Page 7 - ingilizce

4. SHARED ISSUES AND CONCERNS

The PowerWORMS Project undertook extensive research to evaluate the current state of
vermicomposting education and its practical application in the agricultural sector. Employing a
two-pronged survey approach, we engaged a total of 365 respondents—147 from educational
institutions (VET Schools, Agricultural Centers, and HEIs) and 218 VET professionals and
farmers.

The primary goal was to identify educational gaps at secondary and university levels regarding
vermicomposting. Data was collected through diverse methods, including questionnaires,
phone and live interviews, and study visits, with responses recorded in Google Forms translated
into the respective languages of each participating country.

Key findings revealed a significant lack of education on vermicomposting across the board.
This was a common thread across responses, emphasizing the need for enhanced educational
efforts.
However, the research faced several challenges:

● Time Constraints: Initially scheduled to conclude by November 2022, the study
extended to December 2022 due to unforeseen delays.
● Engagement Difficulties: Particularly in Spain, there was a noted reluctance within the
education sector to participate in the study, although eventually, the necessary data was
collected.
● Participant Numbers: All countries met or surpassed the target respondent numbers,
except for Greece, where the surveys fell short by 5 and 3 respondents for the
educational and professional/farmer questionnaires, respectively. Nonetheless, due to
the high participation rate from Türkiye and the marginal shortfall in Greece, the results
were deemed valid.
● Incomplete Data: Some responses, particularly from Greece, were incomplete for
certain questions.

Despite these obstacles, the project successfully gathered comprehensive data, offering
valuable insights into the current landscape of vermicomposting education and practice, setting
the stage for targeted improvements in the field.

5