Content of the module
3.1 Understanding sustainability in VET organisations
Sustainable development is the overarching paradigm of the United Nations. The concept of sustainable development was described by the 1987 Bruntland Commission Report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainability is a paradigm for thinking about a future in which environmental, social and economic considerations are balanced in the pursuit of development and an improved quality of life. These three spheres – society, environment and economy – are intertwined. For example, a prosperous society relies on a healthy environment to provide food and resources, safe drinking water, and clean air for its citizens
VET is an important tool for a country’s social and economic advancement. It offers an alternative educational path for youth and adults who wish to grow professionally, and at the same time provides qualified manpower needed across all sectors of the economy.
VET has a prominent place in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Equal access to affordable, high quality VET is a target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), together with a commitment to substantially increase the number of youth and adults with the relevant skills for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship by 2030.
Vocational education and training for sustainable development promotes competency in sustainable living and economic activities in order to preserve the natural basis of life for future generations. This requires bringing economic, social and ecological responsibility together in a harmonious way.
Erasmus+ Teacher academies
Erasmus+ Teacher Academies is a flagship action of the current Erasmus+ programme. The goal is to create European partnerships of teacher education and training providers and boost the European and international dimensions of teacher education in Europe.
Three of the Academies, started in 2022 and running for three years, are focusing specifically on sustainability.
- EduSTA will create learning pathways where teachers can develop and demonstrate their sustainability education competences with digital badges.
- The TAP-TS project will produce, test and validate packages of resources relating to sustainability for schools and teacher education.
- CLIMADEMY is focusing on helping teachers to better understand climate change drivers, impacts and mitigation options and will create a network of teachers on climate change education.
Many projects on sustainable development and skills have been created, including a range of Erasmus+ projects. But VET teachers also take the initiative on their own in this area to conceive and implement ‘green’ projects. Various tools, websites and supporting materials have been created, providing good practices, relevant publications, guides and assembling available activities to support sustainable development.
- Greenovet: Skills for a green Europe, a centre of vocational excellence (CoVE). The project will train more than 100 teachers to provide excellence in teaching environment-related professional and key competences. [1]
- Green VET for SDG: Aligning VET curricula to greening and the sustainable development goals (SDG) project: supporting individuals in acquiring and developing basic skills and key competences in greening; addressing sustainable investment, performance and efficiency. [2]
3.2 Green skills and Competences
There are three main ways in which the transition to a green economy affects needed skills:
- structural changes lead to increased demand for some tasks and a decrease for others;
- new economic activity will create new occupations and there will be a need for new skills profiles, qualifications and training frameworks;
- many existing occupations and industries will experience greening changes to tasks within their jobs, and this will require adjustments to the current training and qualification frameworks for these occupations.
The Green General Skill index [3]identifies four groups of work tasks that are especially important for green occupations:
- Engineering and technical skills: hard skills encompassing competences involved with the design, construction and assessment of technology usually mastered by engineers and technicians. This know-how is needed for eco-buildings, renewable energy design and energy-saving research and development (R&D) projects.
- Science skills: competences stemming from bodies of knowledge broad in scope and essential to innovation activities, for example physics and biology. These skills are especially in high demand in each stage of value chains and in the utility sector, which provides basic amenities such as water, sewage services and electricity.
- Operation management skills: know-how related to change in organisational structure required to support green activities and an integrated view of the firm through life-cycle management, lean production and cooperation with external actors, including customers. Such skills are important, for example, for sales engineers, climate change analysts, sustainability specialists, chief sustainability officers and transportation planners.
- Monitoring skills: technical and legal aspects of business activities that are fundamentally different ways from the remit of engineering or of science. They refer to skills required to assess the observance of technical criteria and legal standards. Examples are environmental compliance inspectors, nuclear monitoring technicians, emergency management directors and legal assistants.
In addition to these skills, a range of soft skills are also considered to be increasingly important, not only for green skills, but generally for “skills of the future”, including also those necessary for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In particular, skills related to design thinking, creativity, adaptability, resilience, and even empathy, are regarded as critical.
Case study of GRETA – Greening Responses to Excellence Through Thematic Actions
The European Training Foundation, in partnership with the Danish Technological Institute (DTI), launched a new initiative to support excellence in greening international skills training with the kick off meeting of GRETA – Greening Responses to Excellence Through Thematic Actions.
The new initiative’s acronym is a tribute to Swedish climate change activist, Greta Thunberg. Working through the ETF’s (European Training Foundation) established ENE network (Network for Excellence) – which connects Centres of Vocational Excellence (COVEs) throughout the EU, EU partner countries and further afield – GRETA aims to enhance the ability of vocational training organisations to contribute to combatting climate change and reaching international carbon net zero targets by 2030.
GRETA brings together 17 COVEs from eight different countries, that include Armenia, Georgia, Latvia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Through establishing a “peer learning” community of participating COVEs international responses to greening curricula and skills training can be strengthened, project backers believe. The programme will run through 2022 with a series of thematic online conferences following the establishment of matched “peer review” groups with the 17 participants – each of which will have defined their current positions and objectives in five key areas.
Those areas are:
- green strategies
- curriculum development
- teacher training
- collaboration with external stakeholders
- and funding sources for supporting the green transition.
3.3 Sustainable Curriculum Design
Designing a sustainable curriculum involves creating a learning plan that integrates principles of environmental, social, and economic sustainability into educational content and pedagogical practices. Here are key principles to consider when designing a sustainable curriculum:
- Holistic Approach: Take a holistic view of sustainability by incorporating ecological, social, and economic dimensions. Address environmental issues, social equity, and economic viability in a balanced manner.
- Interdisciplinary Integration: Integrate sustainability concepts across various disciplines and subjects, demonstrating the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social systems.
- Real-World Relevance: Design curriculum content that reflects real-world sustainability challenges, allowing learners to engage with practical issues and solutions.
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Foster critical thinking skills by presenting complex sustainability problems and encouraging learners to analyse, evaluate, and develop innovative solutions.
- Active Learning: Incorporate active learning strategies that promote engagement, collaboration, and hands-on experiences, allowing learners to apply sustainability principles in practical contexts.
- Experiential Learning: Provide opportunities for experiential learning through field trips, hands-on projects, internships, and community engagement that connect classroom learning to real-world situations.
- Ethical Considerations: Integrate discussions about ethical considerations, values, and cultural perspectives related to sustainability and responsible decision-making.
- Systems Thinking: Teach learners to think in terms of systems and explore how changes in one aspect of a system can impact the entire system.
- Life Cycle Thinking: Introduce the concept of life cycle assessment, helping learners understand the full environmental, social, and economic impacts of products and processes from raw materials to disposal.
- Sustainability Literacy: Develop learners' sustainability literacy by providing foundational knowledge about environmental issues, resource management, climate change, and sustainable development.
- Project-Based Learning: Implement project-based learning where learners work on long-term, multifaceted projects that address real sustainability challenges.
- Local and Global Perspectives: Incorporate both local and global perspectives on sustainability issues to help learners understand the interconnectedness of local actions and global impacts.
- Innovation and Creativity: Encourage learners to explore creative solutions and innovations that contribute to sustainability goals, such as renewable energy, green technologies, and sustainable design.
- Assessment for Sustainability: Design assessment methods that evaluate not only learners' knowledge but also their ability to apply sustainability principles to practical situations.
- Collaboration and Communication: Foster collaboration and effective communication skills by incorporating group projects, presentations, and discussions that encourage learners to share and refine their ideas.
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and update the curriculum to ensure it remains relevant and aligned with evolving sustainability challenges and practices.
- Community Involvement: Engage local communities, experts, and stakeholders to provide input and contribute to curriculum development, enhancing its authenticity and relevance.
- Global Citizenship: Promote the development of responsible and engaged global citizens who are aware of their roles and responsibilities in creating a sustainable future.
By following these principles, VET teachers and trainers can create a curriculum that empower learners with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to address complex sustainability challenges and contribute positively to a more sustainable and equitable world.
3.4 Active learning for Green Education Technology and Online resources for green education
Active learning strategies are highly effective in promoting engagement, critical thinking, and deep understanding in green education. By encouraging learners to actively participate in their learning process, VET teachers and trainers can foster a stronger connection to environmental sustainability concepts and encourage the application of knowledge to real-world situations. Here are some active learning strategies specifically tailored to green education:
Project-Based Learning (PBL): Design projects that require learners to research, plan, and implement solutions to real environmental challenges. For example, learners could develop a community recycling programme, design an energy-efficient building, or create a sustainable garden.
Case Studies: Present learners with real-life scenarios related to environmental issues and ask them to analyse and propose solutions based on their knowledge. This encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Field Trips and Site Visits: Take learners on field trips to environmental conservation sites, renewable energy facilities, sustainable farms, or urban green spaces. Hands-on experiences deepen understanding and provide real-world context.
Debates and Discussions: Organise debates or discussions on controversial topics such as climate change policies, deforestation, or water scarcity. This encourages learners to research, argue their viewpoints, and consider multiple perspectives.
Role-Playing and Simulations: Have learners role-play as stakeholders involved in environmental decision-making processes, such as local government officials, activists, or business leaders. Simulations can help learners understand the complexities of sustainable development.
Problem-Solving Workshops: Create workshops where learners work collaboratively to brainstorm and solve environmental challenges. This can involve brainstorming sessions, ideation exercises, and prototyping solutions.
Service-Learning: Engage learners in community service projects related to environmental sustainability, such as organising a clean-up event, planting trees, or creating educational materials for local schools.
Interactive Technology Tools: Utilise online platforms, apps, and interactive simulations to engage learners in virtual environmental experiments, data analysis, and scenario-based learning.
Jigsaw Activities: Divide learners into small groups, with each group researching and becoming experts on a specific environmental topic. Then, have them share their knowledge and teach the rest of the class.
Think-Pair-Share: Pose a thought-provoking question related to sustainability. Ask learners to think individually, discuss with a partner, and then share their ideas with the whole class.
Collaborative Projects: Assign group projects where learners work together to create multimedia presentations, videos, or reports on topics like renewable energy, waste reduction, or sustainable agriculture.
Peer Teaching: Have learners research a specific aspect of green education and present their findings to their peers. This encourages knowledge sharing and active engagement.
Reflection and Journaling: Ask learners to keep reflective journals where they document their thoughts, insights, and personal connections to environmental topics covered in the curriculum.
Guest Speakers and Experts: Invite guest speakers, such as environmentalists, scientists, or entrepreneurs, to share their experiences and insights with learners.
Problem-Based Scenarios: Present learners with real or hypothetical environmental challenges and ask them to analyse the situation, identify key issues, and propose solutions.
Active learning strategies not only enhance learners' understanding of green concepts but also empower them to become informed and responsible advocates for environmental sustainability.
Resource: Freepik
Technology and online resources play a crucial role in promoting green education by providing accessible and interactive platforms for learning about environmental sustainability and related topics. Here are some technology-driven approaches and online resources that can facilitate green education:
- E-Learning Platforms: Online learning management systems (LMS) and platforms like Moodle, Canvas, or Blackboard can host courses, modules, and resources related to green education. These platforms enable learners to access content, engage in discussions, and submit assignments remotely.
- Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): VR and AR technologies can create immersive experiences that allow learners to virtually explore ecosystems, witness environmental changes, and understand complex ecological concepts in an engaging and interactive manner.
- Educational Websites and Portals: Dedicated websites and portals provide a wealth of information on sustainability topics, including climate change, renewable energy, conservation, and sustainable practices. Examples include the National Geographic Education website and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) resources.
- Online Simulations and Games: Interactive simulations and games, such as climate change models and environmental impact calculators, can help learners visualise the consequences of various actions and decisions on the environment.
- Webinars and Virtual Workshops: Online webinars and workshops featuring experts in environmental fields can provide insights into current sustainability issues, trends, and solutions.
- Podcasts and Video Channels: Podcasts and YouTube channels focused on environmental topics offer engaging audio and visual content that can be easily accessed and integrated into lessons.
- Mobile Apps: Educational apps offer convenient ways to learn about sustainability on-the-go. Apps can cover topics like energy conservation, recycling, sustainable gardening, and more.
- Open Educational Resources (OER): Openly licensed educational resources, including textbooks, videos, and lecture materials, can be freely accessed and shared, making them valuable assets for green education.
- Online Forums and Social Media: Online communities, forums, and social media groups focused on sustainability can facilitate discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among learners and teachers and trainers.
- Data Visualization Tools: Tools that visualise environmental data, such as temperature trends, carbon emissions, and deforestation rates, help learners understand the real-world impact of environmental changes.
- Online Field Trips: Virtual field trips allow learners to explore ecosystems, natural landmarks, and conservation projects without leaving the classroom.
- Online Certification Courses: Many organisations offer online courses and certifications in sustainability-related areas, which can enhance learners' expertise and employability.
- Online Quizzes and Assessments: Online quizzes and assessments on sustainability topics can gauge learners' understanding and provide instant feedback.
- Collaborative Platforms: Online collaborative platforms, such as Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams, enable learners and teachers and trainers to work together on projects related to sustainability.
- Online Challenges and Competitions: Participating in online sustainability challenges and competitions can encourage creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills among learners.
When integrating technology and online resources into green education, it is important to ensure that the content is accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with educational goals. Additionally, promoting digital literacy and responsible online behavior is essential for effective and meaningful learning experiences.
3.5 Sustainable VET Centre operations and Susatinability in administration and management
VET Centre Operations refer to the implementation of environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices within vocational education and training institutions. These practices aim to minimise the ecological footprint of the organisation's operations, reduce resource consumption, promote energy efficiency, and create a culture of sustainability among staff, learners, and stakeholders. Here are some key considerations for achieving sustainable VET centre operations:
- Energy Efficiency: Implement energy-saving measures such as using energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and HVAC systems. Consider utilising renewable energy sources like solar panels to generate electricity.
- Water Conservation: Install water-saving fixtures and promote water conservation practices. Implement rainwater harvesting systems for landscaping and non-potable uses.
- Waste Management: Establish effective waste separation and recycling programmes. Encourage the use of recycled and reusable materials in teaching and administrative activities.
- Green Infrastructure: Design and maintain the organisation's infrastructure with sustainability in mind. Incorporate green building practices such as proper insulation, natural ventilation, and sustainable building materials.
- Sustainable Transportation: Encourage staff and learners to use eco-friendly transportation options such as biking, walking, carpooling, or public transit. Provide bike racks and charging stations for electric vehicles.
- Curriculum Integration: Integrate sustainability concepts into the training curriculum. Offer courses or modules on sustainable practices, renewable energy, green technologies, and environmental conservation.
- Hands-on Learning: Create practical learning opportunities related to sustainability. Develop workshops, projects, and practical exercises that allow learners to apply sustainable practices and technologies.
- Community Engagement: Engage with the local community to raise awareness about sustainable practices. Collaborate with local organisations, businesses, and government agencies to promote environmental initiatives.
- Green Procurement: Prioritise purchasing environmentally friendly products and equipment. Consider the lifecycle environmental impact of items before procurement.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Regularly monitor resource consumption, energy usage, and waste generation. Set targets for improvement and track progress toward sustainability goals.
- Staff Training: Provide training and workshops for staff on sustainable practices and ways to integrate sustainability into teaching and operations.
- Certifications and Recognition: Work towards obtaining green certifications or recognition from relevant environmental organisations to showcase the organisation's commitment to sustainability.
- Student Engagement: Involve learners in sustainability initiatives, such as creating learner-led sustainability clubs, organising events, and encouraging sustainable behavior among peers.
- Continuous Improvement: Continuously assess and improve sustainable practices. Seek feedback from stakeholders and stay updated on the latest developments in sustainable technologies and practices.
By adopting sustainable VET centre operations, organisations can not only reduce their environmental impact but also inspire learners to become responsible stewards of the planet and prepare them for careers in industries that prioritise sustainability.
Sustainability in administration and management involves integrating environmentally and socially responsible practices into the decision-making processes, policies, and operations of an organisation. It encompasses a holistic approach that aims to create long-term value while minimising negative impacts on the environment, society, and stakeholders. Here are key aspects of sustainability in administration and management:
- Leadership and Vision: Top-level management should establish a clear sustainability vision, set goals, and communicate the importance of sustainability to the entire organisation.
- Sustainability Policies: Develop and implement comprehensive sustainability policies that guide all aspects of the organisation's activities, from procurement to waste management.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with internal and external stakeholders to understand their sustainability expectations and concerns. Consider their perspectives in decision-making.
- Strategic Planning: Integrate sustainability considerations into the organisation's strategic planning process. Identify opportunities for sustainable growth and innovation.
- Resource Management: Efficiently manage resources such as energy, water, and materials to reduce consumption and waste. Implement measures to optimise resource use.
- Green Procurement: Source environmentally friendly products and services. Prioritise suppliers and vendors with strong sustainability practices.
- Employee Engagement: Foster a culture of sustainability among employees through training, awareness campaigns, and encouraging their active participation in sustainability initiatives.
- Ethical Practices: Ensure ethical business practices, fair treatment of employees, and responsible supply chain management.
- Sustainable Reporting: Transparently report on sustainability initiatives, progress, and outcomes to stakeholders. Adhere to relevant sustainability reporting standards.
- Innovation and Research: Encourage research and development of sustainable products, services, and business models that address societal and environmental challenges.
- Risk Management: Assess and mitigate sustainability-related risks, such as regulatory changes, reputational risks, and resource scarcity.
- Community Engagement: Collaborate with local communities on sustainability projects and initiatives, supporting social and economic development.
- Long-term Value Creation: Focus on creating value over the long term by balancing financial, environmental, and social considerations.
Resource: Freepik
