Understanding the Green Transition in VET

The green transition refers to the strategic shift towards sustainable practices and policies across various economic sectors. At its core, the green transition aims to mitigate environmental impact, promote resource efficiency, and ensure a sustainable future.

This transformation is vital in combatting climate change, preserving biodiversity, and securing economic resilience.

As economies worldwide gear up for a greener future, there is an urgent need to embed sustainability in business standards and practices. In the Western Balkans, many economically significant sectors face ecological challenges. Meeting sustainability goals in this region is not only about ecological responsibility but also about economic opportunity and alignment with international markets, primarily the EU single market.

The Importance of Green Transition through VET

Greening Vocational Education and Training (VET) programmes can significantly enhance worker employability and enterprise productivity. The green transition creates new industries and jobs, and VET ensures that the workforce is adequately prepared to fill these positions. While common initiatives include energy-efficient building projects and the use of energy-saving equipment, vocational education institutes and enterprises can tailor specific actions to support their unique greening objectives.

The best Greening VET programmes provide:

• Skill Development, as it equips students with the specific skills needed for green jobs, such as renewable energy technology, sustainable agriculture, and environmental management.
• Adaptation to Policy Changes: with increasing governmental and organizational commitments to sustainability, VET helps workers adapt to new regulations and standards related to environmental practices.
• Innovation, as VET institutions collaborate with industries to develop innovative green technologies and practices.
• Sustainability Education, as it integrates sustainability principles into curricula fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious workers.
  
  

The RCF Webinar on Integrating Sustainability Considerations and Standards for a Just Green Transition

We are excited to invite, enterprises, vocational training institutions, donors, and partners to join us for a webinar on Integrating Sustainability Considerations and Standards for a Just Green Transition. This online event will take place on Wednesday, 9 October 2024, at 11:00 CET via Zoom and will explore several critical topics on green transition, sustainable practices, successful stories, and more.

Webinar Topics

During the webinar, we will explore several critical topics:

• Green Transition for Aspiring EU Businesses: Understanding the implications of integrating into the EU single market with a focus on sustainability standards like ISO, EMAS, and CBAM.
• Implementing Sustainable Practices: Discovering effective strategies for embedding sustainability into organizational practices.
• Environmental Coordination and Success Stories: Learning from successful programs and policies that foster climate-friendly internal practices, with examples from the Southeast Europe/Western Balkans region.
• Supporting the Green Transition through VET: Discussing how VET providers can play a crucial role in facilitating the green transition for businesses.
  
  

Webinar Speakers

Esteemed speakers will lead the discussion, including:

• Prabha Dhavala, Sustainability Management Expert from IPC Internationale Projekt Consult GmbH,
• Tina Šarić, Director of the Education Reform Initiative for South East Europe (ERISEE), and
• Ermelinda Mahmutaj, Expert in Sustainable Development and author of ERISEE’s handbook.

REGISTER BELOW and join us for the Webinar on Integrating Sustainability Considerations and Standards for a Just Green Transition on 9 October 2024, at 11:00 CET via Zoom.