Arboriculture as an essential Technique for managing urban green areas

According to Eurostat and OECD statistics, 72% of the EU population lives in urban areas. The results indicate a continuous growth of cities and population density, and the transformation of urban...

The Arbor Tech project aims to address the urgent need for green skills, as the EU targets becoming the world's first climate-neutral region by 2050. Expert recommendations for preserving urban environments emphasize that only professional arborists, who handle planting, pruning, and other arboricultural practices, can perform regular tree maintenance. The project's goal is to provide a professional approach to urban greenery demands through an appropriate vocational education program (level 4 EQF). The project includes: -A comprehensive assessment of educational needs in arboriculture and comparison with existing vocational education content. -Development of an innovative curriculum, “Arboriculture for Gardeners,” and its integration into formal and informal education programs at EQF level 4. -Establishment of an e-learning platform and enhancement of the learning process through digital means. -Creation of a physical and virtual dendrological laboratory. -Development of educational materials for the “Arboriculture for Gardeners” program. -Creation of a handbook for engaging participants with fewer opportunities -Promotion of arboriculture and its importance for urban areas through further education and European reference tools

Partners prepared a REPORT assessing educational needs among EMPLOYERS and EMPLOYEES in arborist services, reviewing existing arboriculture content in vocational training. This included data analysis for each country, resulting in 3 NATIONAL REPORTS and a JOINT REPORT on VET in arboriculture. From these findings, we developed a new CURRICULUM: “Arboriculture for Gardeners - VET program for Students (EQF 4).” Partners created content for FOUR PROFESSIONAL MODULES: Tree Biology and Pedology, Plant Identification and Selection, Tree Pathology, and Tree Care Operations and Work Safety. The E-LEARNING PLATFORM features these modules and a VIRTUAL DENDROLOGICAL LABORATORY with descriptions of 90 urban trees and shrubs. We designed a user-friendly platform accessible on tablets and mobile phones. Partners set up 3 PHYSICAL DENDROLOGICAL LABORATORIES in SI, HR, and SK and collected dendrology collection. A HANDBOOK FOR EMPLOYERS was created to assist in including individuals with special needs.5-DAY TRAINING for teachers at Arboretum Volčji Potok (SI) and Ljubljana was organized and 3 MULTIPLIER EVENTS. Parteners was engaged in various DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES including website and social media.

ArborTech project results are available on: https://learning.arbortech-erasmus.eu/ PR1 -Summary Report on the state of vocational education and training for arborists -3 National Reports (SI, HR, SK) PR2 - Dendrology lab -3 phisical dendrology laboratories as learning units/classrooms in three VET school centres: Biothniški center Naklo (SI), Gospodarska škola Čakovec (HR), Stredna odborna škola Pruske (SK) -Virtual dendrology laboratory with description of 90 trees and shrubs growing. PR3 - Curriculum 'Arboriculture for Gardeners' - Blended VET program for students The curriculum includes 40 hours of blended learning in four specialist modules: 1)Tree Biology and Pedology 2)Plant Identification and Selection 3)Tree Pathology 4)Tree Care Operations and Work Safety PR4 - 'Arboriculture for Gardeners': Blended learning program contents and associated training materials The content and learning materials available on the e-learning platform include: a textbook with the content of the four professional modules, self-assessment tools PR5 - 'Arboriculture for Gardeners': Educationa platform for blended learning PR6 - Guidelines for employers for inclusion of people with mild disabilities in aroboriculture