The CoVE SEED transnational collaboration yielded impressive outcomes, including the conference, a learning platform, and popular summer schools attended by students from the five regions. But what did the partners learn while collaborating to achieve these outcomes?
During the second day, the project partners reflected on their ‘grow’ and ‘groan’ moments. The goal of the workshop was to gain insight into the added value of transnational collaboration and learning for the benefit of regional development. A ‘grow’ moment is a meaningful moment in transnational collaboration in CoVE SEED that you consider a positive event in the development of your CoVE. For example, something that you found beneficial to experience, a breakthrough, a “now I got it!” feeling. A ‘groan’ moment is also a meaningful moment, but then a rather negative event in transnational collaboration in CoVE SEED that you consider a ‘groan’ moment in the development of your CoVE. For example, a disappointment, something difficult to overcome, something that didn’t turn out the way you hoped.
First, individual ‘grow’ and ‘groan’ moments were added to a timeline in three categories: general, stakeholder engagement and sustainable energy education. The timeline showed crucial moments from the CoVE SEED project. Second, additional meaningful moments were discussed in small groups and added to the timeline. Finally, the partners reflected on the added value of transnational collaboration and learning for the development of the regional CoVEs, as well as the lessons learned.
In general, being inspired and creative is an advantage of transnational collaboration and learning. Exchanging knowledge and good practices stimulates learning and leads to more effective ways of teaching and learning in sustainable energy education. Learning from the different perspectives of VET, higher education, company partners, and, of course, the various regional and cultural differences brings inspiration and new ideas for the regional CoVEs that would not have been generated otherwise. The transnational collaboration and learning also create a support base for developing the CoVEs and implementing new practices.
“You are not alone anymore as you can learn from other regions with similar struggles”
Minna Harju, project coordinator from Raseko, Finland.
The partners learned that the energy transition is context-dependent and each region needs bespoke solutions. For example, contracts between partners need to be signed by the parties involved in the southern regions before collaboration can sprout, whereas, in more northern areas, a loose contract or even just a handshake is often sufficient. Such cultural differences and the lengthy process of understanding all project activities initially presented some struggles. The project partners agreed that it is worthwhile to invest time at the start in understanding the different contexts and cultures. The developed workshop materials could help other transnational collaborations overcome such struggles. Looking back, the partners believe that it would help to start sooner with developing a transnational and regional learning strategy and define concrete results, like organising three summer schools. Finally, the approach of adopting good practices is complex, as each context requires tailored solutions.