Up-skilling Agricultural Engineering in Europe – Next Generation in Europe and Abroad

<< Objectives >>Climate change and transforming agricultural- and food- systems are challenges to European food security. Three universities and an industry partner addresses HE students as future actors along agricultural value-chains, including small- and medium- scale farming. The project seeks also to collaborate with agro-engineering partners to share with them the highly specialized products and expertise developed in USAGE-NG.<< Implementation >>USAGE-NG builds on previous research and comprehensive bottom-up analysis which identifies challenges, needs and adjusted solutions for major challenges of agriculture in present time. The project will develop competence-oriented modules (micro-credentials) and will establish strategies for cooperation and dissemination. These modules will be embedded in curricula of agricultural sciences, and HE courses for Lifelong Learners.<< Results >>The project strengthens digital education and mobile learning of students through modules containing important topics along the agricultural value-chain. These modules follow innovative formats such as MOOCs and flipped classroom. USAGE-NG will particularly involve small-scale farmers linking them to innovative solutions of smart farming and IoT. Further, the project will contribute to the EU micro-credential approach, VNFIL/RPL, inclusive education and social growth.