Title
Creating Virtual Reality e-resources for European Sustainable Education in circular bioeconomy with bio-based products (Education)
Abstract
The updated bio economy Strategy and Action Plan from October 2018 is part of the EU
Commission's drive to efficiently use the natural resources, to boost jobs, growth and investment. It
aims to improve and scale up the sustainable use of renewable resources to address global and local
challenges such as climate change and sustainable development. So it introduces the new direction
of integrated development of bio economy-the circular bio economy with bio based products. The
circular bio economy is defined as the intersection of circular economy (restorative, regenerative
economic model, where nothing is lost and everything feeds a new cycle, and waste is treated as a
resource) and the bio economy (obtaining of bio based products and services). The circular bio
economy includes: bio-based products; share, reuse, remanufacture, recycling; cascading use;
utilization of organic waste streams; resource-efficient value chains; organic recycling, nutrient
cycling.
But the circular bio economy is still in an early stage, it is a huge new industry to build in EU in the
next decades. As a major consequence the role of education to form the future specialists is great
and curricula and study programs, especially in the universities are still to be developed.
At the same time to educate students and postgraduate students in this high level complex and
advanced technological field imposes up to date education methodology based on online learning
and more, Virtual Reality (VR) or Mixed Reality (MR).
The two main project objectives will be: (a) to develop curriculum and study program in circular bio
economy with bio-based products and (b) to apply both online learning (OL) and Mixed Reality (MR)
to introduce students into scenarios illustrating by images very close to phenomena reality, an
improved method to understand most complex knowledge.
For the proposed transnational project, the coordinator, Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole si Medicina
Veterinara, USAMV Bucharest, RO, delivering university studies at all level in biotechnology (BT)
and bio economy, with specialists in OL and interested to introduce the new learning domain of
circular bio-economy for postgraduate students together with formation methods based on VR/MR,
put into operation a consortium, comprising: Politehnica University of Bucharest, UPB, RO,
specialists on both basic domains BT and OL; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), (ES) with
high expertise in university studies and research in biotechnology and environmental engineering;
University of Hasselt (UH, BE), preparing specialists in environmental sciences and technicaleconomical
assessment of circular bio economy applications.
The project duration is 2 years.
The project target group is: postgraduate students with background in Biotechnology (BT) and
Environmental Engineering (EE), and good formation in IT learning skills.
The project target economic sector is: Universities involved in BT and EE, research institutes
involved in the same domains, start-up / companies interested to do business in CB.
4 Intellectual Outputs will be elaborated: (a) Innovative Curriculum for facilitating MR-based
education of postgraduate students in CB; (b) Content entitled "Sustainable and circular Bioeconomy, the European way: Leading edge studies in European Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy
with bio-based products (CB)"; (c) Developing Mixed Reality Educational Applications: A Dedicated
methodology for postgraduate education in CB through MR; (d) Boosting the sustainable CB in
Europe: identifying impact-oriented strategies.
Othe project activities willl comprise; 3 transnational meeetings o be held in each involved country. 6
Multiplier events (ME) organised during the 2 years of project duration, in each participating country-
(RO, ES, BE). 4 Learning, teaching activities (LTT) organised by each consortium member, type
Blended mobility with higher education students, the objective-Piloting the Intellectual Outputs and
the associated education methodology.
The project is innovative in methodology and results. The most important innovative characteristic is
the applying of an advanced learning technique, based on VR/MR scenarios to transfer multidisciplinary
and interdisciplinary knowledge in CB. So the project is complementary to classical
education projects in Biosciences, but introducing a highly innovative learning methodology and
integrating the acquired EU expertise to deliver IO's in CB.
Other project' results: (a) The integration of CB issues with VR/MR methodology. (b) The improving
of the European dimension of the IO's due to the contributions of the 4 partners from 3 EU countries.
(c) Due to the network of stakeholders and target group people the European dimension will increase
and will contribute to enhance the quality of university education. (d) Increased offer of learning
products and methods will determine the overall improvement in the quality of education system in
Europe
Period of project
01 September 2019 - 31 August 2021