The rurALLURE action aims to leverage the state-of-the-art in information technologies in order to promote rural museums and heritage sites in the vicinity of major European pilgrimage routes. The goal is to foster symbiosis between the rural environment and the pilgrimage routes, so that the ongoing investment in the latter permeates to the nearby rural areas and, the other way round, the cultural experience of the pilgrimage is enriched by the vast cultural heritage that most often goes unnoticed. rurALLURE will connect cultural heritage collections and venues to present Europe’s cultural heritage in the wider historical and geographical context, leveraging the role of museums in preserving and managing cultural heritage, and collaborating with national and transnational associations to develop and promote cultural tourism. It will also foster sustained cooperation between museums and heritage sites to increase European public interest, cultural tourism and the innovation potentials of these institutions for heritage sciences and the cultural and creative sectors. Finally, it will conduct work to identifying gaps and obstacles, as well as best practices and fields where research and innovation can develop new solutions for successful cooperation.

The project ‘Climate smart, ecosystem-enhancing and knowledge-based rural expertise and training centres’ (RURALITIES) delivers an ecosystem-enhancing and climate action driven expertise and learning framework organised in hubs e.g., the ‘RURALITIES’, comprising a series of innovative methodologies with the learner at its core, supported by a comprehensive network of living labs, and a digital platform combining the Internet and wireless technologies, to assist engage, connect and empower actors. This is done via a multi-point approach e.g., multi-actors, multi-disciplines, multi-systems, multi-scale, multi-sectors, and multi-levels. RURALITIES is rooted in the recruitment, preparation, training and coaching of 1.000+ facilitators (KPI) distributed in all participating countries, for a variety of tasks (e.g., trainers, facilitators, role models, hub coordinators, etc.), and who play a significant role in creating the matrix and the platform upon which the learning framework is built, develops and evolves. RURALITIES proposes to ideate, implement, futureproof, validate and deliver the aforementioned expertise and learning centres via real-scale practicing in 6 simplified rural socio-ecological systems (SIMSES) e.g., demonstrators, 2 in Italy, 1 in the United- Kingdom (UK), 1 in Slovenia, 1 in Spain and 1 in Romania. RURALITIES coordinates identified actions of local, regional authorities in supports of rural innovation in regions and economic sectors where rural innovators are not yet engaged in a relevant network. RURALITIES coordinates identified SIMSES networks promoting rural innovation solutions whilst establishing innovative multipoints ‘RURALITIES Hubs’ of expertise and training on rural innovation. This is done via coordinating action for the managing authorities and regional bodies influencing regional and national policy instruments in Italy, the UK, Slovenia, Spain and in Romania.

CURRENT SITUATION AND MOTIVATIONPilgrim routes lead through different countries thus enhancing cultural exchange throughout Europe. Believers and non-believers of various religions get together on pilgrim routes like the Santiago Ways (300,000 pilgrims yearly) or the Ways to Rome that serve both as a symbol, reflecting over one thousand years of European history and as a module of cultural cooperation for Europe. Since the 1990s pilgrimage has experienced a true renaissance. Today many are searching compensation for increasing automatisation, deadlines‘ pressure and the flooding of information. Walking long distances pilgrims experience culture and history along the way and at the same time reflect their social and emotional situation and develop spiritually. If they search accompaniment, it requires experienced guidance by thoroughly trained pilgrim guides. These guides accompany individual pilgrims or groups practically and spiritually and convey the fascination of pilgrimage. Guidance needs a profound knowledge of pilgrim routes and cultural heritage. Moreover pilgrim guides must have educational and social skills, as they are acting as adult educators. Pilgrims are often in difficult living conditions, e.g. changing live sections or decayed familiar circumstances, which requires psychological skills. These skills are normally not trained in regular courses. In Austria certified pilgrim guides are available. The training is usually provided by educational institutions in collaboration with dioceses. There is no uniform training scheme for courses at national or international level and the taught knowledges and skills vary considerably. In the partner countries educationists, tour guides, hiking guides or honorary escorts with various training backgrounds are guiding pilgrim groups. OBJECTIVES AND DELIVERABLESTrain-to-EUPILGRIMAGE will develop a standardised international training scheme for pilgrim guides realized in 3 Intellectual Outputs: a curriculum, web based training tools including e-learning platform based on multiple choice trainings and tests, e-manuals, as well as best practice videos and case studies. The curriculum and e-learning platform will cover all requirements for all partner countries. The curriculum is based on 7 modules: cultural heritage & spirituality, psychological & pedagogic skills, theory & practice of pilgrimage, sustainability, innovative technical tools & digital competence, planning & networking. The training course will enable pilgrim guides to guide groups beyond regional and national borders and allow them to competently and sympathetically guide them, helping to develop intellectually and spiritually. They will get practice and knowledge in new topics, which have not been available yet, such as improving softs skills (e.g. how to take care of persons with handicaps or elderly people), digital competences (knowledge of walking with mobile apps and how to develop and use best practice videos) or linguistic competences (pilgrim tours in foreign speaking countries). Participants will also be able to learn from other cultures and values (mutual learning). During the project a sustainable network will be set up and allow a future international collaboration. Furthermore, consciousness for pilgrimage as a sustainable and educative form of travelling is enhanced. TARGET GROUPSTarget groups for the training are educators, pilgrim and tour guides, hiking guides, escorts and already certified pilgrim guides, according to the referring situation in the partner countries.PARTNERSApplicant is Forum, which is the major course provider in the field of ecclesiastical adult education in Austria with some 75 member associations. Partner organizations are GUL (AT), Fondazione Homo Viator (Diocese Vicenza, IT), Foundation San Valero (Diocese Zaragoza, ES), Dom Sv. Josef (Diocese Celje, SI) in cooperation with experts, pilgrim guides and representatives. Lead of the Intellectual Outputs are Austrian partners as currently training schemes for pilgrim guides are available only in Austria. This is also why Austrian partners will send more participants to Meetings and Activities.METHODOLOGYThe methodology is a 9-step by step procedure beginning from developing a very first draft, discussion and reviewing phases, feedback phase from an Advisory Board, final updating and finalization of single modules, and finally the wide dissemination of the outcome. For all modules of the curriculum a team leader will draft the content like a storyboard with logical sequences to allow tailor-made exercices at the e-learning platform. The project results will be promoted by all project partners and shall become the base for the establishment of an EU-wide recognized training scheme with a curriculum fit for upcoming new pilgrim generations across Europe, which will be used by all partners and other training providers. This will create a long-term benefit for pilgrimage movements beyond all borders.