Allover Europe, more and more institutions are suffering due to "growing mismatch" with labor market. Labor markets are rapidly changing, due to technological advancement, greening, and ageing workforce. Higher education institutions have the responsibility to reduce this gap and prepare the young generations and foster their employability and personal development. On the other hand, Europe is constantly putting efforts in adapting its policies, strategies and actions to build a safer future for EU citizens. The European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives brought forward by the European Commission with the overarching aim of making Europe climate neutral in 2050, by introducing new legislation on the circular economy, building renovation, biodiversity, farming and innovation. In this context, a joint declaration of intent was signed on 24 February 2020 by 24 research organizations from 16 European countries aiming “Towards a Chemical Pesticide-free Agriculture”. This European Research Alliance aims to rethink the way research is carried out and develop new common research and experimentation strategies throughout whole Europe. Horticulture represents the main source of food and urban well-being, by cultivation, processing, and sale of vegetables, fruits, nuts, grapes and ornamental plants. It also provides many additional services, as plant conservation, landscape restoration, soil management, landscape and garden design, construction and maintenance, and arboriculture. Food security and nutrition cannot be conceived outside the field of horticulture and fruits and vegetable production are suffering the highest negative impact due to the use of pesticides. Therefore, the general objective of Hort4EUGreen is to train European higher education teaching and non-teaching staff and graduates by enhancing their practical skills in using modern technologies to become highly specialized in key areas related to Europe Green Deal, e.g. nutritional quality of food, pesticide analysis, sustainable production, biodiversity monitoring. The specific objectives of our project are common for all four members of the consortium. 1. Enhancing the skills and competences of teaching and non-teaching staff of the partner institutions to use new methods and protocols in the fields of analysis of food and agricultural products by participation in three training programs and four staff mobillities. 2. Enhancing the skills and competences of the master students of the partner institutions to use new methods and protocols in the fields of analysis of food and agricultural products by participation in three training programs and two mobilities.. 3. Transform the master students and staff of higher education in true factors of change for the sustainability concept, by delivering three educational materials and one digital tool to be implemented in all participating institutions. 4. Implementing a trans-disciplinary approach and innovative pedagogy in three Horticulture master courses by introducing a research-based learning module. This module that supports the acquisition of transferable, forward-looking skills, in the field of Horticulture will be realized through three innovative intellectual outputs to be used by staff of higher education acting in organic production and biodiversity fields. These objectives description of activities; methodology to be used in carrying out the project; a short description of the results and impact envisaged and finally the potential longer term benefits.
The Hort4EUGreen project's primary goal was to synchronize horticultural education and practices with the requirements of the European Green Deal, a directive guiding the European Union towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. The project's foundation was built on four key components: (1) Skill and competence enhancement for teaching and non-teaching staff, by improving the abilities and knowledge of partner institutions` staff in applying novel methods and protocols, particularly in analyzing food and agricultural products. (2) Master students' skill development, that focused on enhancing the skillset and competencies of partner institutions students by equipping them with modern methodologies and protocols in the analysis of food and agricultural products. (3) Fostering pioneers by empowering students and staff into active advocating and implementing sustainable concepts in horticulture. (4) Development of a transdisciplinary approach and innovative teaching by implementation of a research-based learning module in three Horticulture master courses in both countries, by proposing transferable skills in the field of Horticulture, thereby embracing a more holistic and forward-thinking educational framework.
The Hort4EUGreen project emerged to address critical needs identified by USAMV Bucharest and UF Sofia in their research and teaching frameworks. The preliminary needs analysis showed that both institutions share the same lack of adaptation of curricula and teaching materials to today`s market demands, making the use of knowledge generated by research to be inefficient, time-consuming and with a low impact on students, university teaching staff and the community in general. There is an urgent need of well trained and informed academic staff, prepared to teach and train the new generations of specialists, especially in the food and agricultural products fields in the new context of the European Green deal. USAMV, ZMMAE Ankara, and UF's strategic and operational plans highlight the importance of internationalization and cross-border cooperation. As key needs that we wanted to address we mention: (1) Alignment with personal and institutional goals and expertise (2) Advancing sustainable horticulture practices, as set by European Green Deal Objectives (3) Skill enhancement and knowledge exchange, for researchers and teaching staff (4) Need for specialized knowledge in organic horticulture (5) Networking and collaboration opportunities