Third Transnational Partners Meeting of the Erasmus+ project “The digital Blue Career to overcome the Carbon Crisis – Innovations in Aquaculture Curriculum” [DiBluCa] at the Dubrovnik University
The third partner meeting of the international Erasmus+ project “The Digital Blue Career to overcome the Carbon Crisis – Innovations in Aquaculture Curriculum ” (DiBluCa, No. 2023-1-LT01-KA220-HED-000154247) was held on January 21–22 at the University of Dubrovnik (Croatia).
During the meeting, the curriculum, which was developed by researchers from the University of Dubrovnik and the University of Thessaly, was discussed, and the educational materials were analysed and further developed. The overarching objective of the project is to prepare a higher education and training program that is aligned with the future needs of the aquaculture sector, as well as comprehensive educational materials that address the impact of climate change on aquaculture. The initiative will also entail the creation of an e-learning platform comprising interactive modules, complemented by a handbook and an e-book, which will be available in English and the partner countries’ languages.
The educational modules are to encompass a range of topics, including the impact of climate change on water quality, breeding and biotechnology in aquaculture, shifts in feeding practices, adaptation of aquaculture systems, the influence of climate change on the environment and diseases, and preventive measures. The dissemination of these educational materials will be conducted during events in the partner countries, with the objective of sharing project results and best practices. These results are of particular significance for Ukraine, as they will contribute to enhancing the quality of education in the domain of aquaculture and assist the country in addressing challenges in the aquaculture sector that have been exacerbated by the war.
The second day of the meeting included a technical visit to the University of Dubrovnik’s Laboratory for Mariculture, located in Bistrina, Malostonski Bay, the largest production area of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) in the Mediterranean. Since 2023, the laboratory has operated a new hatchery for growing juvenile European flat oysters, which have the capacity to adapt for the breeding of other mollusk species. This ensures a steady and high-quality supply of juveniles for the local mollusk industry. Additionally, the laboratory participates in educational programs, such as “Most za znanost,” which introduces schoolchildren to mollusk ecology and breeding, thus contributing to the dissemination of marine biology knowledge.
Meeting participants engaged in deliberations concerning strategies for dissemination, the initiation of pilot training sessions within each participating nation, the organization of dissemination events, and a range of additional organizational and project-related matters. The project partners include the following institutions: Balikesir University (Turkey), the University of Dubrovnik (Croatia), the National Odesa Technological University (Ukraine), the University of Thessaly (Greece), and the coordinator, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania).
The final project meeting is scheduled to take place in September 2025 at Balikesir University (Turkey), where an international conference dedicated to the dissemination of project results will be held.
The project implementation period is from November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2025.
