At the beginning of April 2020, about a third of the world's population was subject to measures intended to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus which leads to infection with the COVID-19 disease. These measures lead to significant reductions of mobility and economic activity, with a corresponding drop in energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Adding to this pandemic, now more than ever renewable energies play a crucial role in energy consumption and in countries’ energy agendas.  It is foreseen that over a million of new jobs will be created and new technical and soft skills especially in green sector will be redefined.

Although high-level education in this field is largely available, the labour market lacks medium-level and operational manpower. These jobs do not require academic training but solid technical skills.

Considering these needs, the NE(W)AVE – reNEWable e-VEt learning project has supported professional development of VET trainers, tutors and mentors through the acquisition of new or improved competences in terms of teaching and learning methods, tutoring and intercultural skills. The project developed an E-Toolkit for teachers and trainers, an online tool based on new training materials that will support VET trainers in updating and diversifying their educational offer related to the renewable energy sector.  This free tool, available online, promotes the methodology and contents developed by the project in a large scale using different tools (tutorial videos, interactive resources, etc.). Through the NE(W)AVE E-Toolkit, VET trainers will increase the awareness of the competences upgrading methods in VET, their interest in using e-learning approach and in the mobility opportunities promoted to VET learners.

Over the course of the 3-year project, NE(W)AVE has received valuable input from VET stakeholders and key players in the renewable energy sector, which resulted in the NE(W)VE Policy Recommendations. These recommendations aim at being an inspiration for local and regional stakeholders across the EU on how to enhance the transition of VET learning jobs to jobs in renewable energy and promote the collaboration between VET providers, companies and other relevant stakeholders.

All the NE(W)AVE outputs and results were broadly discussed at the final consortium meeting on  10^th June. Here, the project partners defined last steps and actions to spread the results and support learners, teachers, trainers and stakeholders in the use of all the NE(W)AVE products.

The next key event will be the NE(W)AVE Online Final Conference on 29^th June at 11 am which will host all  interested stakeholders, policy makers, companies and NGOs, VET trainers and learners, working in the renewable energy sector.

If you would like to learn more about how to participate in the Final Conference of the NE(W)AVE project, please contact Simona Palumbo at simona.palumbo@cesie.org or visit the website https://newaveproject.eu/