Hortus Medicus - Horticultural Therapy Education Tools in Action

Nature-based Solutions contribute positively to the European Green Deal, by supporting a range of ecosystem services, such as Green Care services, including horticultural therapy (HT). HT is an ef...

The project aimed to spread the recognition and use of horticultural therapy in Hungary and Romania, to introduce a TH training and related education materials in these countries, while enriching existing TH curricula with e-learning content in Austria and in Italy. We planned trainings that enable healthcare, social and specialist education professionals with the necessary knowledge to introduce and apply horticultural therapy in their daily practice, thereby helping the effectiveness of their work. HT skills can also empower these professionals with a useful burnout prevention methodology. Farmers can introduce HT as a new function to their multifunctional farm. On the long run our project aimed to help addressing the barriers arising from physical and mental health issues, to foster the inclusion of disadvantaged people. The aim of the project was to create a 120-hour horticultural therapy training with related educational materials and e-learning content, by developing a curriculum, a handbook and e-learning content. Our goal was to create an innovative training that can be provided in the traditional way of contact teaching or in the form of a blended learning, with theoretical parts in e-learning format.

In the project a 120-hour TH curriculum was created, containing 5 modules that were compiled by small mixed partner expert groups of the project partners. We compiled a TH handbook, also by partner expert groups. Digital content was developed for a 40-hour e-learning training. The work was implemented in working groups for the 5 modules of the curricula, the e-learning and the chapters of the handbook. Cooperation based on digital tools was carried out. Experts of the project consortium cross-checked the modules and chapters to ensure high quality. The curriculum and the handbook was tested during pilot trainings in Hungary and in Romania. Flexible project management and quality management was carried out, ensuring good quality project results, and efficient implementation. 6 international project meetings were organized, and online PM meetings in approx. every second month. To share project results with stakeholders, 16 multiplier events were organized, and diverse dissemination activities were carried out, reaching local, regional and national audiences. In addition to the already planned activities, 4 pilot TH programs were implemented in different social institutions and specialist schools with different target groups .

We developed 3 project results: R1. Curriculum of TH training, a 120-hour curriculum with 5 modules, in 3 languages: Hungarian, Romanian, English. R2. TH handbook, with 5 chapters in 3 languages: Hungarian, 173 pages, Italian, 162 pages, English, 162 pages. R.5. Digital content development for the TH training, 40 hrs e-learning in Hungarian and English. On the Moodle platform, the Hungarian training contains 39 compulsory and 46 recommended, the English training 43 compulsory and 23 recommended items. R3 Impact measurement methodology recommendation was not funded, so the topic was included into R1, R2 and R5. R4 Methodological guide was not funded either, so the methodology was partly included in R1 and detailed lesson plans were created for pilot training modules. The consortium met personally during 6 international meetings. Two focus groups meetings (E1, E2) were organized with relevant stakeholders. We organized two 120-hour pilot trainings (E3-E12), with 80 hrs of contact training and 40 hrs e-learning, with 19 participants in the Hungarian and 16 participants in the Romanian pilot. 2 workshops (E13, E15), a seminar (E14) and a final conference (E16) were organized. More than 130 dissemination activities were carried out.