<< Objectives >>The aim of the project is to promote the development of vocational education according to the needs of labour market of the environmental sector. The implementation of the project will significantly reduce the risk of human-caused environmental pollution do tu an acutre labour shortage in the water management and environment sector. In addition, withint the project framework, sustainable and environment friendly management will be promoted. << Implementation >>The main project activities are: 1.Experience-sharing workshops in Latvia and Poland.2.Networking workshops in Latvia and Poland.3.Analysis of the occupational standards related to water sector professions.4.Development of marketing materials to attract potential students to the water industry. << Results >>1.Defined certain competences and skills in the field of water management and environment sector to solve the acute labour force problem.2.Established international cooperation network between VEI and water management sector companies to ensure access to professional education relevant to the labour market. 3.Promoted organization of professions necessary to the industry and their compliance with the needs of the labour market.4.Enhanced visibility of the industry and its potential in general

In the emerging Copernicus Earth monitoring era, Europe provides Earth Observation (EO) data from Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2) on a free and open data policy basis. In response of the EO Work programme ‘EO-3-2016: Evaluation of Copernicus Services’, Sentinels Synergy for Agriculture (SENSAGRI) aims to exploit the unprecedented capacity of S1 and S2 to develop an innovative portfolio of prototypes agricultural monitoring services. When used alone either optical or radar sensors allow the mapping of crop types. However more robust, accurate, frequently updated and comprehensive crop maps are expected from the seldom exploited synergy of both types of measurements. The same holds when dealing with crop status, health and stresses. Experimental studies have demonstrated that fusion of optical and radar data opens up prospects for enhanced monitoring capabilities. SENSAGRI will exploit the synergy of optical and radar measurements to develop three prototype services capable of near real time operations: (1) surface soil moisture (SSM), (2) green and brown leaf area index (LAI) and (3) crop type mapping. These prototypes shall provide a baseline for advanced services that can boost the competitiveness of the European agro-industrial sector. SENSAGRI proposes four advanced proof-of-concept services: (i) yield/biomass, (ii) tillage change, (iii) irrigation and (iv) advanced crop maps. The algorithms will be developed and validated in four European agricultural test areas in Spain, France, Italy and Poland, which are representative of the European crop diversity, and their usefulness demonstrated in at least two non-European countries. In order to refine the specifications of the products and to iteratively assess the services, actors of the agricultural sector will be involved using a Living Lab approach. The combination of user-centered approach and of state-of-the-art algorithms will establish a sound foundation for deciding of a new Copernicus land service.

"Project EcoMentor concentrated on the situation in the eco sector in the field of work-based-learning (WBL). As it was pointed out by the European Ministers of Vocational Education and Training in the Bruges Communiqué, WBL constitute a foundation for the social coherence of the current and future employees as well as the base for their professional and personal development. It is worth and important to include WBL into the strategic activities on the national and international levels. The renewed European agenda for adult learning also calls for promoting WBL, as a form of vocational education and training, which assure achievement of the aims of the Strategy ET 2020. Partnership of the project was properly selected and consist of 5 institutions from 4 countries: Poland (PL), Greece (EL), Italy (IT) and United Kingdom (UK). Partners have been chosen according to the project's aims and the expertise needed. They represent different culture and traditions of vocational education as well as assure geographical diversity of the partnership. The main aim of the project was to use good European practices, increase the availability and improve the quality of work-based learning, through skills development of mentors - experienced staff of companies assisting in obtaining necessary professional qualifications, taking care of trainees in the workplace, including the trainees participating in internships or apprenticeships in companies of the eco-industry. The mentor’s responsibility is to facilitate, stimulate and support the development of employees and prospective employees (interns, apprentices) by sharing their knowledge and professional skills, values and attitudes.In order to achieve the abovementioned aim, a system of certification of mentor’s competences was implemented. The system focused on the employees of eco-industry. Its implementation enabled: - Recognition of learning outcomes (non-formal and informal) of experienced eco-industry workers in the area of mentoring competencies necessary in the process of work-based training- Complementing employees’ professional competencies in eco-industry with mentoring competence enabling them to build a master-trainee relationship in the course of work-based learning- Enhancing the competencies of workers in the eco-industry resulting in the increase of their competitiveness in the labour market and the increase of employment opportunities (for the unemployed) or job keeping.The results of the project were aimed at different audiences, in particular: at vocational training institutions in the ""eco"" area of industry, teachers/trainers preparing for work in the eco-industry, employees in the eco-industry, institutions involved in the development, validation and certification of vocational qualifications and competencies, HR employees as well as professional and personal advisors.Main results of the project are:1) The standard of professional competences (SPC) for mentors of eco-industry which was based on the framework of general mentors' competences developed in CertiMenTu project. The competences of mentors were defined at level 5 of EQF. 2) Training programme for mentors which was developed based on the standard of professional competence (IO1) available in English and in the national languages of participating partners. 3) Blended learning VET course for mentors in eco-industry which was based on the developed VET programme. Τhe training course has been developed as blended learning course, melding face-to-face activities and a Moodle e-learning platform. All the materials are available in e-learning platform and the Trainers Handbooks. The e-learning platform is based on Moodle, an open source course management system (CMS). 4) Certification system for mentors in the eco-industry (your short part)5) Methodological and organizational compendium of ECVET system for mentors in eco-industry which gives an overview of the current state of progress of ECVET tool implementation and other systems available for recognition of competences among different EU states. The Compendium has been conceived as a practical guide on how to use the ECVET system in eco-industry. 6) The monograph summarizing the results of the project. The aim of this publication is to make the project results available, especially to VET experts dealing with formal and non-formal continuing education and to people who are or want to become mentors in eco-industry.All the results are available in 4 languages: English, Polish, Greek and Italian."

PMCOST addresses the key challenge of particulate matter (PM) air pollution in Poland which is one of the major threats to human health across the country and Europe in general. To date air pollution modelling in Poland has not received the investment needed to fully grasp these challenges. PMCOST brings together the leading Polish researchers on air pollution together with world leading experts from UK and Norway to address this challenge. This twinning of researchers, matches complementary areas of expertise and will enable Poland to be more effective in supporting Polish policy makers and other stakeholder in developing plans for better air quality in Poland. At the same time, it will provide the technical underpinning for Poland to become an international leader in assessment of transboundary air pollution, especially in relation to the UNECE Geneva Convention on Long-range transboundary air pollution, and in support of the European Air Quality Directive. The project will develop a capability in Poland for state of the art atmospheric chemistry transport modelling (ACTM). This will permit a detailed national assessment of the complex chemical composition of PM, the main contributing emissions sources and the most effective strategies to protect human health through targeted emissions abatement. To achieve this goal PMCOST will focus on three core Twinning Activities: Training of Polish staff through two-way exchange with the expert partners; Improving the output of high quality peer reviewed publications; Developing the interface between scientists and stakeholders and policy makers through thematic workshops. The key aspects of the Training Programme are represented by three of the five work packages focused on preparation of high quality emissions data for use in ACTMs, operational air pollution modelling of PM and assessing the human health benefits of different emission abatement options.

According to European Commission (EC), Social Enterprises (SEs) joint social or societal objective with entrepreneurial spirit and common good. An SE is an operator in the social economy and its main goal is to have a social impact. In 2011, the EC launched the Social Business Initiative (SBI) to improve access to finance, achieve more visibility and an optimised legal environment for SEs. Since then some progress has been achieved, such as the inclusion of a line of actions in support to SE as a way to create job opportunities and face poverty in 2014-2020 ESF. The final declaration of the SBI event (Strasbourg, 2014) confirmed the importance of CAPACITY BUILDING, TRAINING & EDUCATION, business start-up and development support for the SEs growth. In the same way, the EC acknowledged that appropriate support is needed to build SEs’ capabilities and capacities and that intermediary bodies and NETWORKING SUPPORT between SEs are critical. A set of obstacles identified, both at national and EU level, are the unclear legislation, poor understanding of SE concept and access to market/finance. The main problem though is focused on lack of TRAINING and INTERACTION among stakeholders from different regions/countries, as confirmed by a recent publication (DG EMPL, 2014).Despite differences, in all partner countries time for social entrepreneurship has come as a preferred route to confront high unemployment, as it is addressing important social needs with an approach that has the potential to be efficient, effective and financially sustainable. Based on the above facts, the @ESEN project aim is to become a catalyst for the rapidly growing social enterprise movement in EU providing social enterprises with the resources they need to succeed, support and grow social entrepreneurship on a national scale and serve as a voice for more sustainable social impact.The @ESEN objectives are: •Building of national and local social enterprise networks by expanding and interconnecting with existing networks •Raising awareness of social enterprise as a way to create job opportunities and face poverty with a positive social impact and promote the work of existing SEs•Curating and sharing knowledge to build capacity through a variety of offerings including the online @ESEN Knowledge Center which will provide: - CAPACITY BUILDING, TRAINING & EDUCATION services to SEs, using ICT to blend methodologies, integrate practices & overcome local boundaries- Success stories of SEs addressing important social needs with an approach that has the potential to be efficient, effective and financially sustainable. The @ESEN target group is active and potential SEs, facilitators, academics, consultants and policy makers in the field of social entrepreneurship &economy organisations looking for opportunities to interact and cooperate at EU level. The main activities that will be carried out in the context of the project, follow a logical sequence which guarantees that, at the end of the project, there will be a fully operative framework supporting sustainable Social Entrepreneurship throughout the EU. Synoptically, the following activities will be undertaken: 1. Transnational survey and analysis on successful stories and recommendations for social entrepreneurship enhancement at European level. 2. The @ESEN Programme and the @ESEN Syllabus to train support and guide active and potential social entrepreneurs in developing their social business idea.3. Creation and operation of the @ESEN eLearning platform to foster pre-incubation, acceleration and entrepreneurial facilitation through blended learning activities for a group of 100 participating the pilot training and open to all interested parties.4. Establishment of the @ESEN Knowledge Network, who will act as a body of networking of social entrepreneurs, social economy organisations, facilitators, business angels, mentors, trainers, students and every European citizen interested in social entrepreneurship and social economy. This network will be expanded to 400 members at EU level, which will continue running after the end of the project and will bring together the most appropriate actors in that topic.The long term perspective is that the @ESEN will become a reference point in social entrepreneurship in Europe, achieving the greatest adhesion from Social Economy Organisations and Social Entrepreneurs, consolidating and developing its services and offering its diverse expertise and qualified competences to public and private clients, generating social business opportunities at EU and international level.