SPINSMEDE: first presentation of a transnational training experience on soil protection
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abstract
SPinSMEDE, acronym of Soil Protection in Sloping Mediterranean Agri-Environments, an
Erasmus Intensive Programme, funded by the EC Lifelong Learning Programme, was
designed and implemented following the policy context of the Thematic Strategy for Soil
Protection in Europe. This document announced expectable demand for technical
competences to meet increased requirements on the issue, most needed to cope with the
specific soil degradation problems of Mediterranean hill-slopes. SPinSMEDE took place
during three years (2008-2010), in three different places (Portugal, Greece and Spain),
involving students and lecturers from five Universities. The presentation aims at reporting, at
a preliminary stage of data exploration, this transnational training experience on soil
protection. The design, implementation and evaluation phases are described, outlining the
main background elements, methodological approaches and outcomes of each phase. Namely,
context-driven justification of the project, a description of the partnership and programme
contents are included in the design phase. Programme implementation is addressed in terms of
students profile, activities performed, assessment requirements, support material provided,
and project deliverables. After describing the programme evaluation procedures developed
and applied, the discussion focuses on SPinSMEDE success, drawbacks, and problems arose
and ways adopted to cope with them. Final remarks state main lessons learned and and
programme follow-up activities envisaged.
