The CROP project aimed to enhance the relevance and local impact of Higher Education (HE) by creating an innovative bridge with the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). The objectives included mapping and analyzing local ecosystems to identify and validate six key “Glocal Challenges” faced by CCIs in partner regions, ensuring the project addressed real-world needs. It also aimed to design and launch a professional European specialization course's program, PICC (Project Innovation and Cultural Creativity), introducing innovative teaching practices to participating universities. Another key goal was to equip Arts and Humanities graduates with entrepreneurial, digital, and green skills for sustainable career development, enabling them to tackle complex cultural and societal issues. The project sought to foster long-term collaboration between HEIs and CCI stakeholders, where both co-define training needs and collaborate on applied, challenge-based projects with students. Finally, CROP aimed to demonstrate the value of transdisciplinary and experiential learning, setting a model for future HE initiatives across Europe and aligning with New European Bauhaus principles.
The CROP project application was motivated by the strategic need to bridge the gap between academic theory and the practical requirements of the Cultural and Creative Industries. The primary driver was to address the lower employability rates of Art and Humanities graduates compared to other sectors by introducing innovative peer learning practices involving students, academic staff, and CCI stakeholders. The project addressed critical needs such as the lack of vocational training, static teaching methodologies, and the weak linkage between higher education and the university's Third Mission. By utilizing the concept of "creativity spillover," CROP aimed to enhance creative thinking in students within two years of graduation. Centered on EU priorities of common values and civic engagement, the project developed an European Specialization Course (PICC) to provide students with certified professional knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, an innovative 6-month program that integrates Architecture, Economics, Design, Social Sciences, and Digital Technologies. The program aims to equip participants with the practical skills needed for sustainable solutions and cultural entrepreneurship.