Discover how Vocational Education and Training (VET) can equip workers with circular economy skills to meet new EU sustainability standards and industry demands.
As Europe advances toward a circular economy under the European Green Deal, Vocational Education and Training (VET) must evolve to meet new industry demands. This webinar, co-organized by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Association) and Cleantech Bulgaria, brings together policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to explore how VET programs and certifications can stay relevant in a rapidly changing regulatory and market landscape.
🤝Partners: BuildSkills Academy, Circular Berlin, kyklOIKOdromio, and UNITAR
📅 Date: 12 June 2025
⏰ Time: 14:00 – 15:30 CEST
📍 Location: Online (Zoom) – Register now!
Concept
The transition to a circular economy is a key priority for Europe towards a more competitive, sustainable and resilient future. Under the European Green Deal, the goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, reshaping industries and demanding a workforce equipped with new skills.
Decisions made in Europe also have global implications, impacting global value chains. New EU directives, such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), reinforce the need for companies to integrate sustainability into their operations and supply chains. Businesses worldwide will need to comply with EU standards or seek EU-recognized certifications to maintain market access.
As industries shift towards circular models, Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers play a crucial role in ensuring that workers and businesses are prepared to adopt circular strategies, meet new environmental standards, and drive innovation. However, a significant skills gap persists, with 70% of companies struggling to find qualified workers for green and digital jobs. The challenge is ensuring that VET curricula and certifications remain relevant in a fast-changing regulatory and market landscape.
The construction sector is identified as a key industry to lead this transformation. Currently, it accounts for approximately 50% of the world’s natural resource consumption, 40% of unprocessed energy use, 35% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and 30% of global waste. Aligning VET programs with sustainability directives in this sector is critical to reducing environmental impact and ensuring a skilled workforce ready to meet new industry demands.
This webinar will explore how VET programs and certifications can stay relevant in this evolving landscape. The discussion will address:
- Lessons from the built environment as a case study for industry-VET collaboration.
- How to support greener and more circular global value chains.
- Best practices for integrating circular skills into training programs.
- The role of certifications in aligning workforce skills with industry and policy changes.
Objectives
- Discuss solutions for greener, more circular global value chains in light of EU legislation, including the European Green Deal and sustainability due diligence directives.
- Use the built environment as a case study to explore how industry-VET collaboration can ensure training programs remain up-to-date.
- Discuss how certifications can evolve to reflect market and policy changes, potentially influencing non-EU countries to adopt EU-recognized certifications.
Expected Outcomes
- Guidance for the construction sector: Best practices and policy recommendations for aligning with EU sustainability goals.
- Recommendations: Strategies for policymakers and VET institutions to future-proof training programs.
Who should join?
- EU Policymakers – Representatives from European institutions working on skills, sustainability, and industry policies.
- VET Providers & Educators – Institutions interested in integrating sustainability skills into curricula.
- Industry Representatives – Employers and sectoral organizations seeking to bridge the skills gap.
- Certification & Accreditation Bodies – Organizations responsible for validating new qualifications.
How to participate
We kindly ask that participants interested in joining this webinar to please register in advance on Zoom:
Agenda
14h – 14h05
Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, Vice President of Education & Director of the SDG Academy, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
14h05 – 14h30
Keynote: Adopting circular business practices
- Member of the European Parliament, Chairperson of the Development Committee (DEVE)
- Overview of EU policy initiatives (e.g. Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)) shaping sustainable and circular business practices. Views on the importance of updating skills training in VET providers.
14h05 – 15h15
Panel Discussion: Keeping VET & Certifications Relevant in a Circular Economy
Speakers
Speakers:
- Senior Specialist, UNITAR
- Solutions for a more sustainable global value chains
- Maria Nakova, Project Leader, BuildSkills Academy; Head of digital innovation hub in construction sector; Manager of Strategic Development, Cleantech Bulgaria
- Shaping the Future of the Construction Sector: Bridging Skills Demand in green and circular transition through EDIHs and CoVEs
- Dr. Athina G. Shippi, Lead, Environmental Expert, kyklOIKOdromio (KYK)
- Engaging policymakers, industry, and VET providers to align skills training with sustainability goals.
- Dina Padalkina, Founder and City Lead, Circular Berlin
- Integrating circular skills into training programs
Moderator: Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, Vice President of Education & Director of the SDG Academy, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
15h15 – 15h25
Q&A
15h25 – 15h30
Closing Reflections: Next Steps for VET, Policy & Industry
- Moderator: Wrap-up of key takeaways.
- Call to action: How stakeholders can collaborate to strengthen circular economy skills and certifications.
