From Theoretical-Oriented to Practical Education in Agrarian Studies (TOPAS)

From Theoretical-Oriented to Practical Education in Agrarian Studies / TOPAS

585603-EPP-1-2017-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP

Project acronym: TOPAS

Regional Multi-Country Joint Project

Priority – Higher Education and Society

Project duration: 15 October 2017 – 14 October 2020

EU funding instrument: European Neighbourhood Instrument (Erasmus+:КА2 CBHE)

Erasmus+ (CBHE) grant amount: 977963,00 €

Target groups: university students and staff, practical Education in Agrarian Studies

Grant holder: Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Germany

Coordinator and General Manager: Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c.mult. SNAU, ANAU Ralf Schlauderer (+499826654101, ralf.schlauderer@hswt.de)

Partnership:

Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Writtle University College, United Kingdom
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Iasi, Romania
Armenian National Agrarian University, Armenia
Yerevan State University, Armenia
Samarkand Agricultural Institute, Uzbekistan
Andijan agricultural institute, Uzbekistan
National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine
Sumy National Agrarian University, Ukraine

Project goals and objectives:

Wide-range of project activities will facilitate the transition from teacher centered knowledge-based form of education to student-centered practice based education in Agrarian studies. Implementation and improvement of vocationally oriented practical programs based on a learning outcomes and competencies approach will have a positive effect on employability in Ukraine, Armenia and Uzbekistan.

Specific project objectives are:

Revision of course assessment and learning outcomes on Agrarian Management programs based on competence-based models;
Intensive teacher training program;
Capacity building and formation of supporting staff to monitor and administrate internship schemes according to EU models.
Raising awareness of practice-based education.
Use of internship data collection for further research activities, educational and farm policy guidelines.

Project activities:

Revision of existing programs in agriculture management.
Suggestion of new models for internships where a network of agriculture and farm firms cooperate to put them into practice.
Development of more student-centered and practice-based form of education teaching methodology, tools & infrastructure.
At least 42 international internships are expected to be funded (PC to EU).
Cross-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform for promoting enterprise-university cooperation, increasing collaboration with farm industry and innovating in practice-based teaching and learning.
Quality monitoring and project evaluation.
Diffusion and exploitation of the project process and results.
Financial & operational project management.

Expected results:

Reinforcement of direct connections between both HEIs, enterprises and the Ministries.
Creation of a specific databank that can be useful for the needs of farm enterprises, economists, policy makers and decision-makers in the agricultural sector.
Establishing of publications, round tables, conferences, presentations and portfolio of teaching materials available to deliver practice-based education that present best practices and to hand out a handbook with lessons learned from the piloting phase.
Development and implementation of ECQIP as a model of reference in beneficiary countries
EU partners consolidate the existing links with third country partners.
Dissemination & raising awareness on the project and the project results.
Project coordination, financial and operational management performed.