Green Skills and Sustainability for a Greener European Vocational Education and Training

Author : Wenqi Zhang

Abstract :The groundbreaking project “GREEN - Greener European VET Network", co-funded by the European Union, was launched in December 2022 with nine partners in education and industry from six countries to promote sustainability in vocational education and training. This initiative supports global efforts to build a greener future by embedding sustainability into education and workforce development. As the first innovative achievement of the GREEN project, a brand-new “European Network of Vocational Education and Training Providers” (greenvetnetwork.eu) was founded in May 2024. This is the first “Green VET Network”. It aims to build a globally connected community that supports educators and learners in adapting to an evolving, green-focused world. All VET providers are encouraged to adopt the Green VET standards recommended by the Green VET Network. A steering committee is established to assess and award the “Green VET Stamp” to providers that meet the Green VET standards. The GREEN project has focused on six industrial sectors: additive manufacturing, automotive, batteries, defense, energy, and maritime, to identify the essential green skills for the labor market and integrate them into the VET curricula as well as into the training of teachers and trainers. Through research and validation activities with experts and key stakeholders representing each sector, the project has determined that, in addition to addressing sector-specific green skills, it is vital to promote green thinking as a transversal skill across industry sectors. Through twinning entities working on education, training, research, policy making and industry, the Green VET Network will gather the needs and best practices from different perspectives to ensure that industries not only keep pace with the green transition but lead in sustainable innovation and production processes. The Network appeals for the green transition not only to the EU but also be the frontrunners to drive real changes in industry and policy worldwide

Keywords :The GREEN project has been co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under GA 870092

Conference Name :International Conference on Vocational Education and Training (ICVET-25)

Conference Place Copenhagen, Denmark

Conference Date 11th Mar 2025