Kick-off Conference of SGI Europe’s project ‘Green Skills in VET’

On 6 July, SGI Europe and its member, the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE) organized the kick-off conference of the project ‘Green Skills in VET’, co-financed by the European Commission.

Opening the conference, Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Affairs, emphasised the importance of Green Jobs and skills in the ongoing transition:

“The green transition could create 1,2 million jobs in the EU by 2030. But people need to acquire Green Skills for this to happen, and life-long learning is an absolute must.

This project is very timely. We are in a big transformation of our economy and society, and in this transformation SGIs and VET providers are of essence.”

In her opening remarks, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, emphasized that:

“We have as employers the responsibility to make the Green Deal a reality. We represent services that by definition must be green.

With this project, we will anticipate current and future needs green skills and jobs, raise awareness of green skills needs and single out mismatches.”

Likewise, in the introduction part, Daniel Wisniewski, EFEE General Secretary, said:

“The transition will require a change in the mindset of every individual, to continue to invest in his upskilling, linked with the changing needs of the labour market.

The VET sector will play an important role in the green transition to prepare the EU workforce to embrace the new jobs and opportunities.”

The first panel of the conference focused on the green skills’ provision state of play. Emmanuele Massagli and Margherita Roiatti, researchers from the Association of International and Comparative Studies in the field of labour law and industrial relations (ADAPT) presented the preliminary findings of the initial survey of the project. Afterwards, Jean-Michel Romann, Social Advisor at the French Electricity Union, and Dominique Majoor, member in the executive board of the Koning Willem I College, brought technical expertise from the ground, presenting data and best practices.

The second panel of the conference underlined the importance of reinforcing the institutional partnership for making the ‘green skills’ a reality. In the second panel, the following speakers intervened: Mara Brugia, Deputy Director CEDEFOP, Chiara Riondino, Head of the VET, Apprenticeships and Adult Learning Unit, DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion, European Commission, Spiros Protopsaltis, Vice-Chair, PES Network, and Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary, ETUC.

The recording of the Kick-off Conference can be accessed here.