Learning methodology

The objective of this PR is to design a learning methodology and appropriate innovative learning tools to introduce an interdisciplinary course of study on Regenerative Agriculture for university students of agriculture, addressing major issues of our time focused on global climate change, soil health and enhanced ecosystem services, as well as food and water security, exploiting knowledge that exists in the partnership on conservation agriculture, soil metagenomics, bioinformatics, environmental engineering and sustainable rural development. The methodology addresses higher education teachers, with an adaptation possibility for secondary vocational education teachers/trainers, and teachers/trainers, mentors and advisors of adult education addressing farmers.

The methodology will be flexible, so that although serving primarily the interests of university education, it will be adaptable to secondary vocational education needs; and non-formal adult learning needs, addressing farmers.

The main principles underline the proposed methodology are:

  • Introduce a multidisciplinary content in RA learning, involving two universities and possibly several departments, to cover the diverse issues and knowledge that is necessary for the holistic coverage of RA.
  • Enhance theory with the good practice examples collected and presented in the Library of Good Practices
  • Encourage direct contact and peer-to peer learning involving stakeholders in agriculture and rural development.
  • Create a course delivery model transferable from Higher Education to secondary vocational education and to non-formal adult learning; suitable for either face-to-face or online delivery.
  • Define the structure of a “model” course and outline its content, similarly transferable from Higher to Secondary Vocational Education and non-formal Adult Learning.

Furthermore, the project will offer an online interactive platform (the REGINA platform), which would allow the interaction between teachers, students and other users – especially farmers, encouraging exchange of experiences and peer learning; while accommodating all the resources outlined above.

The methodology and tools are expected to impact the resurgence of interest in RA among the academic and vocational education communities; help HE students to develop a closer understanding of the farmers’ perspective, thus enhancing their career prospects as future farmers’ advisors; provide useful open learning resources for all three tiers of learning, including adult learning among farmers; and consolidate a network of stakeholders in the Result Description (including: needs analysis, target groups, elements of innovation, expected impact and transferability potential) implementing countries who may promote RA as a valuable component of sustainable rural development. In addition, the interdisciplinary and transnational nature of the methodology makes it suitable for implementation in a variety of University departments (e.g. rural development, environmental engineering, water & environmental sciences, animal sciences etc), and in many different locations in the EU.

The REGINA Methodology & the REGINA platform will be available soon!