Presentation of the Erasmus+ Cl4bio Project in Morocco
On October 15, the centenary anniversary of the birth of Italo Calvino, one of the most beloved writers in Italy, whose fame continues to gain recognition among international readers, was inaugurated. Through a series of events, there was a desire to creatively reflect on this genius and innovator of Italian literature, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability themes that can be found in many of his works. In conjunction with the 23rd edition (October 16-22, 2023) with the theme “Italian language and Sustainability,” Dr. Danilo Audiello from the CL4BIO UniFg project team, who is also a renowned scientific communicator and artist on the international stage, presented the Erasmus Plus CL4BIO project.
The objective of this series of events is to promote worldwide the culture of sustainability, advanced by a country at the forefront of environmental issues, through the Italian language. These events were organized on an international scale by Farnesina. The presentation of the Erasmus Plus Cl4Bio project took place as part of a series of events held in collaboration with the main universities in Morocco at the National Theater of Rabat (October 21), the largest theater in the country, and at the Meknes Theater (October 24).
UNIFIG’s CL4Bio Case Study at the AIQUAV conference
We are delighted to share that our CL4Bio case study, carried out at UNIFG, took center stage at the “AIQUAV – Associazione Italiana per gli Studi sulla Qualità della Vita” conference, held on September 21-22, 2023, in the beautiful city of Bari, Italy. This presentation was part of the thematic pillar addressing “Quality of life: challenges and opportunities in the crossroads of the Mediterranean.” Dr. Audiello’s engaging talk, titled “How to improve training quality for students and teachers’ life (SDG4)? The Creative learning 4 bioeconomy project,” was featured during the Invited Session – Bioeconomy for green life paths; anglicisms to describe wellbeing, brilliantly organized by Prof. Fiore from UNIFG. The presentation sparked a dynamic and thought-provoking discussion, involving both the esteemed panel and enthusiastic attendees, contributing to the enriching discourse on enhancing education and quality of life.
You can read the abstract of the Case Study “Creative Problem-Solving practices amplify threshold concepts of green, circular and bio-economy: emerging evidence from an instrumental case study of modules involving undergraduate Italian economics students” on page 56 at the Book of Abstracts “Sharing good practices in the field of creative learning and bio-economy“
The CL4Bio Summer School on bio-economy and creative learning at the University of Aveiro: an amazing experience for many students.
The students from the University of Foggia (Foggia) embarked on a journey to the University of Aveiro (Portugal) with the CL4BIO project. They left on the morning of September 5th and followed the program outlined on the CL4BIO Meetings webpage. Professor Mariantonietta Fiore and Dr Fedele Colantuono accompanied the students. Professor Fiore is the delegate for international relations and the project’s scientific lead, as well as the author of the idea and promoter of the summer school. Dr. Fedele Colantuono is the project manager and tutor for the summer school. Professor Michele Russo, who teaches English language and translation at the Department of Humanities, was in Aveiro as a visiting professor and supported the coordination of the summer school on behalf of the Erasmus mobility program.
“The international cooperation is a cornerstone of our academic institution. We are committed to fostering collaborations with universities and institutions in European and non-European countries to create educational opportunities for our students,” remarked Rector Lorenzo Lo Muzio. “We firmly believe that cultural diversity and an international perspective are essential for comprehensive and highly specialized education.”
The 14 students, selected among the students who attended two elective courses in English taught by Professor Fiore at the Department of Economics, namely “Bioeconomy for Inclusive Development and Green Skills” (4 ECTS) and “Creative Learning for Green, Circular, Bioeconomy” (5 ECTS), engaged in activities focused on self-discovery, idea-sharing, and reflections on the circular economy theme. They also explored the significant role of creative learning in the context of bioeconomy. The students took part in team competitions, creating photos, images, and videos centered on the theme of bioeconomy. On the final day, three teams with members from the University of Foggia received awards for the “Best Photo Category” and the “Best Video Category.” Moreover, 4 students from the University of Foggia and 1 Portuguese student received a recognition for creating the most supportive, engaging, and inclusive team.
The second day of the summer school offered the students the chance to experience new adventures amidst the natural beauty of the Aveiro salt flats. The students took part in interesting activities, like rowing (an activity that requires empathy, collaboration, and communication within a team) and birdwatching. They also went for walks in the countryside. Such activities had the purpose to help the students to discover the skills and abilities required in the field of bioeconomy and creative learning.
The 14 students proudly wore shirts with the brand of the University of Foggia. The University of Foggia supports international experiences through the International Relations Office, led by Mr. Giulio Esposito, and the International Student Office.
Professor Fiore expressed her enthusiasm for the success of this exciting educational, scientific, and international experience. According to the students, it was a “fantastic journey to be grateful for in life,” just as the project acronym suggests: CL4BIO (= life)! Furthermore, this summer school will pave the way for upcoming initiatives within the Erasmus project “Creative Learning for Boosting Bio-Economy within HEIs’ Curricula – CL4BIO,” which will involve various departments and experts from the University of Foggia.
CL4BIO Partner’s Meeting
24th July 2023
Partners of the CL4Bio project just met online to have an internal periodic meeting and to discuss the training pilot phase and next steps for the project implementation.
Although the hot weather and Summer break right around the corner, CL4Bio plannings are always on the top of the list, indeed all partners are organizing and defining latest details for the coming meeting in person.
Soon in September there will be a great and creative 3-days event at the University of Aveiro involving not only CL4Bio members, but also students and stakeholders.
More info will be released soon, stay tuned!
The UniFg team
Keynote by Pamela Burnard showcases CL4BIO Project 🪐🌷🌱
With great pleasure, we share the remarkable event where Pamela Burnard, Professor of Arts, Creativities and Educations, an international authority in ‘Creative Learning’ from the University of Cambridge, presented a keynote to a prestigious gathering of 50 Chinese Higher Education leaders at the Moeller Institute, Churchill College (12 July 2023).
Her talk featured the exciting ERASMUS project “Creative Learning for Boosting Bio-Economy within HEIs’ Curricula” because it exemplifies an innovative commitment to fostering creative thinking, creative learning and creative teaching in Higher Education. Purposively branded with use of Edgar Rubin’s Vase Illusion embedded within the project’s logo, this endeavor underscores the paramount importance of creative thinking in tackling the pressing environmental challenges that confront us today.
Prof. Burnard pointed out that our existing education system, fashioned during the industrial age, now faces the urgent call to adapt to the ecological demands of unprecedented technological change in an increasingly unscripted world. To usher in this transformative change, she emphasized the future-capable critical role of transdisciplinary (present within the bioeconomy field) and advocated for integrating new and creative pedagogies of the possible in the Higher Education sector.
As argued by Prof. Burnard, ‘Creative Learning’ encompasses more than just an event or product; it embodies a dynamic relational process, a state of mind, a disposition characterized by exploring ideas, possibilities and an unwavering acceptance of ambiguity. This generative and holistic approach to teaching and learning in Higher Education brings up a set of new relations between problem-finding and problem-solving and involves an intricate interplay of cognitive, emotional, and social factors, encompassing rational and non-rational modes of thought and action. Creative Learning is also nurtured through an ethics of possibility and deep contemplation, further enriched by co-authoring new knowledges, skills and capabilities for imagining what is possible and then catalyzing change.
Let’s celebrate the inspiring women behind this groundbreaking European project! 💪🌱
Meet Pamela Burnard, a dedicated researcher from the University of Cambridge, UK exploring Creative Learning in Industries and Work. She believes that fostering creativity and active learning can shape a better future for all. 🎓🌍
Nina Drejerska, from Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland, aims to bridge the gap between students and Bioeconomy. Through interdisciplinary Creative Learning methods, she empowers students to explore this exciting field. 🌾🧠
Joining forces is Valentina Chkonija from Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal. She highlights Portugal’s rich history and creative traditions as fertile ground for the CL4BIO project. Together, they’re preparing future generations to think creatively and tackle the challenges of our time. 🇮🇹✨
Let’s not forget, Mariantonietta Fiore, and their team from the University of Foggia. They’re working tirelessly to revolutionize learning approaches and unlock new possibilities for Bioeconomy. 🌿🌍
These inspiring women, along with many others, are united by their passion to collaborate internationally and drive meaningful change for humanity. 🤝✨ Stay tuned for updates on the CL4BIO project, where Creative Learning meets Bioeconomy! Together, we can create a brighter and more sustainable future. 🌱💡