Target groups

The ESTO project was created in response to the findings of a previous Grundtvig Lifelong Learning project, ‘Variety Means Life’, which showed that neither teaching and qualification material, nor a standardized curriculum is available for training traditional orchard farmers in Europe. Therefore the ESTO project is in the process of creating an innovative curriculum for students/trainees at vocational schools, universities and in adult education as three potential target groups.

The broad-ranging setup of our expert consortium of partners and institutions will ensure that all target groups will be reached.

The target groups the project aims to reach will be integrated into the development of the curriculum (bottom-up) in a participatory way. The short-term target group will be actively involved in planning the details of the curriculum and will implement the curriculum in the pilot "Orchard Schools" projects and also in the future after the completion of the project. This group consists of:

1. Trainers and teachers from vocational schools, universities, universities of applied sciences and adult education institutions all active in the agricultural, horticultural, environmental and regional development sectors.

2. Professionals active in traditional orcharding and environmental networks, linking ongoing activities.

3. Users/learners/trainees: professionals and students at vocational schools, universities and adult education institutions from the agricultural, horticultural, environmental and education sectors; farmers; employees of institutions and organisations dealing with agricultural, environmental, nature preservation, healthy nutrition and educational issues.

4. Professionals and trainers from farmers’ associations.

How will these groups be reached and involved during the lifetime of the project?

1. Teachers and trainers from vocational schools, universities of applied science, adult education institutions: We aim to reach this group by means of active involvement in the development of the expert text, in the test phase of the curriculum in pilot "Orchard Schools" and in the final design of the curriculum.

2. Professionals in the agricultural, horticultural, environmental and education sectors, employees of institutions and organisations dealing with agriculture, environment, nature preservation, healthy nutrition and education issues: We aim to reach this group by means of involving them in focus groups discussing details of the curriculum, reviewing the material, giving statements and cooperating in developing parts of the curriculum, participating in the pilot "Orchard Schools" and testing the material.

3. Users/learners/trainees: professionals and students of vocational schools, universities and adult education institutions from the agricultural, horticultural, environmental and education sectors: We aim to reach this group by means of encouraging their participation in testing the curriculum in the pilot "Orchard Schools" and by giving their feedback and evaluation of the material.

4. Professionals from farmers’ associations: We aim to reach this group by means of PR work, maintaining and making contacts, initially by setting up the National Centres of Competence, organising and participating in national meetings, as well as the "pilot orchard schools".