Green4C Summer School: specialisation in Green Care entrepreneurship

Would you like to learn more about the benefits of nature on health, wellbeing, and social inclusion? Are you interested in gaining knowledge and skills to start your own Green Care initiative?

The Green4C Summer School: specialisation in Green Care entrepreneurship is an exclusive and unique opportunity to gain knowledge and entrepreneurial skills in Green Care. For the first time, top European experts in Green Care will come together to share knowledge and best practices related to this sector. Only participants selected through the Business Innovation Challenge (BIC) will be able to access the Summer School. Learn more on the BIC and how to participate at the dedicated page.

The Summer School will take place from the 15th of June to the 8th of July 2022, both online and in presence. The first week will be online, while in the remaining three will be hosted at the University of Padova (Italy), specifically at the Agripolis Campus.

During these 4 weeks, participants will have the opportunity to deep dive into the world of Green Care and gain knowledge and skills specifically tailored to this sector. The programme of the Summer School is based on a combination of theoretical, hands-on, and experiential learning approach – drawing from trans-disciplinary traditions, such as design thinking, creative practices, visioning & foresight, mindfulness, etc. In addition, the Summer School will give access to a dynamic and diverse Community of Practice, which will provide opportunities for peer-learning, mentorship, networking, and capacity building in the short and long run. The contents are trans- and inter-disciplinary: the Summer School will provide participants with academic knowledge on Green Care, as well as focus other important business-related skills, such as business development, communication, marketing, and fundraising. Finally, during the Summer School participants will have the opportunity to test their knowledge and improve their ideas through the development of a final project in Green Care. Learn more on the programme of the Summer School at the dedicated section below.

At the end of the Summer School, participants will have the opportunity to take an optional internship of 1 or 2 weeks in a selected Green Care initiative.

The applications to the Summer School are collected only through the Business Innovation Challenge (BIC). Applications are officially closed.

The Summer School is structured in 4 modules, the first one online and the remaining 3 in presence.

MODULE 1
Seeding | Sense-making through theory
On 15, 16, 17.06, 3 days of online lessons, with mandatory attendance on 2 days.
The objective of this module is to ensure that participants have a similar level of knowledge on the theories of nature-based health and wellbeing and are up to date on the latest developments in the field. The module will focus on theories and concepts of Green Care, on the actors involved in Green Care initiatives and on the state of the art of the European markets in the sector. At the same time, this will be an occasion to get to know each other through some interactive online activities and start the journey of collective learning through the Summer School.

NOW YOU ARE READY TO TRAVEL TO ITALY

MODULE 2
Rooting | Experiencing in places
From 20.06 to 24.06, 5 days face-to-face in Italy
The second module will be more practical and exploratory. Participants will analyse and learn from real case studies in Green Care. During this week, participants will visit 4 different initiatives relating to the different Green4C thematic sectors, namely Forest-based care, Urban Green Care, Social agriculture, and Green Care tourism. The aim of this activity is to illustrate opportunities and challenges connected with the development and implementation of a Green Care initiative. In addition, during this week, participants will also have the possibility to explore Padova and the Agripolis campus through engaging activities.

MODULE 3
Nourishing | Learning in action
From 27.06 to 1.07, 5 days face-to-face in Italy
The third module will focus on participants’ own ideas through collective and individual reflective sessions as well as development of entrepreneurial skills and competencies. Among others the topics of the week will include communication, marketing, networking, financial planning, fundraising, business development and modelling. This module will be delivered through frontal seminars, such as a proposal writing seminar, round tables and interactive participatory sessions, such as role-play and storytelling exercises.

MODULE 4
Branching | Finalising the Green Care idea
From 4.07 to 8.07, 5 days face-to-face in Italy
The objective of the fourth module is to help participants turn their ideas into practice. This module foresees coaching and mentoring sessions, as well as peer review activities. Towards the end of the module, participants will present their ideas at the Green Care Fair: an internal event where participants students will have their own stand inside the campus. The aim of this activity is to learn and practice pitching and selling skills, and to give participants a tangible memory of their idea in Green Care.
Finally, to celebrate student’s achievements and new connections, the Summer school will organise a celebratory session .

The detailed programme will be published in the following week.

Only people selected through the BIC will be able to access the Summer School. APPLICATIONS ARE OFFICIALLY CLOSED.

Participation in the Summer School is free of charge for students and staff from the partner universities of the Green4C project: University of Padova (UNIPD), University College Dublin (UCD), University of Brasov (UNITBV), and University of Wageningen (WUR).

EARLY BIRD FEE, € ~~400~~ – €0
The school is free of charge for those who will apply by Sunday 24th April. Do not miss this opportunity!

REGULAR FEE, €400
After 24th of April, external participants will be admitted upon the payment of a registration fee of €400. The payment of the fee will be asked only after their selection is confirmed.

GRANTS
The Green4C project will provide 20 mobility grants to partially cover travel and accommodation expenses for attending the Summer School. The amount of the individual grants is €1,115. Additional expenses that exceed the amount of the grants must be covered by the participants themselves. The grants are available for students from the University College Dublin, the University of Brasov, Wageningen University, and in general for candidates that hold a formal link with the affiliated Green4C partners (such as for example employment contract, employment certificate, proof of enrolment, internship agreement). Students from the University of Padova cannot have access to the mobility grants, since they are based in Italy. Indeed, Italian residents cannot have access to the mobility grants. Students from other Universities who have signed a collaboration agreement with the Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Padova and hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education are also eligible for a mobility grant.
The grants will be disbursed as reimbursement at the end of the Summer School, provided that the participant has successfully completed the training. To know if you are eligible for a scholarship, please contact us at info@greenforcare.eu

Students from partner universities will gain 6 ECTS for participating in the Summer School. A minimum attendance of at least 75% of the lessons is required, with compulsory attendance on the last two days (7-8 July).
Students from the University of Padova will gain 6 ECTS as “free choice-activities” (free credits), provided that they include this intensive Summer School in their study plan.

For students from other universities, the recognition of ECTS must be agreed with their home university. For further information, please write to info@greenforcare.eu

The BIC is an open competition for project ideas in Green Care, and it is the gateway to the Green4C Summer School. In other words, the BIC can be considered a call for applications to the Summer School.

Within the context of this BIC, we consider a project idea in Green Care an idea for an initiative that along with profit-making, promotes wellbeing, health and social inclusion through the contact and interaction with nature and, at the same time, focuses on sustainable use of natural resources and care for the natural environment. Some examples can be found here .

Everybody with interest in Green Care can apply. Only 25 applicants will be selected for the Green4C Summer School, including:

5 places reserved for students of the University of Padova
5 places reserved for students of the Transylvania University of Brasov
5 places reserved for students of the University College Dublin
5 places reserved for students from Wageningen University and representatives of the other partners of the Green4C project.
5 places reserved for external applicants

In case some places reserved for the universities and/or other partners of the Green4C project will remain vacant, these places will be made available for other applicants.

To apply, you have to fill out the application form on this page. There is no fee to participate in the BIC.
The application form consists of 4 parts:

Personal information
Your project idea in Green Care
Internship
Use and disclosure of information

For the presentation of your draft project idea, you can use whatever media type you prefer, written or graphic (video, PowerPoint presentation, infographic, etc.). Project ideas can involve one or more Green4C thematic sectors, i.e. Forest-based care, Urban green care, Social agriculture, and Green care tourism. Don’t worry, you don’t need to have a structured project plan, but just a draft concept.

Once you start filling out the form, you will have to finish it or start again from scratch (there is no “save” option). For this reason, we suggest you prepare your application in advance. You can find a template of the application form here.

If your application is successful, you will be allowed to participate in the Green4C Summer School. Participation in the Summer School will provide you with hands-on knowledge, networking possibilities and training in Green Care. In addition, participation in the Summer School for the students of the partner Universities will be equal to 6 ECTS (please read question 15 for further details).

The results will be announced on the 14th May 2022 on the Green4C website.

The Green4C Summer School is an intensive learning course that gives participants the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in Green Care. The Summer School will take place in the Agripolis campus of the University of Padova, in Legnaro, Italy.

The programme of the Summer School will be published on this page soon. The page will be frequently updated with more details, so please check it regularly.

The Summer School will last 4 weeks, from the 15th of June until the 8th of July. The first first module will be held online, while the remaining three will take place in Padova (Italy).

A minimum attendance of at least 75% of the lessons is required, with compulsory attendance on the last two days (7-8 July).

The Summer School will be both online and in presence. The first module will be held online, while the remaining three will take place in Padova. The School will be hosted by the Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Padova, at Agripolis campus. The campus is located in Legnaro, around 15 km south-eastern of the town Padova, in Italy (50 km far away from Venice). The campus is connected by a bus service with trips lasting 20 minutes from Padova city centre.

More information is available here.

You cannot apply directly to the Summer School. Only people selected through the BIC will have the possibility to access the Summer School.

Students from the University of Padova will gain 6 ECTS as “free choice-activities” (free credits), provided that they include this intensive Summer School in their study plan.

For students from other universities, the recognition of ECTS must be agreed with your home university. For further information, please write to info@greenforcare.eu

To be eligible for 6 credits or a certificate of completion you must attend at least 75% of the classes, and be present on the last two days.

If you are not a student, on completion of 75% of the Summer School you can obtain a certificate of completion.

If for study, work or health reasons, you need to be absent for a few days, you can do so within the limit indicated.

There is no fee to participate if you come from the University of Padova, Transylvania University of Brasov, University College Dublin, Wageningen University or from any other Green4C project partner.

The school is free of charge for those who will apply by Sunday 24th April (early bird fee).

After 24th of April, external participants will be admitted upon the payment of a registration fee of €400. The payment of the fee will be asked only after their selection is confirmed.

There are 20 scholarships available, which will help cover part of your travel, food and accommodation costs. The amount of the individual grants is €1,115 (€275 as travel contribution and €840 as food and accommodation contribution).

These mobility grants are funded by the Green4c project, with the support of the European Commission. 15 grants are reserved for students from the University College Dublin, the University of Brasov, and Wageningen University and in general for candidates affiliated with Green4C partners.

Students from other universities that have signed a collaboration agreement with the Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Padova and that hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education are also eligible for a mobility grant.

The grants will be disbursed as reimbursement at the end of the Summer School, provided that a participant has successfully completed the training.

If you have any enquiries about your eligibility for a scholarship, please write us at info@greenforcare.eu.

Accommodation, food, and travel costs are borne by the participants.

During the 3-weeks study period, from Monday to Friday, participants can have lunch in the Agripolis canteen free of charge.

For the accommodation, a list of hotels, B&Bs and flats will be provided to the selected participants.

The Summer School is not an acceleration programme, and therefore it will not provide access to funding opportunities. However, the Summer School will allow you to improve your idea, give you the means to communicate it externally in an effective and attractive way and help you to join a global network in Green Care who can help you to realize your idea.

We suggest you check this page periodically. However, if you have any further questions, please write to info@greenforcare.eu

Photo gallery – Activities in Agripolis