The Future of Education

The paper intends to explore the critical role of vocational education and training (VET) in fostering sustainable development and equipping learners with the skills necessary for green and digital transitions. It presents the GreenTeach Erasmus Plus project (Code 2024-1-BG01-KA220-VET-00024643), a comprehensive framework designed to integrate sustainability into VET curricula, aligning with environmental stewardship and resource efficiency principles.

The GreenTeach approach emphasizes a whole-institutional strategy, addressing five key dimensions: training, teachers, stakeholders, funding, and strategy. GreenTeach ensures learners acquire technical knowledge and transversal skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, essential for sustainable practices (UNESCO-UNEVOC Capacity Development Programs, 2021) by greening curricula and training programs. The initiative also highlights the pivotal role of teacher professional development in delivering high-quality green education, fostering a mindset shift among educators and students alike (Teacher Education for the Green Transition, EENEE, 2023).

Collaboration with stakeholders, including industry partners and policymakers, is central to GreenTeach, ensuring alignment with Bulgaria, Italy, Turkey, and Romania's regional and national green policies (Green Skills 4 VET Guidelines, 2023). The framework also addresses the strategic challenges of implementing green initiatives, offering actionable recommendations for VET institutions to effectively develop and monitor greening strategies.

Drawing on case studies and peer reviews, this paper demonstrates how GreenTeach supports the transition to a sustainable economy, particularly in key sectors such as construction and energy (Green Skills at Vocational Education Project, CEIPES, 2022). The initiative’s structured approach to policy advice and practice sharing underscores its potential to drive systemic change within VET systems.

In this framework, GreenTeach represents a transformative model for integrating sustainability into vocational education, empowering learners to contribute to a greener future. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and capacity building, this initiative sets a benchmark for excellence in green VET, aligning with global sustainability goals and the evolving demands of the labour market (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 2030 Agenda).