The Montessori in the VET project aims to contribute to improving the quality of the VET training offer at European level in the services, mechanics and artistic crafts sectors, starting from the Best Practices developed in the different countries and from the feasibility analysis of the application of a flexible method, such as the Montessori, to improve its quality and, consequently, to increase student performance. The Vet providers of the partnership (IT, PT, BG, LV, ES) intend, through the Montessori in the VET project, to respond to two of the four priorities of the strategic framework for European cooperation in the education and training sector up to 2020: Implementation of quality assurance in VET and promote the evolution of the role of teachers and trainers. The activities of Montessori in the VET activate a virtuous process of exchange of Good Practices through: the identification of EQAVET indicators comparable at transnational level, a Benchmarking analysis that allows to identify the external and external conditions for the transfer of the Good practices; the precise identification of the principles and operational aspects characterizing the Montessori Method and which can contribute to raising the QUALITY of the VET offer. The Montessori Method, from the expertise and good practices developed by some of the partners and shared in the preparation and definition phase of the project, has been identified as a method with a high degree of flexibility (Montessori Academy, 2016), flexibility that could be put at the service of the processes of change in the VET by several parties called at European level.The following activities and results are foreseen:a. Identification and selection of indicators for the quality of education and vocational training EQAVET on which the Montessori Method impacts in terms of improving the VET offer - Output 1: Analysis of the complete set of EQAVET indicators;b. Identification of the Best Practices at the macro level (Member State) and micro (VET providers partner and other VET providers). Output 2- Good practices for each partner country;c. For each EQAVET indicator (10 or less) a Benchmarking analysis will be performed. Output 3 Benchmarking Analysis;d. Montessori theoretical analysis in the VET realized by the Applicant and by the partners that in a formal and informal way apply the principles of the Montessori Method and have specific expertise that have implemented this method also in other contexts. Output 4: Montessori theoretical analysis in VET;e. and f. Translation of the principles of the Montessori Method into a questionnaire, to be administered to all the partners and the relevant public stakeholders;g. Drawing up of the Final report containing the feasibility study of the Montessori Method at VET in the services, mechanics and artistic crafts sectors at European level. Output 5: feasibility study of the application of the Montessori method in VET. There are 4 transactional meetings and three mobility activities for direct recipients closely linked to the activities.The expected results are thus distinguished by target:Trainers, Tutors, Educators and Designers of the VET system, Company Referents and Tutors in the dual system:Increased knowledge of the EQAVET Recommendation and indicators;Greater awareness of one's role in ensuring the quality of the training offer;In-depth study of the Montessori method and brainstorming reflection on the application in the context of one's teaching plan;Direct experimentation of the best practices developed in other European countries, thanks to mobility.VET systems:Improved understanding of the potential, but also the difficulties, perceived by partners and other stakeholders regarding the achievement of the EQAVET indicators;Greater awareness on the feasibility of the applicability of the Montessori Method in its institute, in order to offer students a quality education, which allows them to access the labor market in a prepared manner, from the point of view of technical, professional and personal skills soft and prosocial skills.Redesign of existing initiatives regarding the pursuit of quality, incorporating, where possible, the Montessori Method.Students in vocational education and training courses:They will be the final beneficiaries of the qualitative improvement of the institute's VET offer where they are enrolled, thanks to the project results, to the new teaching practices by the teachers and to the integration of these practices by their own institute.

"CONTEXTA recent research conducted by the ministry of education and EIF (""FoodEdu@School” 2018) has highlighted how, in the Italian school context (but there is reason to believe that the findings of the research may be of interest for other European Countries), education for sustainability through food based on the initiative of the individual teacher, with teaching methods more traditional. In this way didactic uniformity is lacking: a solid approach, based on skills, as well as content, that could be much more effective for the development of educational actions, replicable and widespread, for teaching sustainability to children, through the theme of food and food systems.OBJECTIVESIn order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the didactic action within the school on the theme of sustainability through food, the project aims to qualify the profession of a teacher and provide the tools, procedures and output are able to form in a systematic way, an ever-increasing number of school staff with the goal of ensuring that, over time, a standard of consistent quality and capable of having a significant impact on the full awareness of the students about the benefits of healthy and sustainable, for their own health and that of our planet.NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTSThe participants in the project are:- 35 teachers of Secondary Education of second degree;- 250 students of Secondary Education of second degree (2 classes of 25 students on average for each partner school). The summer schools include the involvement of 10 teachers and 25 students, appropriately selected, in the amount of 2 teachers and 5 students for each partner school.DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIESThe project includes the following activities: - 5 Intellectual Outputs → IO1: Report on the state of the art, education, and sustainability through the food in the school environment; IO2: “Framework of competencies” for the teaching of sustainability through food; IO3: Guidelines for teachers in order to educate for sustainability through food; IO4: IT Platform “Meet&Learn”; IO5: Certification: Teaching Sustainability Through Food.- 3 Management Meetings → Italy, Bulgaria and Greece.- 6 Multiplier Events → Italy (2), Bulgaria, Spain, Latvia, and Greece.- 1 training mobility for teachers in Italy.- 2 Summer School mobility for students and teachers in Latvia and Greece. There are also two cycles of laboratory activity of sustainability education through food conducted by teachers and addressed to students in the Class Group (10 class hours per year).METHODOLOGY TO BE USED IN CARRYING OUT THE PROJECTThe methodology is based on the PRINCE2 model: the project is organized in several stages, in which the activities, are divided, planned and allocated according to the outputs. The project is divided into 3 Macro-phases: preparation; implementation; closure. The phases of the project are of 2 types: - transversal: Project Management, Dissemination and Follow − up Management; - chronologically vertical: intellectual outputs, training activity abroad.RESULTS AND IMPACT ENVISAGEDResults: - the teachers are able to design educational paths in a school environment, using innovative methods and tools (in particular, the use of the platform “Meet& Learn”), as well as through the confrontation with concrete experiences in local communities of origin; - students are able to develop their own critical thinking with respect to the challenges of food and environment in the course, and to act accordingly; Impact: − the improvement of teaching effectiveness in the field of sustainability through the food in schools partner; - an increase of interest of students and teachers towards the issues related to education for sustainability through food;- the development of language skills, interpersonal, intercultural, planning and problem solving, as well as related to the use of particular tools, and multimedia tools (online platform, video production-documentary, digital photography) on the part of students and teachers.POTENTIAL LONGER TERM BENEFITSIn the long term, the project aims to generate the following benefits: - increased teaching effectiveness in the field of sustainability through food, thanks to the diffusion of the proposed model on a large scale (at least on the national territory of the partner); - increased awareness on the part of students and teachers on the topic of sustainability on a large scale (at least in the geographical areas of reference: the Baltic Countries, the Mediterranean, and the Balkans);- greater resourcefulness on the part of students and teachers in implementing individual behaviors and collective actions aimed at promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles, respectful of our health and the environment, through food."