Demographic growth and climate change raise a tremendous challenge for the next generation of professionals in Applied Plant Sciences: producing more with less. Seven European universities have decided to join forces to tackle this challenge. That’s how the ESCAPAdE project started.
ESCAPAdE (EraSmus Curricula in Applied PlAnt SciEnces) is a European Erasmus+ project. It has received funding from the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The project runs from September 2018 to August 2021.
A group of 22 associated partners is also part of the picture and is helping frame a European collaborative network. So we are gathering expertise and views from both professionals and academics.
Our objectives
– Improvement of the curricula we offer in Plant Sciences for graduate students. We will do this with a three-fold approach. Courses content will be modified to better take into account the needs of future employers. New teaching methods will be tried out during 2 Summer Schools and shared in the network. Work will be carried out to get a ‘Quality Label’ certification for our curricula in Applied Plant Sciences
– Facilitation of student mobility in Europe. We will promote opportunities for Master’s students in Applied Plant Sciences to study abroad in one of the 7 universities that are part of the ESCAPAdE project (bachelor students may apply too, provided prerequisites are met). A user-friendly online mobility tool will provide information on course content in order for students to devise a sound Erasmus stay abroad project, adapted to their professional needs.
The short and longer-term benefits of the ESCAPAdE project
– The European dimension of our Universities will be consolidated.
– We will provide our students with the best opportunities to be trained in Applied Plant Sciences.
– Improved curricula will be even more relevant than they currently are to match job market and societal needs.
– Applied Plant Sciences curricula and training will be more visible and attractive.
Dissemination of the project involves extending the network to more partners, including non-European countries.
