Building Collective Consciousness for a Greener Future: Hellenic Open University, InCommOn, and BiosCoop Collaborate on a Key Workshop on Transformative Learning
Participants and Objectives
The group comprised of Assistant Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Biographical Learning and Transformative Adult Education at HOU Dr. Zacharias Palios, HOU Assistant Professor Dr. Georgios Koulaouzidis, and HOU Adjunct Professor Dr. Maria Botsiou. InCommOn was represented by its senior members Marina Koumoutsakou, Head of Education, Iliana Tsolka, and Natalia Gousi, while BiosCoop was represented by its President Yiannis Kaisidis, Associate Professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Dr. Georgios Blekas, and Aris Chatzinikolaou. The workshop occurred after a year of individual discussions between HOU and each group. The workshop aimed at exploring “Green” actions, leveraging the experience of previous workshops, and discussing initiatives of the participating groups.
Image 1. Collaboration from the Start: Hellenic Open University and InCommOn Team's Initial Meetings.
Collective Consciousness as a Key to the Green Transition
HOU, InCommOn, and BiosCoop jointly agreed that the green transition primarily concerns the enhancement of social capital and the development of collective consciousness, in order to lead to the adoption of practices benefiting society as a whole. Social capital refers to the relationships and networks that people develop among themselves, and its enhancement can facilitate cooperation, interaction, and exchange of ideas. It is crucial for implementing environmental initiatives and adopting practices that contribute to the green transition. Furthermore, developing collective consciousness about the environmental crisis and the need for sustainability requires raising awareness and informing societies.
Image 2. Breaking Ground for Sustainable Development: Hellenic Open University and BiosCoop Initiate Partnership.
Collaboration for Implementing Joint Actions
The workshop paved the way for constructive collaboration between HOU, InCommOn, and BiosCoop within the framework of the Erasmus+ TALE project. The opportunities that emerged during the workshop may lead to joint initiatives contributing to the cultural and educational development of the region. Our synergy highlights the importance of education, beyond professional skills, as a tool of convincing and encouraging citizens to participate and act in favour of sustainability and social responsibility.
Image 3. InCommOn's "Kyklos" Collaboration Lab, Thessaloniki, Greece
Image 4. Exploring Sustainable Development through Transformative Learning with Hellenic Open University, InCommOn and BiosCoop: A TALE Erasmus+ Innovation Group.
Planned Actions: Fall 2024
Looking forward, an open project seminar is planned in Thessaloniki in the fall of 2024, where selected Civil Society groups will engage in discussions and presentations to strengthen collective consciousness on sustainability issues through the exchange of ideas and every-day life experience. Additionally, a program targeting transformative learning and sustainable development aims to enhance HOU's profile as an institution that encourages innovation, social responsibility, and student awareness of their societal role.
TALE project
The TALE Erasmus+ project is a collaborative effort bringing together adult education organizations, learners, communities, social movements, and green activists to provide new insights on green transition and transformative learning. The main activity of the project is creating “innovation groups” in six countries: Finland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Greece, and Switzerland. The innovation groups are an open, emergent, and collaborative process involving the aforementioned stakeholders. Each innovation group is free to co-design what they want in line with the project’s goals to engage learners, provide transformative learning experiences, and contribute to sustainability in local communities. The intention is to explore how such collaboration can be mutually beneficial. The project is coordinated by the Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation (Kvs).
Links:
- https://kansanvalistusseura.fi/en/hankkeet/tale/ Transformative Adult Learning for Green Transition TALE Erasmus+(2022-2024)
- https://btlearnlab.eap.gr/en/ Biographical Learning and Transformative (BTLEARN) Adult Education Laboratory of the Hellenic Open University
Project partners:
- Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation (Finland, coordinator)
- European Network for Community-Led Initiatives on Climate Change and Sustainability, ECOLISE (Brussels)
- European Association for the Education of Adults, EAEA (Brussels)
- International Council for Adult Education ICAE
- Educators Centre Association (Hungary)
- Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband (Germany)
- Hellenic Open University (Greece)
- VHS Wien (Austria)
- SVEB (Switzerland) (associate partner)
- AONTAS (Ireland, associate partner)
Collaborating organizations for constructing innovation group with Hellenic Open University:
- InCommOn: https://www.incommon.gr/ InCommOn is a non-profit organization that champions circular economy principles to promote sustainable development. They specialize in repurposing materials and products, reducing resource consumption, and fostering community engagement to address environmental and social challenges.
- BiosCoop: https://www.bioscoop.gr/ - BiosCoop is a non-profit cooperative supermarket that promotes the Social and Solidarity Economy by offering quality products directly from local producers without intermediaries, with respect for the environment and the community. It is based in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Text: Maria Botsiou & Zacharias Palios / Photos: Maria Botsiou
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