Promoting responsible TWIN transitions in European agrifood systems through INnovation and learning alliances

ongoing

Transitioning toward a green and digital future is a central priority for the European Union. This “twin transition” requires adapting educational and training systems to equip citizens and all occupations with digital and green skills. However, conventional knowledge delivery methods and tools can hardly meet the skills needs that the rapid co-evolution of digital technologies and sustainability challenges create. TWIN-IN, focusing on the agrifood sector, which operates under the high pressure of climate change, aims to develop and test a new model for education and training tailored to the complex needs that twin transitions generate. Our Twin Transition Schools (TTS) model combines social learning that emerges within networks consisting of heterogeneous actors who co-innovate towards sustainability, exploring and exploiting different digital technologies (farmers, farm advisors, researchers, startups, HEI teachers, VET teachers and learners), and experiential skill-building emanating from the praxis of learning by innovating digitally toward sustainability, sought to supply learners with skills pertaining to six sets: digital, green, entrepreneurial, life-related, deep tech, and resilience competencies. After piloting the model, the Alliance will implement TTS in four countries (Romania, Italy, Spain, and Greece). The TTS model and the material produced during TWIN-IN will be integrated into the educational offerings of four HEIs participating in the Alliance (undergraduate and postgraduate level, and programs offering micro-credentials), and a plan for integrating it into European HEI and VET systems will be created. To build upon a solid base, TWIN-IN uses a series of EU-produced frameworks (DigiComp, GreenComp, EntreComp, LifeComp) and exploits the expertise of non-EU partners. The project follows a responsible learning and innovation approach to ensure that all processes and outcomes are beneficial for target groups and society.