EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - R.A.V.E. Space

R.A.V.E. Space – Teach to live spatially

Introduction

Spatial planning is a basic tool for responsible spatial management. The project 'R.A.V.E. Space – Raising Awareness of Values of Space through the Process of Education' – deals with problems of education on spatial planning and sustainable spatial development in primary and secondary schools. It searches for new ways to educate young students about spatial development and land use. It does so to raise awareness about the importance of spatial planning in order to support the sustainable development of European communities.

Problem

The nature of the problems linked to the poor amount of commonly shared knowledge about spatial development demands immediate action. The educational strategy of the R.A.V.E. Space project is thereby meant to be more than simply inserting new contents into the obligatory educational curriculum. The strategy defines ways of reaching schoolchildren and the wider population alike. The project meets with the UNECE Strategy of promoting sustainable development through education.

Project Partners from the whole project area share the opinion that awareness of the value of space and the importance of public participation is insufficient. This situation should be overcome with the establishment of an educational system that assures the incorporation of this knowledge in a regular educational process in primary and secondary schools.

Description

The R.A.V.E. Space project brings together 9 partners from 5 countries (Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovenia) who joined their forces to raise awareness about spatial planning and spatial development.

R.A.V.E Space believes that the attitude towards sustainable development strongly depends on the knowledge that people from all over the world possess. Particularly knowledge of the environment and its spatial limitations is considered to be important in this respect. In order to take an active part in sustainable development people do and will need more comprehensive knowledge on these issues. They do not only need isolated facts and data. The ability to recognise and understand procedures, connections and interdependences between separate acts, interventions, people, politics or ideas will be of crucial meaning.

The project developed an educational strategy to reach schoolchildren and the wider population alike, in order to improve their knowledge and skills on the development of sustainable communities through spatial planning.

Approach

Through research, development and dissemination among all CADSES (Central-European Adriatic Danubian South-Eastern European Space) countries, the R.A.V.E. Space project aims to realise the following long term objectives:

To offer a methodology as well as a concept enabling the step-by-step integration of concepts of sustainable spatial development into the regular educational process (curricula) of children and youth at the European level;
To establish a strategic transnational document, which will be elaborated and should be a base for harmonization of educational and spatial politics on the national and transnational levels;
To raise awareness of spatial planning and values of space among target groups, as well as improving knowledge about sustainable spatial planning;
To raise the general public's awareness of the importance to participate in the spatial planning process .

Results

The main results of the project foresee:

A methodology for analyzing spatial planning related topics in recent curricula in the different school systems;
Elaboration of educational concepts on sustainable development and the value of space for primary and secondary schools;
Distribution of educational tools such as books and video tapes at schools as well as transnational and national brochures and posters in order to promote awareness of the value of space;
Educational TV programmes;
Availability of a website on sustainable spatial development;
Exchange of experiences, best practices and know-how.

After the finalization of the project, the Project Partners will continue to co-operate in order to assure the integration of national educational strategies and to reinforce transnational co-operation.

Beneficiaries

Teachers who teach school subjects dealing with space, the environment and similar topics;
Pupils that are interested in topics related to space and spatial planning;
Authorities responsible for sectoral policies in the fields of education and spatial planning;
Experts, semi-public and private organisations in the project area that are responsible for spatial planning issues as well as education.

EU involvement

R.A.V.E. Space is funded by the European Union Interreg III B CADSES Programme.

Contact info

The Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning of Slovenia
Mr. Tomaž Miklavcic, tel. + 386 1 478 70 08

Project start date

Links

Click here to visit the R.A.V.E. Space website

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Keywords

Land use