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ECECT: New Project on Board “Sustain4Rural” (Erasmus+, KA2)

ECECT is happy to present a new project on board: “Sustain4Rural” funded by Erasmus+ The consortium of the project consists of 3 partners one is ECECT from Cyprus, the second is Parpounas Sustainability Consultants from Cyprus and the third one is Miletia Sustainable Social Development from Greece. Sustain4Rural is a project inspired by the  continuous  advancement of versatile smart technologies and their applications. The agricultural sector comprises different establishments that require such technologies not only to solve potential problems, automate and simplify certain applications but most importantly maintain sustainability. Sustainable and environmental green practices in agriculture aim to produce society’s needs without compromising the ability to do so in future generations, by using environmentally responsible and resource-efficient technologies.  However, people not only lack knowledge regarding the existence of such green technologies and sustainable practices but also the knowledge to implement them. Therefore, they turn to solutions that affect and destroy the environment without them thinking about the consequences (i.e., Landfills in remote areas, bad water management, no recycling, no proper disposal of machinery and other equipment, etc.). Professional organizations and people (ECECT, MILETIA, PARPOUNAS) who are interested in environmental practices, the protection of our forests, and the use of smart technologies came together in an effort to educate people who are not traditionally targeted by projects funded by European bodies. Starting with those who live in such rural areas such as farmers, whose livelihood depends on the environment. In order to identify these target groups properly, authorities and agriculture organizations will collaborate and indicate rural areas that are considered to require consultation/help related to sustainability, etc. Following the identification of the rural areas, comes the identification of interested/benefited individuals. To explain further, a typical trainee could be a young farmer (who ideally has basic internet/IT skills), agricultural or environmental organizations, and representatives. It is accepted that people living in rural areas (especially farmers) have limited time, therefore it is important to offer the training material online through an internet platform (hybrid/blended learning), which also allows the individuals to revisit the material. The training/educational material for green practices will be uploaded and updated to the online platform (LMS/Moodle) and its development will be based on the trainee’s skills, and current knowledge and feedback. Various seminars and events will then utilize this material to inform farmers in rural areas about the latest trends and technologies.  Feedback and consultations from the farmers will be analyzed by representatives and not only allow the material to be adapted and updated accordingly but also will allow spreading out the training in longer periods since each period has its own issues. The main goal is not only to educate people but make sure they are going to embrace these new green technologies and stay updated, which will be available through the online platform and social media accounts. Stay tuned for more!

ECECT: Participated on Developing KA220 projects with the participation of organisations dealing with inclusion in remote areas and/or local communities

H ECECT συμμετείχε στα εργαστήρια που διοργάνωσε το ΙΔΕΠ Διά Βίου Μάθησης από τις 24 μέχρι τις 27 Μαΐου με θέμα ‘Developing KA220 projects with the participation of organisations dealing with inclusion in remote areas and/or local communities’. 50 συμμετέχοντες από 17 χώρες εργάστηκαν συλλογικά για τη δημιουργία προτάσεων σχεδίων με σκοπό την ανάπτυξη ποιοτικών έργων KA220 στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Erasmus+ σε διάφορους θεματικούς τομείς.

MOU between ECECT and Eratosthenes Centre-of Excellence

Highlights from yesterday’s meeting with Eratosthenes Centre-of Excellence of the Cyprus University of Technology / Τεχνολογικό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου The meeting was held to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between ECECT.eu and aiming to put in place scientific and technical cooperation in fields of common interest.

ECECT: Attended the Digital Services Factory Conference

Today we have attended the Digital Services factory conference “The Digital Services Factory Way: Faster, Smarter, Simpler digital citizen services” organized by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy This conference is an introduction to the Digital Services Factory (DSF), a foundational, ‘game-changing’ initiative that re-frames the way public services are being delivered in a faster, smarter and scalable way, maximizing impact for government, citizens and businesses alike. A vital component of Cyprus’ Digital Agenda, the DSF project is implemented by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy (DMRID), in collaboration with the Government Digital Services (GDS) of the United Kingdom. Experts from GDS will be joining the DMRID Team in a series of interactive discussions aimed at presenting to the ICT industry the government’s new citizen-centric approach to delivering digital services based on user needs, openness and transparency, setting the foundations for an elevated, more relevant and more efficient public-private partnership.

ECECT: New Project on Board “Cities Going Green: Application for the Development of a Smart and Green City” (Erasmus+, KA2)

ECECT is happy to present a new project on board: “Cities Going Green: Application for the Development of a Smart and Green City” (Erasmus+, KA2)! The consortium of the project consists of nine partners (one is ECECT) from 5 EU countries (Poland, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece and Spain)! “Cities Going Green” aims to cultivate environmental consciousness to students at the ages 10-12, through environmental education, STEM education and gamification. The project aims at the development of a game available for PC/laptops or mobile devices, where children will have the opportunity to build their ‘Green Cities’. Stay tuned for more! The kick-off meeting of the “Cities Going Green: Application for the Development of a Green and Smart City” (Erasmus+, KA2) project took place online today, the 7th of February. During the meeting, the partners of the consortium were able to discuss about the aim and objectives of the project, as well as the next steps toward its implementation.

ECECT: Participated in Innovations in Smart Agriculture: a Training Program for digital skills & Entrepreneurship

An exciting Training opportunity to register for – as part of the Green STEAM incubator program – if you are a teacher, youth trainer or an aspiring entrepreneur! Agenda and registration link on the event! Did you know that STEM education: Gives people skills that make them more employable and ready to meet the current labor demand. Fosters creativity and divergent thinking. Encourages problem-solving, builds resilience and helps learners to form a growth mindset. Its core is in flexibility and curiosity, which equips learners to respond to real-world challenges. Enhances Teamwork and collaboration that brings a significant increase in productivity, work satisfaction, and profitability.

EU Science HUB – Educational and Competence centres

Knowledge & competence centres – ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE Learn more about the k4P (Knowledge for Policy) plalform by clicking here Knowledge Centres the ambition of the European Commision. These are virtual entities, bringing together experts and knowledge from different locations inside and outside the European Commission. Their job is to inform policy-makers in a transparent, tailored and concise manner about the status and findings of the latest scientific evidence. They are designed to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ in their respective areas, and include communities of practice. Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality Knowledge Centre for Global Food and Nutrition Security Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies Competence Centres These are centred on analytical tools which can be applied to any policy area, bringing together in one place extensive expertise in this field. They offer training courses in the use of the tools for policy-making, advise on the choice of tools and also work directly with the Commission policy Directorates-General to apply the tools to the policy problems in hand. Competence Centre on Composite Indicators and Scoreboards Competence centre on foresight – Megatrends Hub Competence Centre on Microeconomic Evaluation Competence Centre on Modelling Competence Centre on Text Mining and Analysis Competence Centre on Technology Transfer

Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigCompEdu)

Original Article: here The teaching professions face rapidly changing demands, which require a new, broader and more sophisticated set of competences than before. The ubiquity of digital devices and applications, in particular, requires educators to develop their digital competence. The European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu) is a scientifically sound framework describing what it means for educators to be digitally competent. It provides a general reference frame to support the development of educator-specific digital competences in Europe. DigCompEdu is directed towards educators at all levels of education, from early childhood to higher and adult education, including general and vocational education and training, special needs education, and non-formal learning contexts. DigCompEdu details 22 competences organised in six Areas. The focus is not on technical skills. Rather, the framework aims to detail how digital technologies can be used to enhance and innovate education and training. The DigCompEdu study builds on previous work carried out to define citizens’ Digital Competence in general, and Digitally Competent Education Oragnisations (DigCompOrg). It contributes to the Commission’s recently endorsed Skills Agenda for Europe and to the Europe 2020 flagship initiative Agenda for New Skills for New Jobs. For more information please contact us at JRC-DIGCOMPEDU@ec.europa.eu