Presentation on the European Thematic Network for Aquaculture, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management (AQUA-TNET) given at The 2nd International Symposium on Aquaculture and Fisheries Education (ISAFE2) jointly organized by Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) and Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU) at the SHOU campus at Lingang New City in Shanghai on Thursday 23rd April, 2015.

1. Experiences from
AQUA-TNET
EU Thematic Network for Lifelong
Learning in Aquaculture, Fisheries &
Aquatic Resources Management
ISAFE2, Shanghai, 2015
John Bostock (Coordinator 2011-14)

2. You will probably forget at least 80% of my
presentation today ! (but what you remember will vary…)
Source: http://www.lifeadventurecenter.org/images/HowDoWeLearnPyramid.gif
Evidence is mixed, depending
on exactly what is being
measured, but stand-up
lectures regularly rank well
below more participatory forms
of learning yet is it still the
primary mode of teaching in
most Universities and is also
the way we conduct
conferences – WHY?
Having a curiosity about the nature of
learning and wanting to improve the
learning experience and outcomes for our
students is at the heart of ISAFE and
Aqua-tnet

3. How often do we deeply consider our assessment
and grading systems in relation to wider social and
professional criteria ?
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/meyer769/myblog/testing_cartoon.jpg
You may well have seen
this cartoon before and
may agree with its
message, or may feel it
misses the point about
assessment usually
coming after training that
might well be adapted to
individual needs.
Understanding and
justifying our assessment
systems is an example of
another topic that
characterises Aqua-tnet

4. Aqua-tnet is a multidisciplinary Education Network working
to drive up the quality and relevance of European
aquaculture education and training
Started in 1996
most recent
project 2011 - 2014
EC: €600.000
Supported by
AquaTT
(Ireland)
Coordinator
(2011-2014):
University of
Stirling (UK),
previously
Gent
University (BE)
Financial
support from
EU lifelong
learning
(Erasmus)
programme

5. AQUA-TNET members
92 Aqua-tnet member
organisations include:
Higher Education Institutes;
Further Education Colleges;
Research Institutes;
Associations and representative
organisations such as FEAP, EAS,
EAS-SG, EATiP and EFTP;
Private companies (research &
consultancy)
Over 150 named individuals
www.aquatnet.com
See the story in video at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/
aquatnet

6. • Annual meeting open to all
members
• Smaller workpackage groups
meeting an additional time each
year and also using
videoconferencing and e-mail
• Annual steering group meeting –
consisting of workpackage leaders
and other co-opted members
Organisation
Member organisations
Workpackage
leaders
Coordinator &
Aqua TT

7. Aqua-tnet – Workpackages
The workpackage structure is partly dictated by the EU funding scheme, and varied in
details between each iteration of the project

8. • Promotion of European Higher
Education Area
• Mobility of students and teachers
• Harmonisation of degree structures
• Tools for transparency and mutual
recognition
• Promotion of language learning
• Promotion of the life-long learning and
its integration into qualification
frameworks
• Promotion of education for innovation,
employment and economic growth
• Engagement with industry
Primary context – Developing EU policy on
Education and Training

9. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
How the workpackages responded to EU
policies
The following slides
contain quotes from the
European Council on the
role of education and
training in the
implementation of the
Europe 2020 Strategy and
how they have been
pursued by the AQUA-
TNET workpackages

10. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
“Higher education institutions should
be encouraged to improve the quality
and relevance of the courses they
offer, so as to encourage a wider
range of citizens to enrol in higher
education”
Council Recommendation:

11. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
WP1 – MSc courses
• Bologna process (programme length and type)
Degree structures
• Identification of employer needs
• Expected prior knowledge
• Learning outcomes (Tuning process)
• Creation of shared content
Course content
• Use of ECTS and diploma supplements
• Cooperation through double and joint degrees
Accreditation
This group
contributed to the
implementation of
EU policy in MSc
level programmes

12. This has been used to create a 5 ECTS course –
Introduction to European Aquaculture – which
can be run collaboratively between several
institutions
The last major output from WP 1
was a web-based platform to
share industry case studies and
national aquaculture information
– www.aquacase.org

13. WP2 – PhD programmes
The working group on
PhDs considered the
structure and organization
of PhD programmes in
different countries and
especially organized and
promoted specialist
technical training courses
that were useful to a range
of PhD students working in
the aquaculture and
fisheries fields.

14. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
Council Recommendation:

15. Promoting student
and staff mobility
through an online
mobility platform
(providing
information on
courses and
organisations) and
developing guidance
documents on best
practice for mobility
programmes
WP3 - Mobility
aquatnet.django.io

16. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
“Learning mobility for all young people should
be promoted throughout the education system,
as well as in non-formal contexts such as youth
work and participation. In addition, more
workplace and entrepreneurial learning
experiences should be encouraged and
opportunities for voluntary activities, self-
employment and working and learning abroad
expanded”
Council Recommendation:

17. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
“Achieving this calls for closer collaboration
and partnerships between public services,
education and training providers and
employers at national, regional and local
level. The transition towards learning
outcome-based qualification systems and
greater validation of skills and competences
acquired in non-formal and informal
contexts are also of great importance in
enhancing employability”
Council Recommendation:

18. This workgroup researched
the generic skill
requirements within the
aquaculture and fisheries
sector (including research),
and identified priority
needs leading on to the
development of
appropriate teaching
materials (shared on the
AquaCase website)
WP4 - Generic Skills
0 1 2 3
know foreign language
poster
media
future market
budget man.
stat. Soft.
faciliation meth
Aw. Legal proc.
team man.
Entrepren.
future dev. Skills
phil. Sc.
Stat. Meth.
Aw. Research etics
Lab. skills
selfpresent
Inform. Man.
multidisc. Work
oral
exp. Desing
Sc. writing
literacy
write funding
time man.
data man.
Proj. Man.
craft message
critical rev.
know english
Off. Soft.

19. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
“Education and training have a substantial
contribution to make to other flagship
initiatives such as the ‘Digital Agenda and
Innovation Union’. Europe’s education and
training system need to provide the right mix of
skills and competences…. To equip people with
basic skills and the motivation and capacity to
learn….”
Council Recommendation:

20. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
“Education and training have a fundamental role
to play in achieving the Europe 2020 objectives of
smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, notably
by equipping citizens with the skills and
competences which the European economy and
society need in order to remain competitive and
innovative, but also by helping to promote social
cohesion and inclusion”
Council Recommendation:

21. WP5 -
Innovative
Lifelong
Learning
Subgroup A-
Lifelong
Learning
Pathways
Subgroup B-
Curriculum
Frameworks
Subgroup
C-Innovative
Tools &
Methods
Workpackage 5 was sub-
divided into three groups
working on different aspects
of the overall theme of
innovative lifelong learning.

22. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
“The ‘Agenda for new skills and jobs’ initiative…
highlights the need to upgrade skills and to
boost employability. Progress has to be made
to improve the identification of training needs,
increase the labour market relevance of
education and training, facilitate individuals’
access to lifelong learning opportunities and
guidance, and ensure smooth transitions
between the worlds of education, training and
employment”
Council Recommendation:

23. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
Subgroup A – Lifelong Learning Pathways
This sub-group worked to promote
lifelong learning within the sector and
the development of the European Credit
System for Vocational Education and
Training (ECVET) and its place in the
European Qualifications Framework
(EQF). A particular area of focus has
been the articulation between different
educational sectors, especially linkages
between formal and informal learning

24. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
Subgroup B - Curriculum Frameworks
This sub-group used the European University
Association (EUA) “Charter on Lifelong
Learning” as a key guide and conducted
surveys on its implementation by AQUA-
TNET members. Major themes of the charter
include adapting study programmes to
enhance widening access (implying greater
engagement with industry/society) especially
for lifelong learners and providing
recognition of prior learning. The sub-group
also worked on implementation of “Tuning”
(programme definition in terms of learning
outcomes – building on the earlier VALLA
project)

25. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
“to foster the development of
transversal competences, including
those that enable the use of modern
digital technologies, to promote
sustainable development and active
citizenship and to encourage
creativity, innovation and
entrepreneurship”
Council Recommendation:

26. LLP – Erasmus – Erasmus Network
Subgroup C - Innovative Tools and Methods
This sub-group worked on the use of digital
media and Internet technologies in teaching
and learning and the pedagogical issues
raised. Key activities of the last 3 years were:
• Development and sharing of “Learning
objects” (With WP1)
• Creation of online Framework for
resource sharing (AquaCase website)
• Development of diagnostic language
tool/games
• Organisation of digital teaching skills
workshop for Aqua-tnet members

27. Image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Knowledge_Triangle.png
“Promote reinforced cooperation
between higher education institutions,
research institutions and enterprises
with a view to strengthening the
knowledge triangle as the basis for a
more innovative and creative
economy”
Council Recommendation:

28. “So many courses are garbage and leave the graduate
completely unprepared for life in the real world of
commercial aquaculture…. I think the problem lies within
the institutional frameworks themselves that don't really
promote strong ties with industry…… In short, they need
to engage more with industry and find out what they are
teaching is actually relevant and if not change it and
also talk with other institutions and try and get some
quality assurance happening.”
Quote from LinkedIn Aqua-tnet discussion group….

29. WP6 - Stakeholder Engagement
STUDENTS INDUSTRY
RESEARCH
This group brought together different groups with a stake in aquaculture and
fisheries education to identify needs and priorities for Aqua-tnet activities

30. Industry is invited to volunteer inputs to
courses such as visits or talks

31. WP7 - Dissemination
Web site
YouTube Channel
Monthly Newsletter
Scoop.It! Page
LinkedIn Group
Facebook Group
Diigo Group
Flickr Group
www.aquatnet.com
Led by Aqua
TT, this
workpackage
focused on
disseminating
project
activities and
outputs
Special issue of Aquaculture International (Springer) in press!

32. • The network developed in a specific context
of available funding for thematic networks
helping to promote and implement EU
policies on Education and training
• The funding for thematic networks has now
stopped, so continuation of Aqua-tnet in its
previous form is not possible
• The change in funding policies will require a
different organisational model and perhaps
a different focus in activities
• Working on an entirely voluntary basis
without at least funding for meeting
expenses is very difficult
Lessons from aqua-tnet:
1) Funding & policy alignment

33. • In name, AQUA-TNET it is a network of organisations –
Agreements are signed with the legal representatives
of each organisation and co-funding by each
organisation is required
• In reality, AQUA-TNET is a network of people –
individuals with an interest (often passion) for
improving aquaculture and fisheries teaching and
learning who build relationships and enjoy
collaborating with each other to achieve the project
outputs
• However, both elements are needed – Institutional
involvement adds authority to the work, gives
permission for time to be spent, and provides
accountability to the funders
Lessons from aqua-tnet:
2) Personal and institutional commitment

34. • The tertiary education sector (in Europe) is relatively
complex, diverse and generally conservative – change
can be slow
• Higher education has traditionally had a focus on
research and scholarship and not on training for
industry – but a first degree is now seen as essential for
many careers – leading to some conflicts in expectation
• Higher education has traditionally focused less on
pedagogy and learning outcomes and more on critical
thinking and subject expertise, whereas vocational
training is often very prescriptive on demonstrable
learning outcomes – cultural differences that have been
a barrier to greater integration
• Educational institutions see themselves in competition
with each other which can limit willingness to
cooperate
Lessons from aqua-tnet:
3) Institutional cultures
Leading innovation –
or resisting it?

35. • The expectation that higher education can better
engage with industry has been the most challenging.
There are deep cultural divisions and often
misunderstandings and mistrust on both sides
• Programmes that give young people some experience
or exposure to work in the industry whilst they are
still studying are needed, and more efforts to bring
industry into the classroom
• Better sharing of new knowledge from research to
industry is also needed – but appropriate methods
need to be used
• Collaborative research based on industry priorities is
also proving a beneficial route to greater engagement.
Lessons from aqua-tnet:
4) Industry engagement

36. • The political context is completely different
from Europe although there are some
mechanisms for cooperation e.g. through
ASEAN and national initiatives
• The social contexts (e.g. percent of population
participating in higher education) also varies
significantly
• However, many core challenges and
opportunities are common – globalisation,
development of the internet, open
educational resources, communities of
practice, need for digital teaching and learning
skills, the benefits of student and teacher
mobility
Lessons from Aqua-tnet:
for Asia?
Aqua-tnet
members are
keen to share
their experience
and learn from
wider international
collaborations

37. • Need to look for real needs that can be best answered
through international and collaborative approaches –
need for greater Interdisciplinarity may be one thing.
Increasing the rate of knowledge exchange may be
another…
• Identify achievable activities – e.g. gap analysis of
industry, government and entrepreneur needs vs
education sector provision (to include content, delivery
and price?). Activities to enhance (digital) teaching skills,
collaborations on shared teaching resources, exemplar
joint courses, foresight work to help map future
opportunities.
• Identify funders with aligned objectives and win their
support
• Be ready to collaborate nationally, regionally or globally to
give the best opportunities to our students
Conclusions
We share similar
challenges - we
can work better
together to find
solutions

38. Contact us
Thank you for your attention
Email: j.c.bostock@stir.ac.uk
Website: www.aquatnet.com
Find this presentation on Slideshare:
http://www.slideshare.net/jbostock/