After two years of intense and fruitful collaboration among partners from Greece, Cyprus, Serbia, Spain and Italy, the GreenVET project (Green Transition for Vocational Education and Training) has reached its final stage, completing a journey dedicated to promoting green skills within the Installation, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) sector.
Apprenticeships from all countries
Following the development and pilot phase of the GreenVET training platform, the partners launched apprenticeships and internship programmes in their respective countries, allowing participants to put into practice the knowledge acquired through modules on sustainable materials, green technologies, climate change mitigation and responsible business practices.
- In Italy, participants applied tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and energy-saving strategies within public bodies and local companies, strengthening the link between theoretical training and concrete action.
- In Greece, activities coordinated by Stimmuli for Social Change demonstrated how collaboration among companies, training providers and public institutions can accelerate the adoption of green practices. Participating enterprises recognized the importance of structured strategies and of an organizational culture oriented towards sustainability.
- In Cyprus, the Center for Social Innovation promoted internships based on participatory methodologies, enabling participants to integrate digital and environmental competences through the GreenVET platform and to apply them directly in their workplaces.
- In Serbia, Minds Europe guided a group of apprentices employed in IMR companies in developing plans and recommendations to improve the sustainability of processes and services.
- In Spain, Fundación Masaveu collaborated with companies in the energy and manufacturing sectors, providing participants with operational tools to apply concepts of energy efficiency and responsible resource management.
Through these experiences, GreenVET consolidated an emerging European cooperation network capable of translating vocational training into practical, transferable skills oriented toward the future of sustainable work.
Testimonials from apprentices and companies
The testimonials gathered from apprentices, both on a personal and professional level, reveal virtuous experiences and mutual added value. Many participants reported having increased their self-confidence, employability, and awareness of sustainability in the workplace, while also developing a deeper sensitivity to environmental and social issues.
An Italian participant shared:
“Thanks to the online modules I gained practical tools to raise awareness among students about the green transition. It was inspiring to see how vocational education can truly become a driver of tangible change.”
A Cypriot technician commented:
“I learned how to coordinate more sustainable practices within my company, improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The course content was clear and perfectly applicable to my role.”
From Serbia, a project developer who applied the acquired knowledge to regional project planning remarked:
“The recommendations developed through the GreenVET course provided concrete guidelines to enhance the sustainability of my agency’s future initiatives.”
Finally, a young Spanish participant summed up her experience as follows:
“The course was simple, engaging and helped me design strategies to reduce water waste in my company. I found it truly useful and enjoyable.”
Final TPM and Conference in Italy
The GreenVET journey culminated in a closing event held in Udine, hosted by Università delle LiberEtà del Friuli Venezia Giulia. Over two days, representatives from institutions, companies, VET organizations and project partners from all five participating countries came together to celebrate the project’s results.
The final meeting featured the presentation of achieved outcomes and collective reflection sessions on the project’s legacy, future prospects for green vocational training, and possible areas for improvement.
During the conference, an audience of more than fifty participants explored the apprenticeship experiences, digital training materials and good practices developed throughout the two-year project. Partner presentations focused on the added value that GreenVET brought to promoting the transferability of green competences and to building a shared language among education, business and sustainability policies.
The discussions highlighted a shared vision: the need to continue investing in flexible and accessible training programmes capable of adapting to the rapid evolution of the labour market and supporting Europe’s ecological transition.
Moreover, partner exchanges laid the groundwork for future collaborations and for disseminating the GreenVET model in other educational and territorial contexts. A European cooperation network has been established and will continue to promote innovation, environmental awareness and sustainable growth through vocational education and training.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. The European Union cannot be held responsible for them.