European Union for Sustainable Pastoralism

EU4SUPA aims to modernize vocational education in pastoralism by integrating sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and traditional ecological practices. It seeks to enhance the skills of past...

EU4SUPA aims to modernize vocational education in pastoralism by integrating sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and traditional ecological practices. It seeks to enhance the skills of pastoralists, promote traditional knowledge, and increase the sector’s attractiveness. By fostering collaboration among rural stakeholders, the project strengthens environmental resilience, rural economies, and professional recognition within European VET frameworks.

EU4SUPA begins by identifying and documenting traditional pastoral knowledge, integrating it with scientific research to create a structured, sustainability-focused curriculum. The training programme is tested in six European regions through co-creation workshops, blended learning modules, and pilot testing. The methodology ensures accessibility and adaptation to regional contexts, fostering long-term collaboration through learning hubs and a European pastoral network.

EU4SUPA delivers a validated, scalable pastoral training programme aligned with European VET standards. It produces a best-practices compendium, knowledge sharing methodologies, and an online course available to shepherd schools. This enables blended learning opportunities for pastoralists across Europe, enhancing their skills, employability, and sustainability practices. Long-term, the project strengthens rural communities supporting new jobs based on sustainability practices in rangelands.