Green Technology Foresight about challenges from biotechnology and ICT

digit-biotech

 

 

Unibo structure involved: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences - DISTAL
Scientific manager: Diana Di Gioia
Unibo Team: Diana Di Gioia, Loredana Baffoni, Chiara Braglia, Erika Carnevale (project manager)
Project Web page: https://digit-biotech.eu
Erasmus+ Action type: KA2 Strategic Partnerships for higher education
Project reference: 2019-1-BG01-KA203-062371
Start Date: 1 September 2019
End Date: 28 February 2022
Budget: Total € 253,931  UNIBO € 45,566 

Coordinator: SOFIA UNIVERSITY ST KLIMENT OHRIDSKI (BG)
Partners:
PANEPISTIMIO DYTIKIS ATTIKIS (EL)
SMART PROJECT AND CONSULTING (BG)
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITÀ DI BOLOGNA (IT)
SOKO-INSTITUT FÜR SOZIALFORSCHUNG UND KOMMUNIKATION (DE)
TSENTAR ZA IZSLEDOVATELSKA I RAZVOJNA DEYNOST BIOINTEH (BG) 

Summary:

The future challenges and possible environmentally related competitive advantages are linked to the two generic technologies - Biotechnology and ICT. They are reducing and preventing the negative impacts of humans technology on environment and health, and ensure the potential of future sustainable development. In this context discussions about the environmental aspects of biotechnology and ICT and how they are shaped in interaction with Higher Education (HE) trends are performed. This is also important as ICT technology is seriously embedded into many new biotechnological processes, products, etc. This outlined the project objectives to develop HE prospects for integrated environmental and innovation training in relation to interaction of biotechnology and digital technology areas. The objectives pursued and the innovative education offered will be focused on target groups in the following directions:

- to define the applications of digital technologies in biotechnology

- to create, using ICT, a virtual space and educational content, enriched with visual elements and simulations

- to apply EQF/NQF/HE principles for qualification development ensuring technical competence and skills of target groups

- to show the innovative character of digital technologies and their effect on green industry

The project partnership is created with understanding for the HEs needs to shift educational policy from “knowledge” to “competence” and for introduction of LOs and ECTS within the Biotechnology & ICT education for green technologies development. It unifies EU partners from BG, GR, DE, IT, FR and comprises three HEIs, two SMEs with core activity in fostering quality standards in educational and Biotech management, and two R&D Centers having core expertise in implementation of sustainable scientific, educational and social practices.

During the project life cycle the following results will be developed:

I) A comprehensive digital educational platform comprising Intellectual Outputs in the frame of Biotechnology and ICT, designed as LOs:

O1: The Drivers of Digital technology and ICT in HE: A Case Study, examining the contribution of contemporary learning technologies to the institutional modernization.

O2: Open Content Platform, an innovative tool using blended learning approach for a self-paced, free source of online education in the field of ICT for green Biotechnology.

O3: Learning Area & Reference Model which will be focused on the development of the training programme and formulation of LOs/BLPs.

O4: Guide "Teaching and learning in HE" designed for academic professionals and offering both the essentials of effective HE teaching and guidelines how to use the project web platform.

O5: Students Smart Kit elaborated for BSc/MSc students and describing strategies for effective learning and the opportunities in the project.

O6: Science for Educational Resources comprising latest innovations in the field of ICT for green Biotechnology and encompassing case studies, presentations, videos, visualizations, 3D-educational images, etc.

The programme will be realized through actions assigning the following results:

II) Results for project management & administration: derived during project conceptual design; complementing the Intellectual Outputs; processing multiplier events; assisting training programme piloting; related to project D&U; linked with Digit-BioTech sustainability provision.

III) Results dedicated on the MEs performance and popularization of all project deliverables.

IV) Results related with the organisation of TPMs.

The expected impact of Digit-BioTech project is directly connected with the innovative achievements anticipated by it. The generic innovations that outline prospects for durable impact are focused on:

- Development of innovative training materials and practical teaching and guidance tools oriented towards project targets

- LO-based educational approach - offered in a blended mode and contributing to introduction of a training approach leading towards qualification

- Amalgamation of a virtual space and educational content thus implementing digital strategies in HE training

The potential of long-term benefits from the Digit-BioTech project is grounded on the envisaged possibilities for:

- Implementation of project outputs into national educational systems at formal institutions and in-company training departments

- Capacity development of HEIs to support and build up employability

- Mobilizing science and technology and foster capacity for innovation

- Improving the social, economic, and environmental sustainability.