Final Meeting of the “DiBluCa” Project Partners in Balıkesir, Turkey
The final meeting of the Erasmus+ project ‘Digital Blue Career for a Post-Carbon Future – Aquaculture Curriculum Innovations’ (DiBluCa, Project No. 2022-1-TR01-KA220-HED-000089312) took place at Balikesir University in Turkey on 8–9 October. Coordinated by Vytautas Magnus University, the project aims to create an innovative, digital learning environment that meets the future needs of the aquaculture sector, enhances the quality of studies and strengthens the resilience of education to climate change.
During the two-year project, the consortium developed a new higher education curriculum and created an interactive e-learning platform. They also prepared comprehensive teaching materials, including module sets, an e-book, video lectures and methodological guidelines for educators. These materials address topics such as the impact of climate change on water quality and feed composition, adapting aquaculture systems, preventing disease, and finding environmental solutions for the aquaculture sector.
The Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy team presented how the project results are being integrated into university study programmes and used in the teaching process. Partners also discussed the dissemination strategy, pilot training and plans for future collaboration beyond the project.
During the meeting, a project dissemination event and an international conference were organised, where the main DiBluCa results were presented and discussions focused on applying digital innovations to aquaculture education and the importance of blue transformation in higher education. The event brought together the Balikesir University community, including students and lecturers, as well as representatives from the aquaculture sector, to discuss directions for the sustainable development of aquaculture in a post-carbon future.
The project involves Balikesir University (Turkey), the University of Dubrovnik (Croatia), the National Odessa Technical University (Ukraine), the University of Thessaly (Greece) and Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), which is acting as the project coordinator.
Project duration: 1 November 2023 – 31 October 2025.
