Creative Learning for Boosting Bio-Economy
within HEIs’ Curricula
CL4BIO Final International Conference
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW)
10:00-10.30 | Opening CL4BIO Experience: Creativity & Community
(SGGW Campus, 166 Nowoursynowska Street, Building 7, Room 116, )
10.30-11.30 Interactive campus activities:
Creative learning and teaching methods, educational materials across different domains of bioecnomy, Dni SGGW
https://www.sggw.edu.pl/dni-sggw/program-dni-sggw-17-maja/
11.30-12.00 Coffee break
12.00-12.20 Astonish by Alexis Arts (SGGW campus)
12.30-14.30 Interactive session featuring direct engagement with CL4BIO project team members and hands-on activities offered within Dni SGGW
https://www.sggw.edu.pl/dni-sggw/program-dni-sggw-17-maja/
CL4Bio’s 3rd transnational meeting
Hosted by GNOSIS | Mediterranean Institute for Management Science of the University of Nicosia
26-27th November 2024
On November 26-27, 2024, the Creative Learning for Boosting Bio-Economy within HEIs’ Curricula (CL4BIO) project reached a key milestone with its third transnational meeting, hosted by GNOSIS | Mediterranean Institute for Management Science of the University of Nicosia. This Erasmus+ initiative brought together partners from Poland, Portugal, Italy, and Cyprus to assess progress and collaboratively shape the project’s next phases.
The CL4BIO project aims to equip academics with creative and advanced teaching skills, fostering excellence in pedagogical practices, particularly in bio-economy education. By employing transdisciplinary methodologies and innovative curriculum development strategies, CL4BIO seeks to bridge education, research, and innovation while addressing the rapidly evolving market demands for green skills and sustainability expertise.
Meeting Highlights
The Nicosia meeting focused on two pivotal work packages:
WP3: Creation of E-learning Training Contents on Sustainability and Bioeconomy Adopting Creative Learning
Led by SGGW (Warsaw University of Life Sciences), this work package centers on developing e-learning materials on sustainability and bio-economy, incorporating the Creative Learning methodology. HEI lecturers are creating these training materials, integrating insights from earlier phases of the project. WP3 represents a cornerstone of the CL4BIO initiative, empowering educators to produce dynamic, interdisciplinary content.
WP4: Piloting the training materials with HEI students (from both partner and non-partner HEIs) and release of final project outputs
Led by the University of Nicosia, WP4 involves piloting the materials developed in WP3 with 21 internal and 13 external testers. This phase will result in a library of 34 micro-credential-based training resources, uploaded to the project website for EU-wide access. The aim is to enhance higher education curricula, increase green skills among students, and raise awareness of the bio-economy’s role in sustainability and the circular economy. Students completing the course will earn open badges, and feedback will guide further refinements.
Key Outcomes and Activities
The two-day meeting also included:
- Brainstorming Sessions: Partners explored creative learning adaptations for online platforms, ensuring accessibility and effectiveness.
- Future Planning: Collaborative discussions mapped the remaining phases of the project to align with its overarching goals.
These discussions underscored the consortium’s commitment to innovative pedagogy and bio-economy education, ensuring impactful outcomes as the project progresses.
PARTNERS MEETING IN PORTUGAL HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO
6,7,8 OF SEPTEMBER 2023
ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Valentina Chkoniya | valentina.chkoniya@ua.pt
Elisabete Vieira | elisabete.vieira@ua.pt
Hélder Caixinha | caixinha@ua.pt
Helena Nobre | hnobre@ua.pt
6.September.2023
at SALT – Space for Active Learning and Teaching at the Department of Education and Psychology (https://www.ua.pt/en/inovacaopedagogica/salt)
| 9:00 – 10:30 | Participants arrival and registration |
| 09:45 – 10:00 | Welcome and presentation of the agenda |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | SUMMER CL4BIO SCHOOLS LAUNCH |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Ice Breaker Games to Get to Know Each Other for students |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Final considerations |
| 12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Creative learning and new scenarios in bio-economy for students |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | Working together and multi-media students contest about making-with bio-economy and creative learning. CL4BIO Live Coverage Contest Announcement for best photo and best video about bio-economy, creative learning and Summer School coverage Contest Rules: https://cl4bio.web.ua.pt/index.php/cl4bio-live-coverage-contest/ |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | Photo/Video sessions for the students at the Audiovisual Studio in the Communication and Art Department |
| 17:00 – 17:15 | Conclusion and greetings |
7.September.2023
FOR PROFESSORS
at Project Room 35A.2.12 at ISCA
FOR STUDENTS
SUMMER CL4BIO SCHOOLS will take place at nautical facilities with Co-authoring TEAM CREATIVITY, including rowing, Birdwatching, The Aveiro Salines tour and etc. in collaboration with Remo Galitos Aveiro Club
| 9:15 – 9:30 | Welcome |
| 9:30 – 9:45 | The project by Work Packages |
| 9:45 – 10:00 | WP1 status: Project management and reporting, administrative and financial issues and Quality Assurance tasks |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | WP2 status: discussion on results of internal testing of the self-paced learning course with HEI partners (at least 32 internal testers (out of which 12 HEI lecturers already involved in A2) |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | WP2 status: presentation of the action plan for evaluation and revision of the self-paced learning course according to the HEI partners feedback |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Coffee break |
| 11:15 – 11:55 | WP3 status: presentation of the first draft of the e-learning platform for hosting the Project training materials |
| 11:55 – 12:10 | WP4 status: evaluation of the training materials and possible inputs for the pilot of the training materials with HEI students |
| 12:10 – 12:45 | WP5 status: presentation of dissemination achievements (indicators) and upcoming initiatives |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 15:30 | Photo/Video sessions for the professors at the Audiovisual Studio in the Communication and Art Department |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | CL4BIO Live Coverage Contest – Best Photo and Best Video – Winners Announcement |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Co-authoring TEAM CREATIVITY |
| 17:00 – 17:15 | Conclusion and greetings |
| 19:30 | Social dinner for Professors at Salpoente (https://salpoente.pt/en/) |
8.September.2023
at mini auditorium at ISCA
| Open Workshop Sharing good practices in the field of creative learning and bio-economy from invited and partners’ organizations To enroll in the workshop go to: https://cms.ua.pt/inovacaopedagogica/node/2782 | |
| 9:00 – 9:15 | Welcome |
| 9:15 – 9:20 | Open session Vice-Rector Sandra Soares, University of Aveiro |
| 9:20 – 10:00 | Keynote Speaker Prof. Pamela Burnard, University of Cambridge |
| 10:00 – 10:50 | Case Study 1 | Prof. Valentina Chkoniya, University of Aveiro Creative learning through collaborative online international platforms and use of case studies to address sustainability problems Case Study 2 | Prof. Raquel Meneses, School of Economics and Management of University of Porto Creative learning for boosting bioeconomy within HEIs’ curricula: between floating and immersing Case Study 3 | Prof. Elisabete Vieira, University of Aveiro From passive to active: going beyond traditional to enhance engagement and learning outcomes of finance students Case Study 4 | Prof. Wioleta Sobczak-Malitka, Warsaw University of Life Sciences Case study competition as an example of the interdisciplinary and immersive teaching practice Case Study 5 | Prof. Manuela Batista, Escola Superior Naútica Infante D. Henrique Teaching and learning laboratories as form of building knowledge and developing skills |
| 10:50 – 11:15 | Coffee break |
| 11:15 – 11:55 | Keynote speaker Prof. Isabel Menezes, University of Porto |
| 11:55 – 12:35 | Case Study 6 | Prof. José Luís Reis, University of Maia Smart technologies in support of creative teaching-learning processes Case Study 7 | Prof. Marcin Zbieć, Warsaw University of Life Sciences Teaching entrepreneurship for bioeconomy – enhanced curriculum for European HEIs Case Study 8 | Prof. Ana Torres, University of Beira Interior Translation of the Ecological Behavior Scale to European Portuguese: A case study of creative learning methodology to improve the green skills of undergraduate psychology students Case Study 9 | Prof. Pamela Burnard, Cambridge University – University of Foggia Creative Problem-Solving practices amplifying threshold concepts of ‘green’, ‘circular’ and ‘bio economy’: emerging evidence from an instrumental case study of modules involving undergraduate Italian economics students |
| 12:35 – 12:45 | Ending session Francisco Picado, Director of ISCA, University of Aveiro Vice-Rector Artur Silva, University of Aveiro |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | WP2: Planning the external testing (with at least 24 external HEI lecturers): when? how to organize it? |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | WP2: workplan and definition of deadlines |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | WP3: Brainstorming on the topics for the training materials (bioeconomy and sustainability) |
| 16:00 – 16:15 | Coffee break |
| 16:15 – 16:45 | WP3: workplan and deadlines |
| 16:45 – 17:00 | Conclusion and greetings for partners |
Useful Information
How to arrive UA: https://www.ua.pt/en/how-to-arrive
The University of Aveiro web site: https://www.ua.pt/
Photos of UA: https://www.gettyimages.pt/fotos/aveiro-university
Aveiro is the Venice of Portugal and the University of Aveiro has amazing ocean landscapes and sunset views. The buildings were designed by the most famous architects in Portugal.
It is close to Porto (1 hour maximum by car or 45-30 minutes by train) and 1 hour by car (30 mn train) to Coimbra. You can come also through Lisbon (it will take around 2 hours by train).
University restaurant
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118598203@N07/sets/72157641552050625/
Lat: 40°37’52.38″N
Long: 8°39’19.92″W
University canteen
https://www.ua.pt/pt/sas/cantina-de-santiago
University Food units in operation
https://www.ua.pt/en/sas/unidades-alimentares-em-funcionamento
HOTEL SUGGESTIONS
| Hotel | Stars | Web Page |
| Salinas Studio Hotel | *** | https://www.grupoalboi.com/en/Hotel-Salinas/Home |
| Hotel Jardim | *** | https://www.hoteljardim.pt/en |
| Hotel Imperial | *** | https://www.hotelimperial.pt/en/Menu/Hotel.aspx |
| Melia Ria Hotel & Spa | **** | https://www.meliaria.com/ |
CL4Bio: a new Erasmus project at the University of Foggia
The study of bio-economy through creative learning
5-6th December 2022
The University of Foggia is a partner of the European project titled “Creative learning for boosting bio-economy within HEIs’ curricula – CL4BIO”, in collaboration with the Universidade de Aveiro (Portugal), the University of Nicosia (Cyprus), the Valuedo (Italy) and the Warsaw University of Life Science (Poland) which coordinates the project.
The CL4Bio project has been recently funded by the “Erasmus + programme. Cooperation partnerships in higher education” with the primary purpose of offering courses in bio-economy through an innovative and motivating teaching approach. Among the academic subjects, bio-economy, literally the economy of life, is an economic theory aimed at increasing the economic effectiveness by using renewable environmental resources, satisfying people’s needs and meeting their lifestyles.
Bio-economy is employed by more than 50 countries, including Italy, in the world for their growth strategies. According to the EU, bio-economy will create at least one million job positions by 2030. The method of creative learning is innovative in the fields of training and education, in that it boosts creativity and motivates people to learn.
In particular, the Department of Economics of the University of Foggia, represented by Prof. Mariantonietta Fiore (research director) and Dr. Fedele Colantuono (project manager) will deal with the activities pertaining to training, bio-economy teaching and good practices for creative learning. Such activities will address the teachers of the universities involved in the project. They will involve, later on, other teachers from other universities by means of surveys, which will be carried out in order to test the training materials.
The University of Foggia was proud to host the kick-off meeting of the CL4Bio project, representing the first event with the participation of all the partners. The event took place on 5-6th December 2022, at the “Palazzo Ateneo, in Gramsci Street (Via Gramsci). The meeting lasted two days; it focused on the discussion of the main themes of the project and on the activities to carry out, thanks to the participation of experts from other institutions.
Prof. Michele Milone (Director of the Department of Economics – University of Foggia), and Dr. Giulio Esposito (Chief of the International Relations and Erasmus Office – University of Foggia) delivered an introductory speech with a welcome to all participants, in order to contribute to boosting the networking with the partners of the project.
In particular, on the first day (December 5), the participants introduced the theme of creative learning and bio-economy. Prof. Pamela Burnard, from the University of Cambridge (UK), talked about “Creative learning and new scenarios in bio-economy”; Prof. Michael A. Radin, from Rochester Institute of Technology (USA), gave a speech on “Creative learning and science in distance training and learning”; Danilo Audiello, from the Cambridge Innovation Hub (UK), presented his new project, entitled “Dante in Apulia”, as a case study. Audiello’s project suggests, through the cantos of the Divine Comedy, a magic journey to celebrate Dante Alighieri, Nicola Zingarelli and Apulia region; Prof. Michele Russo, from the Department of Humanities, University of Foggia, talked about different language teaching approaches in different educational contexts. The Department of Humanities will contribute to the methodological support of the CL4Bio project with the help of Prof. Anna Di Pace.
In addition, the “Banco Alimentare della Daunia” (Food bank of Daunia), named “F. Vassalli”, has been invited with the purpose of sharing an important experience of our territory for the circular economy and social inclusion. The Banco Alimentare della Daunia was represented by the Director Gianluca Russo and Ms Danila Paradiso, responsible for communication and projects implementation. The cooperation with the Banco Alimentare della Daunia aims to plan future joint activities with the CL4Bio project.
The CL4Bio project represents an important opportunity for the University of Foggia, in terms of growth, development and promotion of new patterns of training and creative learning, by expanding the networking of the University of Foggia all over Europe.
(Fedele Colantuono and Mariantonietta Fiore – University of Foggia, IT)