The Open Space of the European medium-sized city is recognized as a psychological, sociological and aesthetic High Quality Space. For this reason it can be assumed as a resource to conserve and develop consciously and as model to value the livability of the urban anthropic environment inside a Global Strategy of Sustainable Development.
The ARCHEA project relays on a constructive cooperation and integration between five Universities, research institutes and organizations all providing strong expertise in the field of urban studies, urban space quality evaluation and Distance Learning. Indeed the project proposes to develop, test and implement an Higher Education programme structured in a flexible blended learning path on study, quality evaluation and the design of the Open Space of the European medium-sized city, which mixes elearning courses (OER-MOOC) and practical activities planned for the physical mobility (Intensive Programmes for Learners, i.e. Architectural Design Workshops).
The ARCHEA aims to support:
1 - implementation of reforms in line with 2011 EU Modernization Agenda’s priority areas;
2 - develpment of an European Area of Skills and Qualifications;
3 - enhancement of digital integration in learning, teaching, training and youth work at various levels;
4 - ensuring education and research are mutually reinforcing and strengthening the role of institutions in their local and regional environments.
Although a number of 60 students will be supported by the project for the physical mobility, a higher number of students will benefit the courses on e-learning platform as these courses will be recognized and validated as ECTS. Furthermore, since the main outputs the project foresees are teaching materials that will be available as “open learning objects” in an e-learning platform, a wide number of persons besides students, such as private and public operators in the field of urban planning and design, will be potential beneficiary.
The ARCHEA project is organized in three different stages: stage one will be focus on the implementation and organization of the OER-MOOC; stage two application of the MOOC teaching/learning content to real case studies represented by selected areas within European medium-sized cities; stage three evaluation on the results of the pilot course and dissemination.
The proposal Intellectual Outputs are:
IO1 – RE-DRAWING OF THE OPEN SPACE OF THE EUROPEAN MEDIUM-SIZED CITY
IO2 – ARCHEA OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES - MOOC
IO3 – MANUAL OF BEST PRACTICES FOR A BLENDED FLEXIBLE TRAINING ACTIVITY IN ARCHITECTURE HEI
IO4 – SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
The ARCHEA project includes the organization of two Intensive Study Programmes as part of the flexible blended pilot programme taking the form of Architectural Design Workshops focused on developing skills and deepen knowledge on topics treated in the elearning courses. This activities involve the use of ICT and digital tools (digital pens&electronic tables) that allow to transmit streaming the experience of the workshops on the ARCHEA platform.
In relation to the goals, the ARCHEA proposal will take advantage of the collaboration of an interdisciplinary and international group of researchers experienced in projects devoted to study, quality evaluation and design of the Open Space of the European city. The interdisciplinary co-operation across EU boundaries throughout a strategic partnership involving High Education Institutions and urban development stakeholders may meaningfully contribute to define the structural features of the urban space and further to improving its quality and livability with regard to some of the critical issues that have emerged in recent years. Moreover, the proximity between research and education can help to prepare young architects who are more ready to take up new challenges regarding the project of the contemporary city and to enter the European labor market.
Project Reference: 2018-1-IT02-KA203-048305
Programme: Erasmus+
Key Action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
Action Type: Strategic Partnerships for higher education