally within the sector, and give shape to European labour mobility.
Aquaculture is a sector with opportunities and challenges: production of high-quality food in a more sustainable way, and new breeding techniques, alternative raw materials for feed, and other innovations contribute to this. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future. They address the global challenges we face related to the green sector, for example food, energy, and water. This project contributed to the SDG’s and European objectives by targeting following subjects: - Ensure the development of food security, food safety, and sustainability within the sector - Levelling differences across Europe - Optimize innovative effectiveness - Promote new entrepreneurship with focus on sustainability - Accountability to climate objectives In many countries in Europe, aquaculture education is relatively small. Development and innovation power at educational institutes is less great due to limited available teaching staff. By joining forces of Aqua-view project partners from different European countries, and the support that this Erasmus KA2 project offered, there are important opportunities to strengthen education in the field of Aquaculture in Europe.