The primary objective of the BUSTA project is to revolutionize the educational landscape by integrating therapy animal training, thereby creating a framework that has real-world impact and relevance for students. The specific goals are fourfold: Empowering Teachers: To enhance teachers' ability to foster student talents through innovative pedagogy, promoting active participation, inclusivity, and psycho-affective connections. Student Development: To bolster students' capacity for embracing challenges, nurturing curiosity, and co-designing creative solutions. This includes leveraging digital tools for knowledge exchange and generating public-facing online content. Skill Acquisition: Focus on developing crucial life skills in students, such as active citizenship, critical thinking, self-regulation, empathy, and effective communication. Cross-Cultural Exchange: To foster a stronger sense of European citizenship through collaboration and exchange with partnering countries, enhancing global competence and cultural understanding. Through these objectives, the BUSTA project seeks to prepare students not just for academic success, but for meaningful, engaged participation in a rapidly changing world.
The BUSTA project was conceived to address the growing need for education systems to evolve with the challenges of the 21st century. Recognizing the gap in traditional curricula, which often overlooks the integration of real-world impacts and innovative teaching methodologies, this project aims to foster a more transdisciplinary, learner-centered approach. It specifically targets the development of key competencies in students that are vital for active, inclusive citizenship and successful labor market integration. The project's unique focus on therapy animal training not only enriches the educational experience but also creates a tangible, positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities. This integration serves as a powerful tool for building empathy, responsibility, and a sense of community among students, equipping them with essential life skills. By applying for this project, we aimed to leverage these innovative education approaches, enhancing our students' capabilities to engage meaningfully in society and address pressing social issues, thereby fulfilling a critical educational need.