Online GreenVET Path

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A diverse group of people are joining hands in a stack, symbolizing teamwork, unity, and collaboration in an image that also has 17 colourful square icons arranged in a grid, representing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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SDG-LevelSDG-Level

External / Internal Teacher Trainings

By empowering educators and school leaders with frameworks, insights, and practical action plans, both external and internal trainings can advance whole-institution sustainability. External trainings build long-term capacity to promote green development and sustainable mindsets across vocational education, while internal teacher training equips educators with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to integrate environmental topics into their subjects. Through workshops, peer learning, and hands-on activities, teachers learn to embed sustainable practices in both theory and practical training, reinforcing the school’s commitment to green skills and preparing students for the demands of a more sustainable workforce.

Key People and Partners Involved

  • School management and teaching staff
  • External staff training providers

Description of the practice

A proven approach to advancing the integration of sustainable development in Vocational Education and Training (VET) combines targeted external and internal teacher and leadership training. External training equips educators and institutional leaders with practical tools, pedagogical models, and evaluative frameworks to embed sustainability—particularly the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—into curricula, learning environments, and school culture. Internal training strengthens teachers’ capacity to deliver environmentally responsible education through workshops, seminars, and collaborative planning, tailored to their specific vocational fields such as construction, hospitality, mechanics, or IT. Delivered by sustainability experts, experienced trainers, or lead teachers, this training blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on learning, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainability in VET.

Through this process, teachers learn to integrate sustainability into lesson plans, practical training sessions, and assessment methods. They are encouraged to embed real-world issues such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainable sourcing into everyday teaching. Importantly, training also includes discussion of the EU’s Green Competence Framework (GreenComp) and how to align teaching with SDG goals. Collaboration between departments is often promoted, ensuring sustainability is addressed not in isolation, but across the curriculum.

The impact of this practice is significant: it empowers educators to act as role models and change agents within their schools, while equipping students with green skills that are increasingly in demand in the labour market. VET graduates trained under sustainability-aware teachers are better prepared to contribute to environmentally conscious workplaces and industries. In the long term, such internal training strengthens the school’s commitment to climate action, responsible resource use, and the development of a future-ready workforce.

Where it’s being implemented

This link might not lead to content in English language. Use your browser's translate function or automatic captions to explore this resource.

Impact and Results

  • Teachers gain practical tools to implement and evaluate SDG-based learning.
  • Abstract sustainability goals are translated into concrete classroom practices.
  • Trained educators spread sustainable mindsets across the VET system.
  • The approach supports integrating sustainability as a standard in vocational education.
  • It demonstrates that scalable, high-quality SDG integration is achievable.

Implementation Tips and Insights

  • Begin with a baseline assessment by conducting a sustainability readiness audit to identify strengths, gaps, and priorities.
  • Engage both educators and leadership to ensure shared ownership and long-term commitment.
  • Adapt the SDGs to the local context to make sustainability relevant and actionable for your learners.
  • Apply a Train-the-Trainer approach to scale impact efficiently across the institution.
  • Integrate sustainability into existing Quality Assurance processes to embed it systemically.

Useful Links and Resources

This link might not lead to content in English language. Use your browser's translate function or automatic captions to explore this resource. A flexible, four-module e‑learning course for VET instructors, covering the UN SDGs, EU GreenComp framework, assessment of sustainability competence, and curriculum integration strategies. Courses come with peer-reviewed assignments and a completion certificate
https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/learn/courses/explore-empower-shape-future-integrating-sustainability-competences-vocational-education-and-training"utm_source=chatgpt.com
SDG Navigator Project supports VET trainers with an SDG Navigator Hub and “Sustainability Changemaker Competences Dictionary.” It offers digital learning paths and teaching toolkits to empower educators in embedding sustainability into vocational teaching
https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/content/empowering-vet-educators-innovative-digital-resources-supporting-new-generation"utm_source=chatgpt.com