FlorCert project: 2016-1-SE01-KA202-022127
FlorCert is an international project in which several activities are carried out. Its main objective is to raise the level of professional skills of the secondary school level florists and to unify fundamental knowledge. Comparability of the floricultural knowledge in different countries is invaluable as obtaining of internationally comparable knowledge opens the door to employability. When students obtain an internationally recognized certificate, they are certified to have achieved high international standards in their education, so they can easily get a job abroad because employers know what level of knowledge can be expected from such employees. With the establishment of FlorCert this idea is being brought to life.
The President of FlorCert, Mikael Sörensson, is also the President of Swedish Florist Association Floristernas Yrkesråd FYR. So far, six countries have been involved in this project: Sweden, Finland, Italy, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Participation in the project is beneficial for all partners. The project supports and stimulates a high-quality education; it is also an opportunity for both teachers and students to exchange valuable experience. As this is considered to be an international project, mobility is a priority task of partners; that’s how the level of intercultural dialogue and knowledge of foreign languages, especially English, can be raised. Participants with mobility experience gain additional know-how, which enhances their flexibility in the labour market.
Each year, examination themes are changed with cooperation of all partners involved in the project.
Students had to use at least three different techniques of making floral decorations. Their work was then presented in English. All candidates had to meet high standards of commission in which participated members from Finland, Sweden, Italy, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia. All candidates passed the exam and acquired FlorCert certificate.
ERASMUS+ K2 EU PROJECT -Florist E-learn book, and quality insurance in secondary florist studies by using FlorCert as a tool. (1.1.2017 – 31.12.2018)
E-learn book for FlorCert partnership is made of 6 partners:
- Floristernas Yrkesråd, Sweden (FYR)
FlorCert coordinator in Sweden CEO Mikael Sörensson. mail: info(2)florcert.eu - Biotehniški center Naklo, Slovenia (BC)
FlorCert coordinator in Slovenia is dr Sabina Segula. mail: sabina.segula(2)guest.arnes.si, - Stredná Odborná Škola Pruské, Slovakia (SOS)
- Kainuu Vocational College, Finland (KAO)
- SŠ “Arboretum Opeka” Marčan, Croatia (AO)
- Associazione Tradizione e Cultura, Italy (TaCA)
We have also discovered that there is a need to develop material for teachers and students to make it easier to communicate and also to make the availability of education more flexible.
We like to base the project in two big areas. One is more process based and stresses the development in the organization when it comes to quality assurance, methodology and education.
The other part is a concrete e-learning platform for teachers and students.
We have discovered that a e-learning platform and e-book will help communication between teachers and students and make the education more flexible, this will be innovative and complementary in the florist schools. By designing a floristic e-book we make sure that the quality in the florist education will be more equal and the way to the final exam is comparable and transparent. It also help the students to communicate with students in other countries and prepare them for work in a European context.
This will further help and clarify the need of both key competencies and professional skills and further make the education more transparent and get the students to know students from other countries by taking part in different e-learning tasks and workshops in the different partner countries. The Florist E-learn book activities will be constructed so there is material on both teacher-and student level and some material will also be available for shops. To have a common e-learning platform connected to different European schools is unique and in a long term will have a great impact. It will make it possible to have student mobilities in direct connection to the curricula.