i2Connect Summer School on Becoming an Interactive Innovation Support Advisor successfully held in Ireland
The i2Connect Summer School, aimed at training advisors to become interactive innovation support advisors, took place this week in the scenic surroundings of Kildalton Agricultural College, Ireland. This comprehensive training programme, held during the week of July 22nd, brought together 24 participants from Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Ireland.
i2Connect Summer School on Becoming an Interactive Innovation Support Advisor successfully held in Ireland
The i2Connect project is about connecting advisors to boost interactive innovation in agriculture and forestry. The i2connect project aims to fuel the competencies of advisors who will support and facilitate interactive innovation processes.
The group participated in a five-day, in-person workshop in Ireland. This immersive experience allowed participants to develop the methodological competencies—attitudes and skills—necessary to facilitate interactive innovation processes. Through an experiential learning approach, participants were able to reflect on their own roles in these processes. The training also included practical discussions of innovation cases, enhanced by a farm visit to a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Operational group. The group visited the ‘Comeragh Upland Communities’ EIP and the ‘Enable Conservation Tillage’ EIP.
The trainers that led the programme, included Professor Alex Koutsouris (University of Athens), Dr Eleni Zarokosta (Agricultural University of Athens), Sangeun Bae (University of Hohenheim), James Maher (Teagasc) and Rachel Clancy (Teagasc).
The final component of the training will be an online webinar, encouraging participants to reflect on how they have applied or could apply their learnings from the course in their professional contexts.
Speaking to the participants, they have described the training as “very interesting, fun and interactive”. One participant commented, “It was a great opportunity to mix with people from different countries with a similar background and to learn from one another”.
James Maher commented “This i2Connect Summer School is an ideal opportunity to learn key concepts and tools supporting groups through an innovation process. The diverse nature of participants enriched the learning experience”.
This programme has equipped participants with the necessary tools and insights to effectively support and facilitate innovation in their respective fields, fostering a collaborative approach to advancements in agriculture and forestry.
Thanks to ConnectEd and Kildalton College for their support with the Summer School.
For further information on the project, please visit the i2Connect website here.
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