HEART - Holistic Experiential Education and Artistic Approaches for Resilience and Work Engagement Tools for Adult Educators

The aim of HEART (Holistic Experiential education and Artistic approaches for Resilience and work engagement Tools for adult educators) was to increase the quality of adult education and training by developing AE's competencies, awareness, and knowledge linked to work engagement using a new training method to be developed (the synergy of outdoor experiential education and art methodologies) and by creating a more committed, engaging and professional environment inside their organizations.The phenomenon of burnout within helping professions - including educators - has been known since the 1970s, and by now solid research and practical intervention basis exists linked to it. However, burnout continues to be a severe issue until today. According to our experience drawn from previous projects and activities with educators, and based on desk research, educators continue to have insufficient knowledge and awareness of the burnout syndrome and its potential prevention techniques, especially about those that can also be used within an organizational setting. However, timely interventions are essential to prevent burnout, otherwise, its later stages would involve physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion from which it is difficult to recover (Schaufeli and Greenglass 2011). At the same time, educators’ organizations and their managers also lack awareness, knowledge, and prevention/intervention strategies and practices.To tackle the above issues, a transnational partnership composed of 6 partners (PPs) concerned about burnout and work engagement in the field of education of 5 countries developed the HEART project. Two PPs are experts in adult education using outdoor experiential educational methods (Elmenyakademia (HUN) - who is the coordinator organization- and Outward Bound Romania (RO)), two PPs are adult education experts using artistic methodologies (Alive Arts (UK) using the ARC Process and Citta del Sole (IT) using the Integrated Method Marchio-Patti), Centro em Movimento (PT) carries out courses for adults focusing on Art and Lelekkel az Egeszsegert (HUN) has waste cross-sectorial practical, theoretical and research expertise in the topic of burnout prevention.To reach our objectives, the HEART partnership uses a methodology based on a transnational, holistic, and positive approach and the synergy of outdoor experiential education and artistic methods, focusing on the work engagement of our main target groups: the educators and their organizations Europe-wide. To achieve our goals, we developed a Collection of Easy to Learn and Use Work Engagement Tools and Processes (including a Self-directed learning portfolio) and an innovative Combined Modular Work Engagement Curricula - Training Scheme to offer innovative educational material at the individual (personal and professional) level. These two outputs are based on an innovative methodology, the HEART methodology (the synergy of outdoor experiential education and artistic methodologies) covering the whole human potential addressing all: body, soul, and mind. In addition, we developed the Organizational Work Engagement Recommendations that offer managers alternatives at organizational. Moreover, the impact of the methodology will be summarized in an Assessment Report.During HEART activities 3 field experiments, 5 field tests, 1 discussion workshop, and 2 multiplicator events were held for HEART staff/volunteers and external stakeholders. Thanks to the implemented project activities, we directly reached 391 persons active in the field of education and we increased their competencies to face burnout, thus, their work engagement, professional satisfaction, the quality of their work, and their employability increased. 6 organizations developed a more modern, dynamic, committed and professional work environment with increased consciousness in strategic planning of professional development of staff in line with individual needs and organizational objectives.Moreover, we shared and disseminated our results at a European level as well. We introduced our outputs and results in 10 additional countries (Ireland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Slovakia, Latvia, Croatia, Poland, Danish, Venezuela).The organization-specific strategies and the more general recommendations frame the work on the organizational level. This, plus the holistic approach used, covering the development needs at individual and organizational levels, was also expected to enhance the impact and sustainability of project results.