GreenVET pathway

Watch out for competitions and funding opportunities

There are several European and international funding opportunities available to support sustainable development initiatives in vocational education and training (VET). A major EU instrument in this area is the Erasmus+ programme, which funds projects that promote sustainability, green practices, and climate change awareness in education and training. In addition, the European Skills Agenda contributes to these efforts by aiming to enhance sustainable competitiveness and promote social equity through education and training.

Key People and Partners Involved

School management and teaching staff
Students
Local companies or NGOs

Description of the practice

In Europe, there is a wide range of funding programmes and competitions that actively support sustainable development in Vocational Education and Training (VET). Chief among them is the Erasmus+ programme, which offers substantial opportunities under its Key Action 2 and Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) initiatives. These actions fund transnational partnerships and institutional innovations that focus on equipping learners with green and digital skills, promoting lifelong learning, and enhancing the sustainability of vocational institutions. Similarly, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) plays a pivotal role at the national and regional levels, offering co-financed projects that aim to modernize vocational education and align it with Europe’s green and digital transitions.

International donors and foundations also provide meaningful opportunities. The EEA and Norway Grants offer targeted funding to support inclusive and quality VET systems in Central and Southern Europe, often linked to environmental sustainability, youth employment, and social inclusion. Another notable initiative is the European Climate Initiative (EUKI), which finances cross-border climate-related education and capacity-building projects, including those involving VET providers and green skill training. For institutions or individuals focused on applied sustainability and design, the Holcim Foundation Awards for Sustainable Construction offer international recognition and financial support for innovative projects that link education, construction, and sustainability, including categories for young professionals.

Beyond funding, skills competitions play a critical role in promoting excellence and innovation in sustainable vocational training. National Skills Competitions, held across many European countries, serve as platforms to showcase the talents of VET learners and highlight emerging green practices within trades and professions. At the international level, EuroSkills and WorldSkills competitions gather top-performing young professionals from across Europe and the globe to compete in a wide range of skill areas, increasingly including sustainability-focused categories such as renewable energy, green building technologies, and environmental engineering. These events not only foster a culture of excellence but also raise public awareness about the role of skilled professionals in driving the green transition.

Where it’s being implemented

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The "Halbe-Halbe" ("half-half") project in Leipzig, Germany encourages students and teachers to engage with climate change and find ways to reduce their school’s environmental footprint. By changing energy use habits, schools save energy and receive a reward for their efforts. The website offers detailed information about the project, report from schools that implement the programme and downloadable teaching materials.
https://halbe-halbe.leipzig.de/

Impact and Results

VET programs stay up to date: Helping schools update their training and infrastructure to real-world needs in sustainability
Good ideas get noticed: Recognition to smart, sustainable education projects
Excitement through competition: Showing off your students' skills in green jobs and showcasing sustainable careers

Implementation Tips and Insights

Align with policy priorities. Explicitly link your project goals to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the EU’s green skills taxonomy (e.g., environmental literacy, circular economy practices, renewable technologies).
Start with scalable, impact-oriented ideas. Pilot a small initiative internally (e.g., introducing sustainability into an existing module) and use initial results to strengthen your application or proposal narrative.
Build strong partnerships early. Use platforms like EPALE, eTwinning, or the Erasmus+ project results portal to identify and contact potential partners. In competitions, connect with national coordinators to understand entry pathways and preparatory support.
Invest in trainer & learner preparation. Include a “training-of-trainers” component in your funding proposal and build cross-competency learning into your competition preparation strategy.
Showcase innovation and visibility. Include a dissemination and sustainability plan in any funding application, and in competitions, create digital stories or showcase portfolios to share outcomes.

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. The European Commission provides funding to projects and organisations in the form of a call for proposals. Funding is provided for a broad range of projects and programmes covering a wide range of areas including education.
https://commission.europa.eu/education/set-projects-education-and-training/find-all-funding-opportunities-education-and-training_en
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union (EU)"s main instrument for investing in people.
https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en
EUKI selects projects that promote cross-border climate action in Europe.
https://www.euki.de/en/project-funding/
EuroSkills is the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in Europe.
https://worldskillseurope.org/index.php/what-we-do/skills-competitions-euroskills-event