EUKI Interview: How to Boost Green Technologies through Vocational Training 

The interview was conducted with six members of the consortium, as shown in the picture above from left to right:

• José Manuel Lissen Salmerón, Professor of Energy Engineering, University of Seville, Spain
• Alexandra Tavlaridou, EU Projects Manager, German-Hellenic Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Greece
• Silke Steinberg, Managing Director, FIAP e.V., Germany
• Rüdiger Klatt, Member of the Managing Board and Managing Director, FIAP e.V., Germany
• Lea Bellušová, Junior Project Manager, PEDAL Consulting, Slovakia
• Francisco José Sánchez de la Flor, Professor, University of Cádiz, Spain

Promoting green technologies goes hand in hand with developing a skilled workforce. Which entry point do you pursue with your GreenVocNet project?

Silke Steinberg: We want to improve vocational training in green technologies in Greece, Spain and Slovakia. The focus is on developing demand-oriented training in two core climate-relevant technologies: heat pumps and green hydrogen.

Broad outreach is key for us. We have therefore established a consortium of various partners with different areas of expertise and access to a diverse group of actors, including the University of Seville in Spain, the German-Hellenic Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Greece, the management consulting firm Pedal Consulting in Slovakia, the Association of Investigation and Industrial Cooperation of Andalusia (AICIA) in Spain, and a broad network of industry partners and VET institutions – all united by their commitment to build training systems and boost local green technology markets.

What action are you taking, and how has your engagement developed over time?

Rüdiger Klatt: First, our aim was to transfer knowledge from one country to another to avoid duplicating the efforts to develop training material. Second, we wanted to share the existing knowledge all the way down the value chain from universities to small enterprises.

Silke Steinberg: With this approach, we produced learning materials on the installation of heat pumps and green hydrogen. In a next step, we started to run vocational training courses based on these materials together with TVET providers. The courses are promoted with support from businesses.

However, we realised after some time that the training needs differ between the project countries and that the materials and training courses must be adapted accordingly. We then worked with an AI start-up to translate the training material and adapt it to the local cultural and legal context. We also saw that many small and medium-sized businesses lack awareness of their own CO2 consumption and aren’t sure how to reduce their emissions.

Francisco José Sánchez de la Flor: The situation in Seville is a good example. Many companies offer the installation of heat pumps. However, they lack a skilled workforce, so they are now trying to improve their standing as high-quality tech providers by training their employees.

So this is a reason why one of your focus areas is supporting vocational training for young people. What is your approach here?

Lea Bellušová: Our consortium believes that green technologies provide young people with promising career prospects. Growing markets need a well-trained workforce. In Slovakia, our awareness-raising starts with children in school: it involves explaining to them how heat pumps and green hydrogen work and why it is important that they contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We also focus on making green tech jobs more appealing to young women, breaking stereotypes that technical professions are more suitable for boys.

Silke Steinberg: We show that green technologies are the future – also from an entrepreneurial perspective. They provide many opportunities for young people to start their own business.

Alexandra Tavlaridou: At the German-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, we maintain close relationships with businesses and the government and hear about their challenges. Companies tell us, for example, that there is a high dropout rate among interns. So we worked with industry to pinpoint the reasons for that and find solutions. We first identified knowledge gaps, then developed training materials based on the industry’s actual needs and organised training courses. In this way, we ensured that interns are adequately prepared for their work experience, enabling them to acquire good knowledge and skills.

Your work involves many different partners. Do you have any advice for others interested in similar projects with multi-actor engagement? 

Lea Bellušová: Networks are essential for the success of projects like GreenVocNet. For this reason, we established an extensive network at both the local and international level. Collaboration with the grassroots ensures that project activities are tailored to local demand.

At the same time, active dialogue among the project partners facilitates strategic cooperation and international knowledge transfer. The project’s international Expert Advisory Board (EAB), consisting of VET and technical experts, supports the development of training in heat pump installation and green hydrogen, always with a focus on local needs.

Silke Steinberg: Our project is a best practice example of what EUKI stands for. The members of the consortium first met at EUKICON around ten years ago and we started to cooperate, based on our joint interest in green technologies and training provision. Today, we can look back on a long relationship that is built around an effective and well-run network.

GreenVocNet not only disseminates existing knowledge but is also known for its innovative approaches. Can you share an example of what successful innovation looks like? 

José Manuel Lissen Salmerón: Yes, a good example is our virtual laboratory for conducting technical experiments in Seville. It can be used on-site and is also available online to training course participants in Slovakia and Greece. They can operate the equipment remotely and read the result parameters in the operating system. It’s a great asset!

We also have a centralised Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), which provides access to a broad range of green tech knowledge. A MOOC itself is nothing new, but it is an innovation in the context of pan-European vocational education and training.

What are your future plans after having so successfully developed training products within GreenVocNet so far?

Rüdiger Klatt: We have already started to transfer our approach to all six Western Balkan countries. It is a new region for us, but very important for the European Union. We want to go beyond knowledge transfer there and engage in fruitful dialogue with relevant actors.

Lea Bellušová: The good thing is that the starting point is the same everywhere. In Slovakia, Greece, Spain and across Europe, there is a need for a workforce skilled in green technologies, but there is also a lack of high-quality training. However, the action being taken varies from country to country and training courses must be adjusted according to each country’s needs. Addressing these various needs is how our project is becoming truly sustainable.

Alexandra Tavlaridou: The benefits of using artificial intelligence for training purposes came up during the project. We were not able to explore these opportunities further, but see great potential in this kind of cooperation. We therefore aim to support the development of immersive learning environments for vocational education and training.

Alexandra Tavlaridou: If we continue to follow our approach as a dynamically evolving organisation – starting with one goal, then learning more about local needs and adapting the project with the necessary flexibility – then we will contribute successfully to the rollout of green technologies across Europe.