CULTIVAR

Promoting sustainable development in tropical islands: strengthening capacities for enhancing cultural heritage, traditional know-how, and local food production

Programme:

Erasmus+, KA2 – Capacity building in the field of higher education – Strand 1. The project has been funded with the support of the European Union.

Project duration:

from January 1, 2025 to
December 31, 2026

Mission statement:

CULTIVAR project pioneers an interdisciplinary higher education system, training professionals to tackle challenges and meet Sustainable Development Goals. Its activities include fortifying Higher Education Institutions in critical areas such as History/Cultural Heritage, Tourism, Agronomy and Social Sciences. The project aims to raise awareness in civil societies and among decision-makers, fostering positive synergies between academia and society in Cape Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe.

Impact:

CULTIVAR works to increase awareness about the imperative need to preserve cultural heritage and traditional knowledge in Cape Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe communities. CULTIVAR begins at the university acting as a hub for public awareness directed towards civil society, policymakers, youth and their families.

Short-Term Impact

Enhances university staff skills through capacity building and training aligned to European standards.
Fosters cooperation among national higher education institutions, scientific communities, and stakeholders, including policymakers.
Facilitates transnational and virtual access to essential tools and resources in the field of cultural heritage studies, by establishing synergies among the partners.
Enhances integrated knowledge of local cultural heritage, sustainable tourism and traditional food products through specialised teaching modules.
Grants access to advanced research tools for cultural heritage studies, sustainable tourism, traditional food products and sustainable development (SDS).
Establishes an academic network to ensure project sustainability.

Long-Term Impact

Develops a pioneering teaching environment focusing on cultural heritage studies, anthropology, rural sociology, language studies, traditional know-how, sustainable development, tourism and cultural studies.
Strengthens understanding of intercultural dynamics and climate change.
Advocates for cultural heritage as a fundamental human right.
Continues to create synergy among partners for transnational and virtual access to crucial tools and sources in the respective fields of study.
Integrates sustainable development and cultural heritage education into university curricula for lasting impact.