INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE WOODEN BUILDINGS: COOPERATION THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS
1 Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences (LITHUANIA)
2 University of Madeira; Madeira - Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization; University of Extremadura; University of Aveiro (PORTUGAL)
About this paper:
Conference name: 17th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 11-13 November, 2024
Location: Seville, Spain
Abstract:
The demand for timber buildings is rapidly growing in European and international built environments because it provides sustainable solutions for building structures that has environmentally friendly wooden components of construction and improves the building performance and design. To meet the needs of professionals in the field of design and construction of wooden buildings, the training of students with innovative skills in this field becomes highly desirable. The education of such new generation students was done by participating in the “Erasmus+ KA203 - Strategic Partnerships for higher education” project “Sustainable, High-Performance Building Solutions in Wood (HiBiWood)”, starting in 2020 with total duration of 36 months. The project was implemented by institutions of higher education from Latvia (Rigas Celtniecibas koledza), Lithuania (Klaipedos valstybine kolegija), Austria (Fh-campus Wien - verein zur forderung des fachhochschul), Poland (Cracow University of Technology) and Finland (Hhameen ammattikorkeakoulu).
The project framework was as follows:
1) Competency framework;
2) BSc/BA module “Sustainable, High-Performance Wooden Building Systems” (9 ECTS);
3) E-learning platform;
4) Best Practices.
In the paper results are presented from a comparative analysis framework of competencies, reported by Klaipedos Valstybine Kolegija (KVK). The analysis was based on the information received from the social partners and educational institutions that are involved in training on high-performance wooden building construction in their countries. As a result of the analysis, the system of competencies has been created and presented at the international conference in Latvia, where at least 20 international and 40 local participants from higher schools, educational institutions and business companies have participated. The data employed was obtained by interviewing sixty-two respondents from project partners in Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, Poland, Finland.
One of the main recommendations is to include high-quality building solutions that save mass wood in the undergraduate study program referring to the students' awareness. Additionally, there is need to dispel misconceptions about the safety mass wood as a basic building material by demonstrating its exceptional properties and neutral impact on the environment.Keywords:
Buildings in Wood, Cooperation in Training, Education Experiences, Educational System, Erasmus+ Project.