- The GIVE project aims to reduce the environmental impact of digital learning by supporting VET providers’ green digital competences
- Finnova attended the event as a partner of the Erasmus + DESTINE project, to keep up to date with the latest trends in the field of VET
19/10/2023, Brussels. On Tuesday, September 17, the offices of the European Vocational Training Association (EVTA) in Brussels hosted the final event of the European GIVE project, in order to disseminate and extend among stakeholders the scope of the results of this Erasmus+ project. The event marked the completion of two years of fruitful cooperation between the partners and the implementation of the GIVE project, which helps VET providers to participate in the green and digital transitions. Finnova attended the event as a partner of the DESTINE project to keep abreast of the latest developments in VET.
The introductory speech was given by Tatjana Babrauskiené, member of the European Economic and Social Committee, who stressed the importance of these initiatives to support VET and education. “The latest crisis has shown us that education is always one of the hardest hit sectors when resources are cut,” concluded Babrauskiené. Another of the facts that Babrauskiené emphasized from the event was the link that this project was making between digital skills and green skills, as the digital transition will be “a value that all sectors will have to incorporate”.
Susanne Nielsen, leader of the European Training Foundation’s (ETF) GRETA (Greening Responses to Excellence Through Thematic Actions) project, then took the floor. Nielsen explained the ETF’s main tasks, which focus on helping the EU’s neighboring countries to reform their education and training systems, contributing to the social and economic development and long-term stability of these territories. Nielsen also gave some hints about GRETA, which addresses the challenges related to the delivery of green skills as a response to the dual challenge of ecological and digital transformations, achieved by incorporating green principles into VET.
The next part of the event consisted of a panel discussion on the importance of promoting digital and green habits in schools, companies and institutions and ways to do so. Giovanni Manisi (ENAIP FVG) agreed on the fact of the new paradigm raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. “After COVID, we worked on sustainability and digitization and ways to achieve a greener digitization.”
The next panelist was Léa Ichikawa, project manager at The Digital Collective, who introduced the Digital Competence Development System Methodology (DCDS). The methodology was part of an Erasmus + pilot project tested in 5 countries, in which the learning outcomes consisted in the identification of places to deposit obsolete and/or worn out ICT elements and measures to save energy and environmental resources).
Mathieu Rama, programme manager at ECOS, took the floor to talk about the work of this international NGO with a network of members and experts who advocate for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies and laws. In this case, Maza insisted on the need to use sustainable electronic products and batteries, as this is the fastest growing waste stream in the world, in addition to the possibility of triggering conflicts, human rights violations, chemical contamination and environmental degradation.
The event concluded with a presentation of the context, results and challenges of the GIVE project by the partners. Melisa Özdilek, project manager at My Green Training Box, presented the platform launched by the consortium, a digital training course to introduce sustainable ITIs to VET providers.
David Ekchajzer, co-founder of Hubblo, pointed out the main findings of the project, focusing on the impact of education on the carbon footprint. In this case, the project concludes that, for vocational education and training, travel to attend a course has a greater impact than course-related household energy, even though this increases household energy consumption. Other important findings were the impact of equipment lifetime and the value of reducing the energy consumption of educational buildings.
Diogo Morais, researcher and professor at Universidade Lusófona, highlighted some of the recommendations made by GIVE, such as avoiding duplication, extending the useful life of objects, promoting low-carbon modes of transport and controlling energy use.
Finnova attended the event as a partner of the Erasmus + DESTINE project, to keep abreast of the latest trends in the VET environment. Finnova celebrates the advances that are taking place in distance VET, advances that are aligned with values that the foundation champions such as access to education or sustainable development.
About DESTINE
The Erasmus + DESTINE (DivErSity and Tolerance IN E-Environment) project was created with the aim of promoting online vocational training that ensures support for diversity, inclusion and tolerance, providing the necessary tools for all professionals and students to adapt to the e-learning methodology. DESTINE focuses especially on those vocational training students who need a learning environment adapted to their needs.
About FINNOVA
Finnova is the Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels and Spain, working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities of European projects is combined with a solid proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurship support programs, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people.