Work Packages

The specific objective of this WP is to build on previous USAGE experiences, combine the expert views of consortium partners and ensure the continuous dialog on best practises and solutions in smart farming and rural learning.

Specific objective 1: Education for small- and medium farmers as a response to climate change and agrarian transition. Building upon the experiences of previous projects on education and training in the agricultural sector related to climate change, the project USAGE –NG seeks to support small and medium farmers to adapt to environmental changes and transformations in agri-food systems. Desk research on education opportunities for small- and medium-holder farmers in the realm of smart farming related to climate change shall provide the starting point to calibrate following activities. The objective is to produce a comparative analysis on diverse international learning opportunities for university students (Masters, Bachelor) and LLL alike. Central to this analysis is the identification of t needs of small-holder farmers and to develop potential digital transformation strategies to fulfil their requests.

Specific objective 2: The design effective educational products and strategies to reach out to small and medium farmers. In rural areas, formal education tends to be lower. Farmers adhere to diverse information sources and knowledge providers. However, mobile phones and social media are widely used for communication. This presents a potential entry point to promote smart farming technologies and stimulate farmers to request and develop more digital skills. Specific objective 3: Network with relevant partners in the EU and beyond. Building a network is an additional objective of this WP in order to explore actors and potential partnerships in the realm of smart farming and small-scale agriculture. Such linkages will help to address transformations in agricultural production and value chains in Europe and globally

USAGE-NG aims to empower smallholder farming affected by climate change to use digital agricultural technologies to monitor, quantify and mitigate the impacts of climate change on their individual farms. USAGE-NG emphasizes innovation and challenges for each student of farming to adopt a mix of agricultural skills that are more sustainable, environmentally friendly, digital and data-driven and integrated into a curriculum that pursues innovative educational pathways such as Micro-Credentials.

Special Objective: development of content USAGE-NG aims to support the monitoring and quantification of climate change in agriculture through the development and use of modules with the frame of micro-credentials. Modules on smart farming and IoT in agriculture already exist at TUM. As part of the USAGE-NG project, this content will be reviewed and further developed to provide offerings for smallholder farming affected by climate change. This will provide opportunities for each participant to acquire a mix of agricultural skills that are more sustainable, environmentally friendly, digital and data driven.

Special Objective: modular development The Modules will be designed to support flexible learning pathways, including the possibility to combine, validate and recognize micro-credentials from different systems. They will be modular so that other micro-credentials can be added to create larger credentials, such as LLL courses, Master’s, Bachelor’s or other certificate courses. Special Objective: European approach – VNFIL/RPL/EQF The common micro-credential framework will be based on the European Qualification Framework (EQF) as well as on other qualification frameworks of each project partner university to provide high-quality courses that award academic credit. The framework provides guidelines that set out the learning outcomes based on ECTS being complement to the EQFtransparency and credits for achieved learning, 5-6 ECTS workload, EQF level 5-8, etc

Providing smart farming skills and knowledge to students and lifelong learners (LLL) will empower them to apply innovations in their future work and agricultural systems. Small-scale agriculture, known by various terms such as extensive agriculture, mountain farming, family farming, smallholder agriculture, and market gardening, plays a significant role in the European Union’s food security. Smallholder farms are crucial for environmental sustainability and conservation. However, social, organizational, and economic challenges have caused these farmers to fall behind in digitizing their operations. This work package (WP) aims to connect students with small-scale farmer associations, entrepreneurs, and individual farmers to pinpoint needs, particularly in the nexus of food, agriculture, and climate. The activities of this WP are designed to bring students and LLL up to date with modern agricultural engineering (smart farming) and enhance their skills. Specifically, WP4 offers skill enhancement opportunities for students in areas such as mountain farming, low-input systems, and family farms, focusing on smart-farming technologies.

A global digital transition, particularly in digital transformation, is occurring within the agricultural sector. We aim to develop a micro-credential, certificate-oriented course framework that will empower farmers and provide the necessary education to bridge the skill and competence gaps among stakeholders in Europe and low-income countries. These new skills are crucial not only for mitigating climate change effects but also for reducing energy consumption in agriculture. This reduction in reliance on external, often foreign, energy and resource inputs enhances food security and sovereignty, not just in Europe but globally. ENAMA and UN-CSAM offer a global perspective and will disseminate results worldwide.
The innovative methods combine social, economic, and pedagogical elements, fostering working capabilities, professional competences, personal development, and increased digital era activity, particularly for lifelong learners. To enhance accessibility for a broader student base, introduce versatility in learning and teaching methods, provide flexibility in learning pathways, and bridge the gap between higher education and the professional world, the USAGE-NG Project will offer a guide for best practices in learner-centered teaching and didactic methods. This guide will also serve as a model for evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs.