Towards a circular economy society
Professor dr. Vilma Atkočiūnienė and dr. Ingrida Kazlauskienė, junior researcher and lecturer at the Department of Business and Rural Development Management, Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Vytautas Magnus University, took part in the international meeting of the partners of the project “SKILLS – Strengthening Key Competencies in Agriculture for Value Chain Knowledge”. The aim of the final phase of the project is to develop teaching materials to complement various study programmes on the theoretical and practical aspects of the circular economy and circular agriculture, enabling students to acquire the green skills needed to implement circular economy principles.
The April meeting of the project partners took place in the mountain town of Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. At the meeting, the project partners discussed the phases of the project that have already been implemented and the results achieved, and set out the roadmap for the implementation of the activities and objectives of the fifth and final phase. The project partners exchanged views and experiences, discussed ways to involve students in circular economy and agriculture lectures, and innovative methods to impart the most important knowledge and skills. Two days of intensive work, sharing good practices, smiles and emotions passed quickly and fruitfully.
The project partners also had the opportunity to get acquainted with the activities of the HARGITA Hargita Közösségi Fejlesztési Társulás, http://www.visitharghita.comTourism Association, the research activities of the SAPIENTIA University, the activities of the laboratory for the fermentation of plant products, the activities of the specialists of the Rural Development Engineering in the protected areas of the Lake Saint-Anne and the Mohos Peat Bog, and the vegetation and fauna of the MOHA Peat Bog. The exposure to the activities of these organisations has broadened the researchers’ horizons and the circle of known good examples of circular economy, which will provide inspiration for new ideas and the development of educational material.
A visit to a family-run, high quality chocolate manufactory in a remote mountain village in Romania, which is becoming increasingly popular in the countryside, provided a particularly rich source of ideas on how to promote entrepreneurship in rural Lithuania. The growing network of rural gastronomic hotspots, thanks to Romania’s rural development strategy, provided opportunities not only to taste local products, but also to get to know the concept: a farmer cooks on his homestead, provides catering services, organises and runs educational programmes, under simplified tax and documentation conditions. In this way, he has the opportunity to process his crops, generate income, and introduce local and foreign tourists to Romania’s culinary heritage. This could be a new idea for the integration of agriculture and tourism in rural areas of Lithuania and their active inhabitants.
There was also a try at making a “Chimney Cake”, Hungarian and Romanian dishes, testing spring water… The knowledge and energy to continue the work were gained. The experience gained will not only be used for the implementation of the project, but also for the improvement of the Master’s degree programme in Rural Development Administration.
More information about the project can be found at: https://www.euskills.info/
You are also welcome to follow: https://www.facebook.com/people/Skills-Erasmus/100094589176839
