The “Schools as sites for Food System Transformation” Summer School 2023 aims to
familiarise participants with the open schooling and living labs approach that provides a
powerful framework for school heads and teachers to engage, discuss and explore: how
schools can become innovation incubators and accelerators? The Summer School will
present the concept of Schools as Living Labs. Living labs are user-centred, open innovation
ecosystems based on a systematic user co-creation approach integrating research and
innovation processes in real life communities and settings. We engage the living lab
methodology as a technique of crucial value in the heart of initiatives of open schools,
which, in cooperation with other stakeholders, aspire to become agents of community well-
being by creating new partnerships in their local communities.
The summer school builds the synergy of open schooling and the living labs methodology by
working on the theme of the food system, which is linked to a very topical challenge faced
by humanity, of huge societal, environmental and economic importance, as well as of direct
relevance to science education and to ambitious current policy making at the European level
(FOOD 2030 agenda). The European Commission’s Expert Group working on FOOD 2030
conceptualizes the food system as incorporating ‘all elements and activities that relate to
the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food, as well as its
disposal. This includes the environment, people, processes, infrastructure, institutions and
the effects of their activities on our society, economy, landscapes and climates’. Further,
understanding citizen science and food citizenship is a rather key element that will be
introduced.
Objectives
The “Schools as sites for Food System Transformation” Summer School 2023 aims to explore
and introduce innovative practices and approaches (living-lab methodology) for overcoming
the growing divide between consumption and food knowledge by engaging schools in (re-
)connecting young people with the land. With the goal to better connect schools to current
research and the societal needs of the communities they live in; the Food Systems theme
will act as the ideal testbed under which the Living Lab projects will be set up as an aspect
that concerns all communities.
Methodology
The school utilizes the cooperation and interaction of community members by providing
learning and information opportunities on the extremely important nutrition issues for
tomorrow’s responsible citizens. Selected innovative projects and actions at national and
European level will be presented by food system actors on which educators in collaboration
with them will be invited not only to collaborate to further implement/accelerate the
relevant food system innovations.
Hands-on learning opportunities, such as the cultivation of school gardens, interdisciplinary
projects on the topic of the food and nutrition system, entrepreneurship initiatives, but also
actions, such as the prevention of food waste and the proper management of waste within
the school and beyond it will be introduced. Finally, activities will be designed following an
inclusive approach based on the Universal Design for Learning principles.
Preparation
To ensure the proper preparation for the training course an online platform will act as a
main hub of communication and for sharing and distributing preparatory material with the
participants. Through this platform the participants will have access to all materials
necessary for their preparation (suggested reading, digital tools, relevant websites,
guidelines and support material etc.) and a common workspace. Moreover, all the
information regarding the training course such as the course description, the programme,
travelling and accommodation guidelines will also be accessible through the website.
Participants will familiarise themselves with the training topics as well as the course
methodology by accessing the relevant resources, materials and tools. At this point we
would like to offer some ideas and guidelines for your preparation. The summer school will
use the SALL portal as a tool to develop innovative projects that fit the needs of the society
in the topic of the food system transformation. You might see the following
resources/webinars:
Follow-up, Recognition, Evaluation
At the end of the course, following the presentation of their work on the last day of the
course, participants will receive a training certificate that confirms the successful completion
of the course and its objectives.
As members of the FoodSHIFT2030 community participants will have access to support
provided by the training team, and they will be able to communicate with other educators in
European countries, who have a common interest, share their ideas and experience and
collaborate in joint activities.
In order to assess whether, and to what extent, the course has reached its objectives and
expected results the participants will have to answer, during and at the end of the course, a
set of relevant questionnaires that will be provided by the course providers. The results of
the questionnaires/survey or a so-called evaluation report will be available to all participants
of the course.
Programme
The FoodSHIFT2030 Summer School 2023 programme will be announced soon.Here you can have a look at last year’s programme.
Fees & Funding
Course fee:
The course fee is 480€ (80€/per day) and fully within the funding opportunities of the
Erasmus+ Programme. The course fee covers:
- Expert lecturers for lectures, seminars and workshops
- All materials and equipment needed for the course
- Participation in the social programme & excursions (e.g., Sunset and dinner at Cape Sounio, excursion to the Acropolis and visit to the Acropolis Museum and dinner in downtown Athens, traditional night and farewell dinner, etc.)
Subsistence & accommodation
The Summer School will be held at Golden Coast Hotel & Bungalows, an A-class/ 4-star sea-
side hotel which stretches on the golden, sandy beach of the Marathon Bay, near the
historic location of Marathon, at the outskirts of Athens.
We are happy to offer to all participants a single or double room with all-inclusive
services (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and free of charge services for outdoors sports
and recreational activities).
The costs for subsistence are also within the ceilings of the Erasmus+ programme for KA1
mobility actions.
Venue
The Summer School will be held at Golden Coast Hotel & Bungalows, an A-class/ 4-star sea-
side hotel which stretches on the golden, sandy beach of the Marathon Bay, near the
historic location of Marathon, at the outskirts of Athens. It is the area of Marathon, that has
hosted since the times of myths when Theseus killed the terrible bull of Marathon, to the
times of the Persian wars and the Battle of Marathon, further on to our days and the
marathon race and Marathon Run, the emblematic symbol of man’s quest for freedom and
the will to defend his most noble deeds which constitute the foundations of the Human
civilization. The plethora of natural, historical sites and museums of the area reveal in all
details this unique historical voyage. Participants are expected to arrive through the Athens
International Airport, approximately 25 km (15,53 miles) distance from the hotel.
ERASMUS+ How to apply
School Heads and Teachers participation in the summer courses can be funded by the
ERASMUS+ Programme.
In case your school or organization does not have the funds to cover the costs of your
participation in the Summer School, there is another option: you can apply to be funded by
the ERASMUS+ Programme. Please note that the Erasmus+ KA1 application can only be
submitted by the school or the organization – no individual applications can be submitted.
The deadline for application is 23 rd of February 2023.
What is ERASMUS+?
Erasmus+ is the European Commission’s Programme for education, training, youth, and
sport for the period 2021-2027. As an integrated programme, Erasmus+ offers more
opportunities for the mobility of learners and staff and cooperation across the education,
training, and youth sectors and is easier to access than its predecessors, with simplified
funding rules and a structure that aims to streamline the administration of the programme.
Erasmus+ Key Action 1 (KA1) provides a unique opportunity for teachers, headmasters,
trainers, and other staff of educational institutions to participate in international training
courses in different European countries. Schools, universities, vocational education and
training, and adult education organizations are all eligible to receive full funding to attend
courses under a KA1 mobility grant. The Erasmus+ KA1 grant covers all the costs to attend
teacher training courses: including travel, subsistence, and course fee.
For up-to-date information about Erasmus+ please check the Programme’s website . Your
school will need to apply to your country’s National Agency, who is also the one who will
evaluate the proposal. Therefore, your National Agency is also a very good point to start for
more information. Don’t forget to go through the New Programme Guide and you will have
all you need to know.
The steps to apply for an Erasmus+ KA1 School Education Staff Mobility grant are:
- Fill in the registration form to our Summer School with your details. This is an individual
registration form, so if there are more than one participant from the same school, each
one will have to submit a separate registration form. This way you have reserved a slot
in the course in case your application for Erasmus+ funding is successful! - Register your school/organization here: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-
esc/index/ , if not already registered. - Check the compliance with the programme criteria
- Check the financial conditions
- Fill in and submit the application form
- Respect the deadline
- Do not forget to inform us as soon as you get notified from your National Agency
whether your grant application is accepted or rejected.
You can find all related information about submitting an Erasmus+ Application HERE.
Interested to participate in the FoodSHIFT2030 Summer School? We will be happy to guide
you through the process! Please contact us at kriviou@[ea.gr] in case you need assistance
and Register here!!