BioCircle Skills: New Erasmus+ Project to Develop Green Skills and Promote the Circular Bioeconomy
Pannonia Consulting has launched the implementation of a new international project, BioCircle Skills, funded under the Erasmus+ Programme, Key Action KA210-VET – Small-scale Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training. The project focuses on developing educational resources and practical skills for sustainable organic waste management, composting, vermicomposting, and the application of circular bioeconomy principles.
The project runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 November 2027 and brings together three international partners: Edelmark AS from Norway, acting as the project coordinator, Pannonia Consulting from Croatia, and Pažinimo Medis from Lithuania. The project is supported through the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir).
About the Project
The circular bioeconomy is playing an increasingly important role in the green transition, particularly in agriculture, horticulture, and sustainable natural resource management. Organic waste is often perceived as a challenge, although, when properly managed, it can become a valuable resource that contributes to improving soil quality, reducing waste, and promoting more sustainable production practices.
BioCircle Skills aims to address the growing need for new green competences in vocational education and training (VET). Particular emphasis is placed on connecting theoretical knowledge with practical methods that teachers and learners can apply in their everyday educational and professional activities.
Through international cooperation, the project partners will develop educational materials and digital learning resources to support more effective teaching and learning about the circular bioeconomy and sustainable organic waste management.
Main Activities and Expected Results
During the project implementation, several key educational outputs will be developed:
- A five-module VET curriculum covering circular bioeconomy principles, composting, vermicomposting, and soil health.
- A resource book for teachers and trainers, providing practical guidance and recommendations for integrating the developed educational content into teaching activities.
- Four to five short educational videos, with subtitles available in Croatian, English, Norwegian, and Lithuanian.
- An online repository of educational materials, ensuring easy access to the developed resources and supporting their wider use in vocational education and training.
The educational materials will be tested with approximately 45 learners, while nine VET teachers and trainers will participate in a five-day international learning mobility activity in Croatia.
The first phase of the project focuses on analysing existing curricula and identifying gaps in educational content across Norway, Croatia, and Lithuania. This process will include curriculum reviews, interviews with teachers, and consultations with employers to ensure that the developed materials respond to the actual needs of education and the labour market.
Pannonia’s Role
As the Croatian project partner, Pannonia Consulting will contribute to international cooperation aimed at developing and testing innovative educational content related to the circular bioeconomy.
Participation in BioCircle Skills builds on Pannonia’s experience in developing educational programmes, digital learning resources, and competence-building activities through European projects.
An important element of the project is the five-day international learning mobility activity in Croatia, which will bring together teachers and trainers from the partner countries. The activity will provide opportunities to exchange experiences, strengthen practical knowledge, and explore innovative educational approaches supporting the green transition.
Through its involvement in BioCircle Skills, Pannonia continues to strengthen its international partnerships and contribute to the development of accessible, practical, and innovative learning opportunities in vocational education and training.
International Partnership
The project brings together three organisations from different European countries:
Edelmark AS (Norway) – Project Coordinator
Pannonia Consulting (Croatia) – Project Partner
Pažinimo Medis (Lithuania) – Project Partner
Cooperation between partners from three countries will facilitate the exchange of expertise and the development of educational resources that can be adapted and applied across different national contexts.
BioCircle Skills will contribute to the development of practical green skills, the modernisation of vocational education and training, and greater awareness of the importance of the circular economy for a sustainable European future.
More information about the project: https://edelmark.no/biocircle-skills/
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.