The LIGNOSILVA Centre of Excellence for Forest-based industry stands for a systematic and structural change in the research landscape of the forest-based sector (FBS). The EU has made a strategic turn towards a circular bioeconomy, striving for a low-carbon society based on renewable sources, including wood biomass. It requires to transfer of knowledge and brings new innovation into FBS practice. FBS research landscape in Slovakia - as well as in countries with similar political histories - is highly fragmented and loses much of its potential due to insufficiently organised structures and strategies. Moreover, it is not linked to collaboration with Western/Northern EU countries. In the long run, this affects the entire value chain. The overall objective of the CoE is to contribute to overcoming these shortcomings by upgrading the existing LignoSilva Center of Excellence (CoE). The essence of upgrade lies in institutional reform that introduces European science management standards, increases excellence, expands research capacities, digital transformation based on the implementation of Forestry 4.0 and Pulp & Paper 4.0 into CoE research-innovation activities, support for open science and more efficient knowledge transfer to FBS. The main goal is to bring excellent research and applicable innovation into FBS in three research areas: - Intelligent technologies and systems supporting wood production and industrial wood processing. - Pulp and paper technologies for biodegradable packaging and special papers development with multifunctional properties - Recycling technologies and use of cellulose sludge and wood ash CoE LignoSilva's objective will be reached by concentrating the research and infrastructure capacities of the National Forestry Centre and the Pulp and Paper Research Institute in Bratislava. They will build up and foster cooperation with the advanced partners Fraunhofer Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institute (Germany).

The general objectives of the project is to create the Centre of excellence (LignoSilva) in the field of a forestry, wood-processing and a pulp-paper complex involving two major organizations, the National Forest Centre in Zvolen and Pulp and Paper Research Institute in Bratislava in cooperation with the European Forest Institute as a leading research organisations from high performance countries of the EU. LignoSilva will help to strategically transform Forest-based sector of the region towards the innovation growth based on the knowledge economy (in terms of RIS 3 SK vision) and the implementation of the principles of Green Economy. LignoSilva will represent the Centre of excellence that integrates research, development and innovation potential of a Forest-based industry that rationally links the chain of wood production, processing and utilisation. Project covers 4 interlinked priority areas: 1. Forest resources and sustainable wood production 2. Biomass and bioenergy 3. Paper-pulp technologies 4. Recycling and cascading system of wood and wood products use The intention of the project partners is to establish an autonomous entity by grouping a number of existing facilities into one cluster. CSA and FPA will be directed so that the newly established CE can benefit from massive past investments whilst bringing more dynamics into the forest based industry in Slovakia The CE will benefit from European Forest Institute and its network participation. EFI with its member is in a unique position to provide collective science-based insights at European and regional level to support informed policy making. Concerning LignoSilva EFI's Research function aims to (i) Conduct and promote interdisciplinary and cross-sector research of Forest-based industry and (ii) Support the coordination, strengthening and networking of forest research capacities aiming to overcome the fragmentation and low performance of FBI in Slovakia.

The EU strategy for sustainable growth and jobs “Europe 2020” puts innovations and green growth at the heart of the blueprint of competitiveness. It points out as major goal the formation of common labour market by growing up of new creative class of “knowledge workers”. An economical sector having high potential for realization of this policy is forestry. There is an increasing demand in the field of European forestry for a „paradigm shift“: more and more experts are looking for a new type of forestry – not only ecological, but also economically sustainable. The change to a so-called „permanent forestry“ would also give rise a strong challenge for the educational system of the European forestry. In this context the Strategic Partnership project ‘Training in Sustainable Forestry – STRATFOR’ contributes to this process offering new type of learning, mediating the shift from “knowledge” to “competence” through a system based on Learning Outcomes (LOs) and competences. STRATFOR is developed in compliance with the objective of Erasmus+ program guide: “Develop, test, adapt and adopt/implement innovative practices relating to: re-/definition of competence standards according to learning outcomes; adaptation or development of VET curricula and courses accordingly, also of accompanying learning material and tools”, and is focused on the following main objectives:• to build-up of learning program, organized as competences needed for the direct target groups;• to introduce EQF principles and arrange flexible and transferable LOs achievable in all VET forms.• to design LOs’ building blocks (knowledge, skills, competence) and set up Certification Units.• to offer knowledge in Sustainable Forestry and establish a common algorithm for LOs transferability through ECVET application.• to dissemination and use the obtained results/outcomes.The STRATFOR consortium is structured on the basis of mutual cooperation and shared understanding the need for provision of green jobs promoting competence-based blended learning program in sustainable forestry. It unifies 7 partners from 5 countries – Germany (AO and PO2) Bulgaria (P03, PO4), Italy (P05), Romania (PO6), Slovakia (PO7) and comprises 1 European NGO, 3 R & D Institutes/Centers, 2 Universities and 1 SME.The Project is structured in 5 phases that comprise structured activities performance with relevant support by technical, human and financial resources.Commencement: definition of project rationale and specific objectives, determination of targets’ needs and core elements for fulfillment of project innovative concept and goals, planning of consortium collaboration and cooperation.Preparation: establishment of project management structure, shaping the concept for development of b-learning in sustainable forestry.Implementation: definition and use of the work methodology for preparation of the main deliverables.Follow up: tracking the project impact and performance of project dissemination & use work Sustainability: final project and post-project activities to sustain its achievements and make them transferable to wider audience.The organization applied in STRATFOR development is based on Project Lifecycle Methodology. It comprises performance of set of activities needed to define, optimize, monitor and integrate project development. This approach enables project roles and responsibilities to be properly assigned and the methods and tools for estimating, scheduling, monitoring and control to be correctly related to the overall project ruling.The STRATFOR anticipated results include:- STRATFOR User-centered design for definition of common competence standards based on learning outcomes and their approbation through VET courses development- STRATFOR e-framework to guarantee the establishment of b-learning in sustainable forestry- STRATFOR catalogue of target qualifications adequate to project targets’ occupations to satisfy “new skills for new jobs” strategy- STRATFOR competence-based blended learning with interactive environment of operation- Units of Learning Outcomes-based model in sustainable forestry, structured on the basis of the learning content and b-learning approaches- Tutorials for trainees and training providers for using the competence-based b-learning - User guide for ECVET in STRATFOR for application of ECVET in project competence-based b-learning.The expected impact of ECO-Center project will be realized among core players and wide audience at national/EU level. Project achievements will contribute to the exchange of experiences, transfer of knowledge and skills, increase of competence, mastering the use of e-learning platform, creating e-courses, and exploiting web resources. The project exploits new approach for launching transferable qualification matrix designed in accordance with EQF/NQFs to be implemented in formal/ non formal VET. This will enhance innovative competencies in forestry and will prompt business opportunities in the sector

"Farming has nowaday even bigger influence on Europe's landscapes and environment than in the past. Intensive agriculture and severing ties throughout the EU has led to many different problems: - climate change which is more visible than it was, - soil erosion, - water pollution, - overuse of water resources,- significant loss of biodiversity,- overusing of pesticides.Agroforestry could be an answer to all mentioned problems. Agroforestry is a practice of a land-use system where trees (or other woody vegetation) are grown in association with agricultural crops or livestock on the same land. The role of agroforestry in integrating trees with crops and animals is a long-standing tradition throughout the world. Today, agroforestry appears to be an important part of the alternatives capable of promoting the transition to the more sustainable production of food.We believe that agroforestry is able to bring solutions to different issues such as income diversification, unemployment, and ecological services. Agroforestry goes beyond agriculture and forestry. This agricultural system provides a wide range of services, enabling it to contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the delivery of raw materials. Most importantly, agroforestry helps achieve the goals of the Common Agriculture Policy of the EU (CAP), namely the shift towards a low carbon and resilient economy in agriculture. Furthermore, agroforestry leads to diversify income and increase productivity. Agroforestry practices can serve as a zone of transition that helps people and communities ""reconnect"" with agriculture.The main reason for the international implementation of the AGFOSY project was that agroforestry can help achieve the objectives of the EU CAP and address the objectives set centrally at the European level. The implementation of this project internationally had a wide range of benefits for all participants and target groups, as it contributed to the exchange of best practices between different agroforestry systems in different countries.The main aim of the AGFOSY project was to develop a flexible training system for agroforestry. This training system was based on the collection of case studies and good agroforestry practices from a number of European countries with similar agricultural structures, but different agroforestry practices. Farmers can find at AGFOSY training materials inspiration on how to start with agroforestry, how to maintain agroforestry, how to take care of it, and where to look for a piece of advice. Overall we can say that the AGFOSY training system should provide farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills that assist them in implementing various agroforestry systems into practice.The primary target group of the project was farmers and peasants. Before the project started we found out in the Research that these people did not have the appropriate knowledge and skills and expressed significant interest to participate in such training focused on the issue of agroforestry systems and their implementation on farms. The AGFOSY training system that we developed in our project included: - the Summary Report of the current state of the art of the agroforestry systems (O1), - 34 various Case Studies from all partnership countries (O2), - 12 Methodological Sheets for Establishment and Management Appropriate Agroforestry Practices (O3), - 10 Study Materials for Students and Lesson Plans for Lecturers (O4), - 7 Short Educational Movies (O5), - Platform where all the materials can be found, used and downloaded (O6).During the whole project implementation, we not only developed our main outputs but we also focused these type of activities:- we carried out of dissemination of project results, project news, - we organized project meetings for the project partners, - we organized final events in all partner countries - and at least we did pilot testing of the developed materials which provided us valuable feedback. The main objectives which we set up before the project started we achieved. We prepared all materials of the educational system which we intended to prepare and all these materials are free for use in six European languages: in Czech, in English, in French, in Hungarian, in Slovakian, and in Spanish.Participants of our project were mainly:- farmers,- agricultural experts,- specialists on the topic of agroforestry,- university teachers,- students."

"European forestry has gone through a rapid change during the recent decades. Manual work of unskilled staff with chainsaw has been replaced by modern computerized harvesters, forwarders and skidders. This development has increased the request demand for competent and well trained operators of forest machines as well as the demand of mobility of such work force.The increasing mobility of forest machine operators is a partly a result of frequent storms throughout Europe causing large areas of storm felled forest in a random distribution between countries. English is the most frequently used language in manuals, spare part catalogues and computers and it is necessary to have a basic level of English to operate a forest machine and work in another country.Service staff is a special case that sometimes without forestry experience must communicate with the drivers and understand the situation to be able to order the spare parts in English and in another language. Language learning tends not to be the first priority for young forestry students in vocational training and it is necessary to promote increased motivation for language learning through innovative teaching methods and better links to practical use of language skills required by the labor market. These teaching methods must be developed transnationally since the forestry sector in most European countries is small and the market for teaching material in each country is limited.ObjectivesThe objectives of this project were: to increase motivation for language learning through innovative teaching methodsto enhance the use of content and language integrated learning methods by providing a teachers manual and teachers trainingNumber and profile of participating organisations7 organisations from countries have with broad experience formed a strategic partnership of this projectMain activitiesThe activities, methodology and results can be described as1 A teachers manual on - how to work with interdisciplinary team teaching and content and language integrated learning with forestry students - - how to use the tools for skills products and how to work with the case studies2 Updated Tools for skills products: forest workers glossary, forest workers online training tool (www.cd.dictyon.net) . 3 The textbooks ""working in harvesting teams 1 and 2"" published as e-books 4 Training of partner teachers 5 Multiplier events Teachers training seminars has been held in 7 countries 6 Blended mobility learning for students of partner institutions 7 Dissemination activities where 5000 end user has been reachedResultsVocational college teachers and students from the respective vocational schools, university students from the faculties of Forestry and Wood Industry, large number of professionals in SMEs and migrant workers in the forest industry has been affected through the access of a high quality training material with a clear teachers manual that facilitates the content and language integrated learning by introducing Interdisciplinary Team Teaching. This will increase the effectiveness, productivity and competitiveness of all parts of the European forest industry and related businesses. The tools for skills products are already widely spread over Europe and North America, Russia and other parts of the world which is continuously followed up by web statistics. The creation of a teachers manual increases the use of the material and have an impact on the competitiveness of European forestry work force but also on stakeholders from other parts of the world."