Micro- and project-based learning programme for Teaching ciRcular Economy and Ecological awareness in VET

The linear economy model (take – make – waste) currently in use is showing all its limitations over time. For this reason, the EU is promoting an alternative economic system designed to regenerate...

TREE project will address the following needs: Provision of common definitions of “green skills” for the plastics, wood and agrifood sector; Provision of training for teachers to implement Education for Sustainable Development in VET institutions; Increase of VET students environmental awareness and “green skills”; Integrating the teaching of ESD in VET institutions to provide “green skills”; Harmonization of educational policies for promotion of the green transition and the CE; Establishing closer cooperation between businesses and VET institutions.

Project’s main activities were divided into 7 Work Packages (WPs) connected to the creation of results and to Transversal Activities (TA): WP1 Knowledge building: it was focused on the creation of the Methodological material and on defining how to integrate Education for sustainable development theories and practices in VET Schools WP2 TREE training course and testing: consisted in the development of activities, tools, teaching materials on how to adopt TREE methodology in VET schools. WP3 Digitalization process: it consisted in the development of an Open Educational Resources Platform where all the digitalized version of the previous results were available. TA1 Project management and implementation (PMI), coordinated by the project coordinator and the PMI group. TA2 dissemination, which is focused on sharing and promotion of project’s activities and results. TA3 quality and monitoring activities, which consisted in evaluating activities and results and measuring the impact. TA4 exploitation and sustainability, which consisted in promoting the adoption of project’s results in the long run by stakeholders.

TREE project partners developed: 1. Methodological material (https://treeproject.eu/methodological-material-e-book/), based on the data collected during the field and desk research phase, where the micro learning and the project based learning methodologies where described, as well as green skills and Education for Sustainable development practices. This result is available as an e-book in EN and all partners’ languages (LT, BG, EE, NL). 2. TREE training course (https://treeproject.eu/general-part-circular-economy-sustainability/) is designed to transmit knowledge and competences about circular economy and sustainability. It includes 30 short and interactive lessons, 18 practical activities and 6 assessment tools, all available on the OER Platform. 3. OER Platform (https://treeproject.eu/general-part-circular-economy-sustainability/ and https://treeproject.eu/tree-database/) where all the previously mentioned results are available in a digitalize and free access environment. 4. Training for teachers based on TREE training course and methodology. 5. 3 months testing phase in schools where the trained teachers were able to put into practice the skills they acquired during the training.