Abstract

HEEFTA addresses the pressing need for holistic environmental education in the Mediterranean by integrating interdisciplinary learning, advocacy, and action. Targeting youth in higher education, the project aims to foster green and blue upskilling through collaborative networks across six countries (Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Türkiye). With activities ranging from strategy development and training piloting to policy advocacy and network building, HEEFTA empowers the next generation of change-makers to tackle environmental crises as systems challenges, not isolated events.

Key Activities and Outputs

• Establishment of the HEEFTA Network across six Mediterranean countries.
• Development and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among partner institutions.
• Needs analysis and expert working sessions involving academics, researchers, and practitioners.
• Development of a training programme framework with at least five interdisciplinary modules.
• Piloting and implementation of training modules involving 24 higher education students.
• Dissemination of results through open-source materials, advocacy activities, and stakeholder engagement.
• Preparation of a sustainability plan to ensure long-term impact beyond the project lifetime.

Target Groups and Beneficiaries

• Higher education students and young adults.
• Academics, researchers, and education professionals.
• Environmental, green, and blue economy sectoral actors.
• Public and private organizations are involved in environmental education and skills development.

Expected Impact

• Enhanced interdisciplinary cooperation in environmental education across the Mediterranean.
• Improved green and blue skills among young adults, supporting sustainable development and environmental resilience.
• A sustainable transnational network and training framework that continues beyond the project duration.

Project Partners & Countries

• Spain – National Technological Centre for the Food and Canning Industry (Lead Partner)
• Italy – University of Florence (Università degli Studi di Firenze)
• Greece – University of Patras
• Türkiye – Education, Geriatrics, Ecological Farming and Tourism Foundation
• Egypt – Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT)
• Tunisia – El-Khawarizmi Computing Center

Geographical Coverage: Spain, Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Egypt, Tunisia