It has been clear for a while that sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a necessity. With this in mind, the Regional Challenge Fund (RCF) recently organised a webinar titled “Integrating Sustainability Considerations and Standards for a Just Green Transition.” The event drew together over 180 participants from the business community, vocational training institutes (VTIs), INGOs, and donors to explore the crucial role of vocational education and training in achieving a greener future.
Right at the beginning, Jelena Manić Radoičić, RCF Deputy Team Leader, set the tone for the discussions by emphasizing the urgency of collaborative action.
“The global movement towards greener economies is accelerating, thus it is imperative that businesses, governments, and educational institutions work together to ensure that this transition is both just and inclusive.” This sentiment resonates with the RCF’s vision of leveraging vocational education to equip the workforce with the necessary skills for emerging green jobs while ensuring social equity.
The RCF is investing in greener vocational education and training programs, as well as innovative and inclusive teaching methods so that individuals and businesses have the knowledge and skill to contribute to a sustainable future. The RCF Team Leader, Frieder Woehrmann, explained that all proposals the RCF receives get evaluated among others for their level of contribution to the Green Agenda, in line with the strategic orientation of the Western Balkans 6 leaders.
“Among 185 cooperative training programmes that RCF supports around the region, we also find Renewable Energy Technicians, Training for Installation and Maintenance of Photovoltaic and Solar Panels, Organic Farming, and others”, Woehrmann stated.
In her presentation, Prabha Dhavala, Sustainability Management Expert from IPC Internationale Projekt Consult GmbH, discussed the essential frameworks guiding the green transition in Europe, introducing participants to regulatory developments like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and ISO 14001 standards. She pointed out that opportunities for businesses include access to new markets and customer segments interested in green products, emphasizing the economic benefits of embracing sustainability.
Drawing attention to the educational aspects, Tina Šarić, Director of the Education Reform Initiative for South East Europe, underscored the pivotal role of schools in nurturing environmentally conscious communities.
“The ERI SEE recognizes the importance of schools in raising awareness about sustainable development,” she noted, pointing to the publication developed by her organization that provides educators with tools to instil these values from an early age.
Ms. Šarić introduced Ermelinda Mahmutaj, Expert in Sustainable Development and the author of ERI SEE’s publication “Education for Sustainable Development – How to Improve Environmental Performance in Schools (A Practical Handbook for Educators).”
Ms. Mahmutaj reflected on the integral intersection between education and sustainability, highlighting the power of educators in shaping future generations.
“Educators have a unique opportunity to shape their students to recognize and act in line with SDGs from a very early age towards their adulthood, becoming proactive citizens responsive to the main issues defined by the SDGs”, she said and added:
“Sustainability is a global challenge and a responsibility of present and future generations. There are no right or wrong didactics on how to educate for sustainable development, however, there is a broad consensus that this education should bring into the learning environment the active participation and meaningful engagement of the learner.”
This perspective underpins the RCF’s focus on integrating sustainability into all levels of vocational training, ensuring that students not only learn about green practices but are also prepared to be proactive citizens.
The conversations reaffirmed the RCF’s commitment to fostering collaboration across sectors to achieve a just green transition in the Western Balkans. With a series of upcoming webinars planned on topics such as gender equality and regional cooperation in VET, participants can anticipate a continued exchange of valuable insights and best practices.
Next webinar Creating Gender-Inclusive Vocational Education and Training and Economies for All is scheduled for Friday, 15 November, at 14:00 CET on Zoom.
The Regional Challenge Fund (RCF) is a financing facility designed to increase youth employability and boost the competitiveness of enterprises in Western Balkan 6 by funding investments in selected cooperative training projects that are implemented through partnerships between vocational training institutes and the enterprises. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development commissioned 64.43 million EUR for the RCF, and the Swiss Government, represented by the SDC Swiss Development Cooperation, co-financed an additional 10 million EUR. The funds were commissioned to the KfW Development Bank and executed by the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6-CIF), a joint initiative of chambers of commerce from the region.
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