We are excited to announce the beginning of the project “Erasmus + Food Eco-Culture Edu – Bridging Disciplines in European Higher Academia”; a 30-months innovative project funded by the Erasmus+ programme, the EU’s flagship initiative to support education, training, youth, and sports across Europe. Running from 2021 to 2027, the Erasmus+ programme places a strong emphasis on social inclusion, green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s active participation in democratic life.
The Project Leading Partner is Hotel Management School Leeuwarden, part of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, and the Project Coordinator is Dr. Lucia Tomassini together with Prof. Elena Cavagnaro from the Professorship Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism. The project consortium is expanding the RUN EU network; the project partners are: Technological University of the Shannon (Ireland), Politecnico do Cavado e do Ave (Portugal), the European Learning Institute (Denmark), Campus Friesland of the University of Groningen (Netherlands), and Momentum Consultancy (Ireland). We are proud that Hotel Management School Leeuwarden is leading its first successful Erasmus+ project, marking an exciting milestone for our institution.
The project “Erasmus + Food Eco-Culture Edu – Bridging Disciplines in European Higher Academia” aims to innovate education by integrating an interdisciplinary approach to food, hospitality, and related disciplines. Our goal is to connect theoretical knowledge of food with other subjects and apply this in practice through creative, community-driven, and industry-focused solutions. This initiative will engage over 300 students and educators from four Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), equipping them with the skills necessary to lead the food sector towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The Project will include a range of dynamic activities designed to foster collaboration and innovation. These include research, seminars, and the development of an interdisciplinary curriculum. Four Living Labs will be established, where students will ideate and test cross-disciplinary solutions to real-world challenges. Additionally, workshops and meetings with community groups and businesses will provide practical evaluation and feedback.
Students will also showcase their progress and the results from the Living Labs through digital storytelling and multimedia presentations. The culmination of these efforts will be shared at a final conference, bringing together all partners and stakeholders.