Green Skills in VET - Final reports (also available in DE, ES and FR)

This report provides an overview of key findings and evidence from the “Green Skills in VET” project, co-funded by the European Commission, and implemented by SGI Europe and the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE). It focuses on the needs of providers of services of general interest (SGI) operating in the water, energy, and transport sector in selected countries (Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal). In the context of this project, the research also investigated the possible cooperation between vocational education and training (VET) institutions and SGI enterprises. The main findings are the followings:

Sustainability and employment: as highlighted in a recent forecast analysis by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), the EU Green Deal will lead to an increase of employment equal to 63,2% in the water sector, 17,2% in the energy sector, and 0,4% in the transport sector, highlighting a wide range of impacts of the transition to the sectors. The water, energy and transport sectors face very different challenges in relation to the EU Green Deal targets.
Specifically, the water sector has reported a decrease in the levels of biodiversity, an increase in pollution and the emergence of new forms of natural resource management. The energy sector calls for investment in research and development to support the transition to sustainable, clean and renewable sources, as well as of innovative and enabling technologies for environmental sustainability processes. Finally, the transport industry aims at reducing emissions equal to 90% by 2050 and using of alternative fuels.

Skills and VET: a strategy of economic growth and social inclusion (as well as environmental sustainability policies) through training for skills development is necessary to achieve the objectives of the EU Green Deal. The importance of such approach has been acknowledged in several recent European policy proposals related to VET, such as the Council Recommendation of 24 November 2020 on vocational education and training for sustainable competitiveness, social equity and resilience, and the European Skills Agenda, which recognize the centrality of vocational training for the green transition.