STOAS, AGRICULTURAL TEACHERS ` TRAINING  INSTITUTE  

The Sustainability Charter Higher Vocational Education has been signed by STOAS and many other institutes in Higher Vocational Education.

CHARTER HIGHER VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Signing the Charter involves trying to pursue the following items:

• A1.      Sustainability has to be mentioned in policy documents and institutional plans;

• A2.     Active communication on the policy of Sustainability;

• A3.      Additional Education of Teachers should contain items of Sustainability;

• A4.      A plan of improvement as regards Sustainability for the next period of 2 years should be available;

• A5.      Policy and Activities, following the Charter, should be evaluated.
  

• B1.      Goals to Be Achieved should be incorporated in Trainings and Education;

• B2.      The Institute makes public aspects of the Trainings and Education that has been offered.

• C1.      An extensive Transport plan to reduce environmental burden is put into practice;

• C2.      The Institute is obliged to execute all these.
  

An evaluation on How STOAS has carried out these items of the Charter has been shown under present state of EE of STOAS .

Also presented on May 11, 2001: Working methods of STOAS

• Field Work  (from 1 day to 1 week); 

• International Exchange between green (agricultural) schools;

• Specific Cases (development of values);

• Introspection (ethical development, philosophy);

• Training of specific didactical aspects of greening (environment, sustainability;

• Total teaching: Head, Heart and Hands

           Future of STOAS Teachers´ Training Institute (within 5 – 7 years´time)

• Education based on competences (assessment);

• More modules in English;

• From (only) cognitive approach to (more) attitude approach.
  

From  Agricultural / Awareness to  Green Surroundings (inclusive of food) and Sustainability

 Conclusion:

The right attitude for integral action as regards Sustainability is demanded !

To obtain this attitude, our students are being taught the way they are taught, aiming they will improve education and attitude at their own institutes in the future, in the (green) agricultural fields.

Hours spent in the curriculum on Environment and Sustainability:

Total hours a year :       1680
Total hours of Study:       6720
(Length of the study: 4 years)

First year:                    120 hours
Second year:                 80 hours
Third year:                   120 hours
Fourth year (optional)      80 hours

Conclusion:  About 5 % of the time is spent on Environment and Sustainability.

HEADLINES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION STOAS APH ´s-HERTOGENBOSCH

Sustainability and Environmental Education

To be observed:

• Personal Values and Requirements in relation to Sustainability and Environment;

• Biological Agriculture;

• Environmental Aspects of particular branches of Business;

• Differences and similarities between Sustainability and Environment;

• Ecology