CONTEXT/BACKGROUND The potential of renewable energies is widely accepted. In fact, one of the EU 2020 targets consists of obtaining 20% of energy from renewables. Jobs related to this field cover a wide range and it is foreseen that new possibilities will be created in rural areas. Nevertheless, the experts highlight that green energies are immature and subject to contradictions. Thus, its reorientation is required. In this context, IN2RURAL emerges from common goals and needs of the partners, and it is in the frame of the local, national and European agendas. Thus, it is seen as a part of a long-term collaboration that started with the ongoing Erasmus Intensive Programme “IT-Forest” and will provide the incomes for new joint initiatives. OBJECTIVES The general objective of IN2RURAL is to promote innovative practices in the renewable energies sector to improve the employability of university students in the rural areas of Bacau (Romania), Castellón (Spain) and Gyöngyös (Hungary). To achieve it, specific goals have been established: - To increase the applicability of the learning processes by strengthening the relationship between universities and SME. - To identify and improve the key-competences for the employability in the sector. - To introduce educational improvements and innovations. - To strengthen the internationalization, project management procedures and sustainability of the organisations. - To promote the active participation of geographically disadvantaged groups. - To improve the preparation of the students for the professional world. PROFILE AND NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN2RURAL partnership integrates public universities and SMEs: Universitat Jaume I and Heliotec (Spain), Universitatea Vasile Alecsandri din Bacau and General Electric (Romania), Karoly Robert Foiskola and Geolin (Hungary). The direct beneficiaries of the project are the university students involved in degrees related to renewable energies and rural development. Efforts will be done to attract students coming from rural areas. Concerning the staff, three target groups have been identified: professors, technicians and administration personnel in both universities and SMEs Furthermore, the project will count with the participation of relevant stakeholders, such as vocational education centres, local governments and social enterprises. The estimated number of participants (apart from the indirect beneficiaries): - 240 students - 80 staff - 270 stakeholders/general public ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGY The project activities are organised in interrelated stages: - The preparation includes administrative, legal and financial arrangements to facilitate the activation of future activities. During this phase it will take place the first transnational meeting. - The implementation will consist of intellectual outputs (learning material, studies, open on-line courses, etc.), multiplier events and learning activities (intensive programmes, blended mobility for students). - The follow-up will be developed through monthly monitoring reports and transnational meetings. - The dissemination will take place before (dissemination plan), during (newsletter, website, videos, social media, etc.) and after the project (contact with media). - In the closure stage, final reports will be prepared and a final evaluation will be conducted. RESULTS AND IMPACT In reference to the students, it is estimated that the project will result in: - Increased technical competences in the field of renewable energies for rural development - Improved employability by a closer relation between academic formation/enterprises in a international environment - Higher skills for active job search, including opportunities in the EU. The staff of the organisations will obtain different benefits, such as better knowledge about the application of ICT to education and the entrepreneurial practices. For both, universities and enterprises, IN2RURAL will strengthen the competences to work at European level, reinforcing their language skills and facilitate the encounter with partners for future collaborations. Regarding other relevant stakeholders, the project foresees to support the networking among stakeholders and promote the internationalization of local organisations. POTENTIAL LONG TERM BENEFITS It is expected that the effects of IN2RURAL will continue after the project end date. Some of these benefits will be: - Better competences of the students will facilitate their integration in the labour market. - Improvements of academic curriculum by fitting industry needs - The project website will be maintained in the official server of Universitat Jaume I, allowing free access to the OER generated by the project - The professional development of the staff will remain in the mid and long term, resulting in the institutional strengthening and internationalization - The collaborations generated by the project among other stakeholders will create future synergies