This project proposal aims at filling the gap within a common former soviet inherited agricultural sciences higher education system in Ukraine, Armenia and Uzbekistan, introducing and improving vocationally oriented practical programs based on a learning outcomes and competencies approach, targeting new and old graduates, with flexible learning pathways and permeability among the different agrarian management programs, while fostering partnership between universities and stakeholders (farm industry and associations), and practical training in real working environment to provide a better match between job market needs and the qualifications offered. Thus, a wide-range of activities will facilitate the transition from teacher centered knowledge-based form of education to student-centered practice based education in Agrarian studies and hence employability in UZ, UKR and AM by enhancing the cooperation between university and agriculture enterprises through adequate internship schemes with government support to recognize formal and informal learning and endorse ECQIP.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
- Review of the analysis of the existing training course and learning outcomes on the specialty “Agricultural Management” on the basis of competence models;
- Development of an intensive teacher training program;
- Capacity development and formation of support staff for monitoring and administering internship programs in accordance with EU models;
- Raising awareness of practical-oriented education;
- Use of data collected during the internship for further research, development of educational and agricultural guidelines.
ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT:
- View existing training programs in the specialty “Agrarian Management”.
- Creation of recommendations for new internship models, where the network of agricultural and farming cooperates to implement them in practice.
- Develop training methodology, tools and infrastructure for nefrontal practice-oriented learning.
- It is expected to finance at least 42 international internships (from the countries participating in the project to the EU countries).
- Development of an interdisciplinary and open platform for all users with the aim of promoting cooperation between enterprises and universities, expanding cooperation with farmers and introducing innovations in practical-oriented teaching and teaching.
- Monitoring of the quality of the project and the evaluation of the project.
- Creation and dissemination of information on the progress of implementation and the results of the project.
- Operational and financial management of the project.
EXPECTED RESULTS:
- Strengthening of direct links between higher educational institutions, enterprises and ministries.
- Creation of a special database, which can be useful for the needs of agricultural enterprises, economists, politicians and decision-makers on the development of the agricultural sector.
- Conducting round tables, conferences, presentations, creating publications and training materials available for the implementation of practice-oriented learning, which presents the best experience, as well as the release of the handbook results of the project, obtained during the pilot phase of the project.
- ECQIP is a reference model of education in the beneficiary countries.
- EU partners consolidate existing ties with partners from third world countries.
- Dissemination of knowledge and awareness of the project and its results.
WORKING PROJECTS PACKAGES
WP 1 – View internship programs and learning outcomes in agricultural management programs at the bachelor’s and master’s level
WP 2 – Updates of methodology, tools and learning infrastructure
WP 3 – Quality assurance and monitoring TOPAS
WP 4 – Raising awareness of and using project results
WP 5 – TOPAS management
The role of SNAU in the project
WP LEADER – WP 3
WP3 Quality control and monitoring of TOPAS
Comprehensive evaluation and development of Quality Assurance (QA) system for internships. ? Integration of QA system for internship in ZWO partners and implementation of QA system on field practice and monitoring of progress in practice
Internal and expert evaluation
External evaluation
WP ASSISTANT – WP 1,4
WP PARTICIPANT – WP 2,5
