This project addresses the pressing issues of social exclusion of vulnerable communities in remote and rural areas in Ecuador and El Salvador by creating an online educational environment that can foster cultural diversity, promote indigenous heritage and strengthen social cohesion in an environment-friendly way in both countries and beyond. The consortium of seven HE institutions (2-Ecuador, 2-El Salvador, 3-EU) will develop a multilingual online portal that has two functions: it will serve as (a) a collection of tangible (traditional crafts) and intangible (folklore, oral traditions) cultural heritage fast disappearing in the remote areas; (b) a compendium of educational modules, methodologies and trainings, realised by didactisation of the authentic original materials collected, to be used by HEIs, re-skilling institutions and organisations promoting sustainable tourism. The consortium will collaborate intensively to transfer know-how, experience and good practices. The Ecuador and El Salvador partners will collect and record materials among the vulnerable indigenous communities in remote areas, transcribe and translate them into Spanish. The European partners will develop the online portal and educational modules, methodology trainings and sustainable tourism support modules based on the authentic materials. Then, the Ecuador and El Salvador partners will pilot the educational modules, methodologies, and sustainable tourism support materials in their HEI´s already existing and newly-establish programmes as well as in re-skilling workshops and trainings. Finally, all partners will present the portal to target audiences (educators, social workers, tourist agents) in Latin America and the EU. The aim of the project is to use a combination of technologies, education and cultural heritage preservation to improve the situation of vulnerable indigenous communities in remote areas in an environment-friendly and sustainable way.

Results

The EPSULA project aims at modernization of HEIs which will create economic and social value through the transfer of know-how, experience and good practices to the communities with fewer opportunities in Ecuador and El Salvador. Its ambition is to use a combination of enhanced technologies, education and cultural heritage preservation skills to improve the situation of vulnerable indigenous communities in remote areas in an environment-friendly and sustainable way. However, the impact of EPSULA will consist not only in providing new content and educational and methodology materials and targeted skills especially in the areas of multilingualism, multidisciplinary approach, social inclusion and environment-friendly entrepreneurship to students and academics and members of the communities with fewer opportunities, it will also consist in a closer and enhanced tie between European and ECUA/ELSL partners, ECUA/ELSL academic communities and ECUA/ELSL public authorities, and between European and ECUA/ELSL public authorities with the aim to strengthen and develop further cooperation.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.