Francesca Greco - Böcker

This volume analyzes e-learning in European higher education, focusing on the technological, ecological, and social challenges of digital transformation. Started pre-pandemic and a result of an ECOLHE project funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme, the book discusses the impact of this global crisis, as well as the need for universities to integrate information and communications technology (ICT) in teaching and learning.The book presents multiple national case studies and examines how European universities adopt ICT for Lifelong Learning (LLL), uphold quality standards, and foster teachers' professional growth. It further sheds light on the translation of e-learning ideals into practical realities within academic institutions.From enhancing digital skills to refining teaching methodologies, the book offers valuable insights for educators, administrators, and policymakers alike. The multidisciplinary approach includes theoretical frameworks, pilot training initiatives, and strategic recommendations, all aimed at strengthening higher education's digital infrastructure. Navigating the challenges of digitalization, the book offers solutions for how European universities can remain resilient against the evolving demands of the modern world.

This volume analyzes e-learning in European higher education, focusing on the technological, ecological, and social challenges of digital transformation. Started pre-pandemic and a result of an ECOLHE project funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme, the book discusses the impact of this global crisis, as well as the need for universities to integrate information and communications technology (ICT) in teaching and learning.The book presents multiple national case studies and examines how European universities adopt ICT for Lifelong Learning (LLL), uphold quality standards, and foster teachers' professional growth. It further sheds light on the translation of e-learning ideals into practical realities within academic institutions.From enhancing digital skills to refining teaching methodologies, the book offers valuable insights for educators, administrators, and policymakers alike. The multidisciplinary approach includes theoretical frameworks, pilot training initiatives, and strategic recommendations, all aimed at strengthening higher education's digital infrastructure. Navigating the challenges of digitalization, the book offers solutions for how European universities can remain resilient against the evolving demands of the modern world.

This book examines the revolutionary impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on communication and collaboration. In recent years, advances in large language models and deep learning have enabled seamless human communication across diverse languages and even with other species, such as dogs and humpback whales. AI is also unlocking the language of plants, including tomatoes and the 'wood wide web.'The book explores how technologies in natural language processing, image recognition, audio analysis, and network analysis facilitate unprecedented fuzzy data analysis. This progress is crucial for promoting sustainability and addressing climate change by uncovering patterns in complex environmental data that inform sustainable practices and policies. The book further focuses on studying interspecies communication, where AI technologies decode communication patterns between humans and other species, allowing a better understanding of the natural world. It highlights how plants can capture human emotions, enhancing well-being and productivity.Presenting empirical applications and case studies, the book analyzes societal, economic, and ecological implications, advancing theoretical insights, and introducing innovative methods. It will appeal to an interdisciplinary audience of scholars, students, and researchers in the social sciences, economics, business, sociology, psychology, environmental studies, and media and communication who are interested in a deeper understanding of how artificial intelligence and interspecies communication can contribute to building a sustainable future.

This book pursues a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach in order to analyze the relationship between water and food security. It demonstrates that most of the world’s economies lack sufficient water resources to secure their populations’ food requirements and are thus virtual importers of water. One of the most inspiring cases, which this book is rooted in, is Italy: the third largest net virtual water importer on earth. The book also shows that the sustainability of water depends on the extent to which societies recognize and take into account its value and contribution to agricultural production. Due to the large volumes of water required for food production, water and food security are in fact inextricably linked. Contributions from leading international experts and scholars in the field use the concepts of virtual water and water footprints to explain this relationship, with an eye to the empirical examples of wine, tomato and pasta production in Italy. This book provides a valuable resource for all researchers, professionals, policymakers and everyone else interested in water and food security.

This book pursues a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach in order to analyze the relationship between water and food security. It demonstrates that most of the world’s economies lack sufficient water resources to secure their populations’ food requirements and are thus virtual importers of water. One of the most inspiring cases, which this book is rooted in, is Italy: the third largest net virtual water importer on earth. The book also shows that the sustainability of water depends on the extent to which societies recognize and take into account its value and contribution to agricultural production. Due to the large volumes of water required for food production, water and food security are in fact inextricably linked. Contributions from leading international experts and scholars in the field use the concepts of virtual water and water footprints to explain this relationship, with an eye to the empirical examples of wine, tomato and pasta production in Italy. This book provides a valuable resource for all researchers, professionals, policymakers and everyone else interested in water and food security.