HEEFTA and MEDWISE Explore Synergies in Environmental Education and Circular Economy in Muğla, Türkiye

HEEFTA and MEDWISE Explore Synergies in Environmental Education and Circular Economy in Muğla, Türkiye

Representatives of HEEFTA and MEDWISE, two projects supported by the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, met in Muğla, Türkiye, on 28 October 2026. The meeting addressed environmental education, organic waste management and the circular economy, as well as ways to apply environmental solutions developed across the Mediterranean in local contexts. The MEDWISE team also expressed interest in joining one of the training days during HEEFTA’s face-to-face training, planned to take place in Muğla in the last week of June 2027.

Researchers from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University (MSKU) visited the Education, Geriatrics, Ecological Agriculture and Tourism Foundation (EGET Foundation) as part of the MEDWISE project. The meeting, held at the historic mansion that houses the EGET Foundation’s headquarters, was attended by MSKU researchers Prof. Dr. Tuğba Uçma Uysal and Prof. Dr. Ceray Aldemir, and by Özlem Uzman, Chair of the EGET Foundation Board; Necla Dal, Senior Agricultural Engineer; and Dr. Çiğdem Kuş, Chemist.

Project objectives and areas of work discussed

Participants discussed the objectives, implementation models and planned activities of the HEEFTA and MEDWISE projects. Topics included organic waste management, the circular economy and environmental education, as well as opportunities to apply environmental solutions developed across the Mediterranean at local level.

Holistic Environmental Education from Training to Action (HEEFTA) aims to promote a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to environmental education and strengthen young people’s green and blue skills. The EGET Foundation is responsible for developing and implementing the content of the project’s training programmes.

Mediterranean Waste Innovations for Sustainable Environments (MEDWISE) focuses on organic waste management and circular economy solutions across the Mediterranean.

A shared basis for cooperation between academia and civil society

MSKU researchers presented MEDWISE’s approach to organic waste management, while EGET Foundation representatives shared HEEFTA’s environmental education activities and their experience with local initiatives. Participants discussed how academic research and practical experience could inform future collaboration.

Communication and coordination to continue across the Mediterranean

At the end of the meeting, project representatives agreed to maintain communication and coordination to develop joint environmental work across the Mediterranean.

About the EGET Foundation

Founded in Muğla in 2015, the EGET Foundation provides scholarships to young people with limited financial means so they can continue their education. The Foundation carries out work in ecological agriculture and environmental education through activities at the Armutçuk Organic Farming Enterprise and educational programmes for young people. Geriatrics, gerontology and sustainable tourism are also among the Foundation’s areas of work.

The HEEFTA project and its partners

The HEEFTA project is funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. Coordinated by Centro Tecnológico Nacional de la Conserva y Alimentación (CTNC) in Spain, the project brings together the University of Florence (Italy), the University of Patras (Greece), the EGET Foundation (Türkiye), the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) (Egypt), and El Khawarizmi Computing Center (Tunisia).