"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 main aim of the B-LAND project is to assist VET educators of low-skilled adult people in 6 partner countries (Spain, Greece, Poland and Bulgaria) to become successful entrepreneurs with a focus on small business development. The partnership aims to increase vocational competences of teachers/trainers of entrepreneurship through an innovative pedagogy and approach to teaching with the use of interactive and innovative mobile learning application applied for agriculture, forestry & rural context.The main output of this project will consist of multilingual INSTANT ACCESS MOBILE CLASSROOM in the form of 5 short learning modules for innovative VET curricula that will address the most important topics on entrepreneurship education as business modeling, design thinking,business planning or use of ICT tools; and will focus on pedagogical approach on how Teachers can develop their skills of personalizing learning and making it more engaging and relevant to young adults from rural areas. B-LAND project approach will prove significant in ensuring people’senjoyment of, motivation about and engagement with learning enhancement of their skills. This innovative e-learning approach will be completed by BEST PRACTICES GUIDE, that will contain cases of experienced VET and Formal education Teachers/Trainers, in order to guide educators onhow to equip their students with knowledge and skills relevant for entrepreneurship and personal development.THE MAIN OBJECTIVE of the project is:- to empower VET trainers/teachers that assist low-skilled adults from rural areas in partner countriesto become successful entrepreneurs with a focus on small business development.THE SPECIFIC GOALS of B-LAND project are:- develop the capacity of adult trainers and teachers and VET supporting organisations in entrepreneurship;- strengthening the competences of educational workers to support their target- groups (low-skilled adults from rural areas);- provide participants skills that are necessary to succeed in teaching activities that are focused on;- develop basic and transversal skills: enhance digital integration in learning and teaching through promoting access to and learning through OER;- support ICT-based teaching and ICT-based assessment practices;THE MAIN PRODUCTS OF THE PROJECT ARE:IO1. Competence framework for entrepreneurial learning in rural context (10.2020 - 02.2021)IO2. Training course structure and materials development for 5 learning modules (02.2021 -09.2021)IO3. Multilingual APP - INSTANT ACCESS MOBILE CLASSROOM - ICT tool (11.2019 - 09.2022)IO4. Best Practices Guide on Entrepreneurial Training & Personal Development in Rural Areas (09.2021 - 08.2022)IMPACTThe key task for B-LAND project is to support VET trainers/teachers in the development of skills and competencies like entrepreneurship which will help them become successful entrepreneurs with a focus on small rural business development. These new challenges of education providers face created the need for further qualification of VET trainers and professionals in order to foster “train the trainer” programmes to prepare VET staff fornew participant groups and demands. This partnership is aware that there´s a need not only to include policies focused rural entrepreneurship but also it's crucial to boost such an environment developing the capacity of educators, trainers and teachers and VET supporting organisations inentrepreneurship.B-LAND outputs will be targeted also to those entities in the field of rural entrepreneurship lifelong learning/training/promotion through accompanying measures such as training, counselling, advising, coaching, mentoring etc. These entities are in direct contact with the current or future entrepreneurs from rural area, especially young adults.The organisations in the lifelong learning can be private or public and in this project we will especially focus on those public authorities that are directly related to agriculture, forestry and rural areas for spread the project results in rural context. The continuing importance of appropriate innovative interventions to support rural education, entrepreneurship & low-educated adult people through VET trainers/teachers brings positive effects of involvement and commitment of participating institutions.

Extreme wildfire events (EWE) are becoming a major environmental, economic and social threat in Southern Europe and increasingly gaining importance elsewhere in Europe. As the limits of fire suppression-centered strategies become evident, practitioners, researchers and policymakers increasingly recognise the need to develop novel approaches that shift emphasis to the root causes and impacts of EWE, moving towards preventive landscape and community management for greater resilience. FIRE-RES integrates existing research, technology, civil protection, policy and governance spheres related to wildfires to innovate processes, methods and tools to effectively promote the implementation of a more holistic fire management approach and support the transition towards more resilient landscapes and communities to EWE. To achieve this, FIRE-RES will, first, generate new knowledge on sustainable integrated fire management models that help to define what type of possible future scenarios (including climate change and general policies) should be promoted across EU territories. Second, it will identify and demonstrate innovations at the technological, social, health/safety, administrative, ecological and economic levels to define how and across which possible paths the future scenarios may be achieved in the EU. These innovations will be implemented in different regional contexts, and upscaled at the national and EU levels using an open innovation hub, promoting capacity building and partnership brokerage between public and private actors. Third, it will raise societal awareness and engagement on wildfire risk prevention, preparedness and response by leveraging existing national and cross-border networks at supranational levels. FIRE-RES is a transdisciplinary, multi-actor consortium, formed by researchers, wildfire agencies, technological companies, industry and civil society from 13 countries, linking to broader networks in science and disaster reduction management.

<< Background >>Food production needs to increase by 70%, actually mostly through yield increases (FAO, 2014), to feed the world in 2050. Productivity increases have often been accompanied by negative effects on agriculture’s natural resource base, to such an extent that it could affect its productive potential in the future. This situation is further compounded by climate change impacts reducing the resilience of agro-ecosystems. Improving resource-use efficiency and productivity of agro-ecosystems are therefore essential in order to reach food-security objectives. These are the main goals of climate-smart agriculture as well a goal No. 13 between the 17 Sustainability Development Goals defined by FAO. Continuing this path is not an option as it will put additional pressure on the already stressed natural resource base and local livelihoods, while climate change is further reducing the resilience of agro-ecosystems and smallholder farmers. Research carried out shows that the ecosystem approaches that combine both food and energy production could substantially mitigate these risks while providing both food and energy to rural and urban populations. From this point of view, integrated Food-Energy Systems (IFES) covered integration of food and energy production may be one of the best ways to improve national food and energy security and simultaneously reduce poverty in a climate-smart way. An IFES is a diversified farming system, which is a system of agricultural production that incorporates agro-biodiversity and builds on the principles of sustainable production intensification. IFES can functions at various scales and configurations, from small-scale operations managed at the village or household level primarily to meet domestic needs and sustain local livelihoods to large-scale operations designed for commercial activities. Depending on the circumstances, the generation of solar, thermal, geothermal, photovoltaic, wind and water energy can be an integral part of the system.<< Objectives >>The main aim of the SOLAR project is through innovative technologies and personalized learning to improve competences, knowledge, skills and qualifications of the small and middle farmers in the field of IFES that may lead to the smart agriculture positive approach.Currently existing learning materials for farmers are mostly focused on the separate areas of bio-food production or alternative/renewable energies. Moreover, these learning materials/events/courses are very general and based on the sophisticated technologies, which are not always suitable for the people from agricultural practice.We offer to develop comprehensive curriculum and complex learning materials oriented on the problems of IFES with the main attention on the climate-smart approach.The SOLAR project plans to develop following project results and learning event:R1 – Result 1 “SOLAR competences and curriculum”− Methodology for introducing SOLAR competences in curricula− SOLAR competences framework - SOLAR curriculumR2 - Result 2 “Case Studies and Open Education Resources on IFES “:− edition Case Studies of successful ways of implementation on IFES− Integrated learning modules & Open educational resourcesR3 - Result 3: “Personalized Learning Platform”- Personalised Training System aimed on development of the platform help learners to fulfil their learning goals at their own pace.As a primary target groups of our SOLAR activities can be defined:- Adults, especially small and young farmers, which have interest about sustainable agricultural land use, climate changes, environment protection and safeguarding high quality living in the rural in the future.- Especially SOLAR competences and curriculum will targeted VET institutions acting in formal as well non-formal and informal education and training, which can act for improving the situation for small and family farms. Most EU farm managers have acquired agricultural experience through practical work and only around 20% of them had attended some agricultural training.<< Implementation >>During the project lifetime following activities will be organized with the aim to meet the project objectives:Five transnational meetings of whole consortium:- KickOff meeting (November 2021, France)- 2nd meeting (April 2022, Poland) - 3rd meeting (October 2022, Italy) - 4th meeting – (April 2023, Spain) - Final meeting – (October 2023, Bulgary)Activities related to the Management and Implementation:- establishment of the Executive committee, Promotion and Dissemination Committee and Quality Committee.- development of the Quality Management Plan- development of the Integrated Dissemination Strategy- internal evaluation of intellectual outputs development progress. - development of the Pilot plan and Strategy for Multiplier events and Final Conference. Main activities related to Project result No. 1:-Development of the research tools for the collection and analysis of evidence to define the SOLAR competences- SOLAR Competences identification- SOLAR curriculum definitionMain activities related to Project result No. 2:- Methodology and didactical framework definition - Case Studies of successful ways of implementation on IFES design− Open educational resources developmentMain activities related to Project result No. 3:- establish the central project document repository and database - establish the initial platform publicity front page - methodology for personalized learning - concept, structure and layout of online platform design- implementation of digitalized platform and content development - Guide for personalized learning<< Results >>The following list provides an overview of all results, outcomes and events that will be realized in the frame of the SOALR project:- R1 - SOLAR competences and curriculum;- R2 - Case Studies on IFES and Open Education Resources on IFES;- R3 - Personalized Learning Platform.EVENTS- KickOff meeting (November 2021, France)- 2nd meeting (April 2022, Poland) - 3rd meeting (October 2022, Italy) - 4th meeting – (April 2023, Spain) - Final meeting – (October 2023, Bulgary)- 5 Multiplier events - 1 Final conference- Pilot evaluation in each countryPROJECT MANAGEMENT - Project Management Handbook- Project Brand ManualDISSEMINATION - Integrated Dissemination Strategy- Dissemination Directory- Project website as a part of the SOLAR Platform- Social Media accounts- Project Brochure for (digital) distribution - Project Pop up Stand - Media Launch at project outset QUALITY / EVALUATION - Quality Management and Evaluation Strategy- Interim and Final Report

<< Background >>For the last ten years, the timber and wood commerce in the European Union has a value of 1.57 thousand millions and 922.69 thousand million euros on average, thus impacting forestry and those industries related to the primary and secondary transformation of wood, like woodworking and furniture sectors, in terms of employment and GDP of EU countries.Europeans are consuming resources at twice the speed that is planned to renew them. In spite of this, 30% of the wood used in the EU comes from countries where illegal logging and partial deforestation are usual. In such a situation, certified forests, wood and products, ecodesign and circular economy can be considered as the most proper tools to deal with these problems.In today's market, environmentally-friendly products have a competitive advantage due to the emergence of consumers concerned about the environmental impact of their activities and goods they purchase. There is a trend in the market to buy certified products instead of non-certified products because some companies just deal with certified products. The trend started with the biggest actors, and the rest are following this path. At the end of 2019, approximately 97% of the wood used by IKEA was from sustainable sources.Over the recent years, the sensitivity of world public opinion on the issues of sustainable forest management in light of climate change and the resulting impacts has increased. Forests provide several ecosystem services from timber and non-wood forest products to carbon sequestration and recreation for human well-being (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). Globally, the annual growth in area of certified forests has been quite constant. Well-managed forests have tremendous potential to contribute to sustainable development and to a greener economy. [Forest certification map of Europe, Mauro Maesano 2018]Under this context, different certifications have been created to manage forest-based products, like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). Such schemes are normally integrated into environmental management systems, based on standards like ISO 14001 or EMAS, that, along with other tools and schemes like life cycle assessment and Ecolabels, help companies in the processes and procedures related to the use of certified wood in construction or furniture manufacturing.On the other hand, the tremendous rise of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) leads to the discussion of how forestry can benefit from this development. Several publications are discussing the potential of I4.0 for the forestry sector and give examples for practical applications. The economic potential of I 4.0 in forestry has an estimated increase in added gross value of 15%. Some articles identify general trends towards a smart wood supply chain and concrete I4.0 application examples, which are already in practical use or still in the stage of research and development. On a process level, the I4.0 application examples range from computerized decision support aids to electronic control, machine vision and post-harvest management. The value of I4.0 mainly lies in the interconnection of process steps along the value chain, with close to unlimited information flow and allocation in an internet of trees and services. This can lead to significant changes and value-adds in harvest planning, harvest organization and control, operations, transport and logistics as well as timber sales. Furthermore, developments of simulation modelling based on remote sensing data in forestry have appeared. This turns out to be the basis for the concept of a virtual forest as a digital copy of the reality. We can argue that data within an internet of trees and services should be interesting for manufacturing enterprises of the sector. We will address technical challenges of I4.0 in wood supply that could be applied to those enterprises in order to digitally transform them. [Digitization in wood supply, Fabian Müllera 2019]<< Objectives >>INTRuST will address experts from furniture-related companies, forest operators, companies’ employees and managers dealing with wood certifications and/or buildings certifications interested in increasing their skills and competences, VET providers, training organisations and educators providing training programmes related to wood and forest certifications. Related to the different certification schemes, professionals and enterprises only can find the procedures and rules to fulfill by the certification bodies. We have detected a lack of training about how to pass and fulfill those requirements and finally achieve the certifications. The experience of our partnership in training and consultancy services about how to deal with those certifications is impossible to find in the training market. For that reason, there is a huge lack of skilled technicians who only can learn through the experience. Moreover, the consortium will address a skills needs study, together with the training development, about innovations done in forestry and wood companies regarding Industry 4.0 solutions for the wood supply chain. The wood supply chain describes the process steps starting with harvest planning and ending with logistics and sales. Proper training in this topic can support competitiveness and innovation in those enterprises as a starting point.INTRuST partnership brings together experts in technology, wood certification, forestry and energy consumption, forest certification and environmental marketing from VET institutions, research entities and industry representatives that will work together to reach the INTRuST objectives and delivery of the outputs indicated above. All partners have a strong focus on the sustainability of wood-related products and woodworking sectors. To achieve the main goals INTRUST has defined the following specific objectives: SO1 Increase the knowledge, skills and attitudes on climate change and sustainable development in VET through the design of a new curricula on environment-related strategies and certifications that will adapt VET provisions according to the skills needs of the addressing sectors and will contribute to the validation of non-formal learning. SO2: Improve digital readiness of wood and furniture manufacturers through the development of specific training of industry 4.0 in the forest and wood value chain which could support a “twin green and digital transitions”. SO3 To develop and test a digital guidance tool that will allow industries to know what certifications schemes are the most suitable and then suggest the appropriate training content to study in each case, contributing to the promotion of flexible and permeable pathways.SO4 To deliver the training through e-learning platform (MOOC) in different EU languages, providing interactive learning materials and promoting the use of open and online learning, as well as multidisciplinary learning approachesSO5 To raise awareness about the importance of the different certification schemes that can support the enterprises to improve their performance and sells.<< Implementation >>The partnership has identified the following methodology to assure that the project will successfully deliver all projected outputs and outcomes. Following an agreement among partners, based on their experiences and know-how that enables partners to increase their contributions about roles and tasks, the project work plan is organized within 24 months and ensures that all project objectives will be achieved with a high-quality standard. The project is organized into four work packages, strongly interconnected. We identified a simultaneous and rational set of activities:-Analyse the situation and evolution of VET offer focused on certifications and I4.0 in the value chain of furniture, forestry and timber to include current knowledge, skills and qualifications needs; -Prepare the joint curriculum to satisfy the previously identified skills and knowledge needs and detail the related learning outcomes and contents, taking into account EU VET policies, principles and tools for quality, transparency and mobility (ECVET, EQF, EQAVET), with differences between different NQF analysed and harmonized and curriculum training path and modules authenticated by relevant wood-related sector actors and stakeholders;.-Develop the needed training material taking into account the appropriate training methodologies identified for each of the different modules. The materials will be interactive and will include more than 60% of those in the form of videoclips. -Design, create and test an e-learning platform according to the course needs;-Integrate the training materials into the platform and test its proper performance;-Deliver the INTRuST+ Coaching Tool to support learners and facilitate all interested companies to manage and implement their own certification for their products and integrate I4.0 solutions; -Implement a Pilot Course in each of the project’s countries to test and validate the content and methodological and assessment systems;-Implement a proper dissemination strategy from the project start and make it stronger when key project outcomes and results are available; and-Ensure free access to the training contents for end users and establish the proper intellectual property rights (IPR) for other users.-Each partner will support project results, dissemination and exploitation by organizing a local/national Multiplier Event involving at least 30 actors/stakeholders by each event.<< Results >>The project will develop four main results, including: R1- Analysis and Report on the situation of Forestry and Furniture certifications and I4.0 solutions and Joint Curriculum.R2-INTRuST+ Coaching Tool. A coaching and auto-diagnosis tool where learners will have the chance to work on their certifications through editing specific sections (processes, procedures, indicators and other documents), adapting it to the characteristics of their organizations. The tool will suggest I4.0 technologies to be used in enterprises that aim to implement a digital transformation according to their profiles. R3-INTRuST Training Modules Development. R3 aims to deliver novel training content and support professionals from the furniture, forestry and timber sectors in their acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences needed to successfully implement certifications within their company. It will be based on the content of the analysis developed in R1. In the training course composed of such content, every task will be identified as relevant for the successful implementation of certificates. It will be described in detail in the training units, which will contain all relevant information for implementation. The course will be organized in 3 main modules:-Normative, certification and regulation for Timber and Wood, Furniture and Forestry-Industry 4.0 solutions in the F&W value chain-Environmental marketing and circular economy approachR4- INTRuST Collaborative Platform and Pilot Action. The INTRuST Collaborative Platform will be built based on the joint curriculum previously identified (R1), and it will cover all learning outcomes that learners will need to complete certificates implementation and I4.0 training, previously developed during R3. The INTRuST Collaborative Platform will allow personalized training paths to be built by verifying existing capacities and interest of participants about green certificates, I4.0 and implementation processes.Besides other sharing activities, 5 Multiplier Events will be arranged. They will include in total 150 participants with different profiles such as Professionals of certifications, ICT experts, Circular Economy experts, VET trainers, Different workers of the sector including managers and production managers.Our RESULTS will impact on those target groups producing the following outcomes:-Professionals, students and unemployed persons interested in green certifications related to the wood and furniture sectors will be provided with innovative e-learning instruments that are able to deliver customized training paths, materials and facilities to implement certifications.-Enhance digital skills and competences for the digital transformation of the sector by developing innovative training materials of I4.0 applied to the wood value chain. -Companies interested in implementing certifications will acquire detailed process knowledge, innovative instruments to increase knowledge and instruments to make the implementation process cheaper, easier and faster. Moreover, they will increase their digital readiness specially for a digital and fair wood value chain. They will be able to strengthen their competitiveness in a sustainable way. Proper skills in I4.0 technologies will eliminate the major barrier to business investment. It will prevent labour market mismatches and will plant the seed for R&D and innovation.-VET providers (public or private, initial or continuous) and higher education institutions (specialized in forestry and wood-related products) will be provided with a better knowledge of certificates implementation, new materials and innovative instruments for their training courses.