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PROJECT RESULTS

1 – U-GREEN Guidelines for Education & Training Institutions

Preparation of a document describing, for the 3 main areas and topics covered, how Education and Training Institutions (with a special focus on HEIs) can tackle the green transition and incorporate green and sustainability practices that support and contribute to achieve EU goals (namely those highlighted in the European Green Deal).

This will be implemented by analysing international standards, good practices, recommendations and partners’ own experiences.

Activities:

  • A1 – Operative Plan.
  • A2 – Preparation of the U-GREEN Guidelines for Education & Training Institutions. Main areas covered will be the same as those covered by the label (Infrastructure & Resources area; Administrative Management, Teaching & Learning; and Community Engagement and Awareness).
  • A3 – Focus Groups to collect inputs about green and sustainability practices and the green transition process at Education and Training Institutions.
  • A4 – Report.

2 – U-GREEN Label

Creation of a common framework to assess and provide recommendations contributing towards the readiness of Education and Training institution to tackle the green transition and act as catalysts in promoting behavioural change and the development of green skills among a new generation of committed European citizens.

Activities:

  • A1 – Operative Plan.
  • A2 – Definition of the U-GREEN Label based on 3 different progression levels (Starter Level, Advanced Level and Green Master Level) – principles, methodology, criteria for each of the 3 levels, and methodology for 2 different assessment formats (self-assessment for the first and second level; certification and peer-auditing for the third level. While non-Consortium institutions can conduct a self-assessment on their own, the certification will be awarded after an expert from a Consortium institution “validates” the results, assesses compliance with the project framework and, based on results, decides on the certification level).

The label will cover and be based on the following areas and topics:

  • Infrastructure & Resources area: Energy efficiency and adoption of new forms of energy; Water consumption and reuse; Heating and cooling systems; Recycling, waste management and single-use consumables; Sustainable food (locally sourced products and offering dietary alternatives with lower environmental impact); Green travel and mobility (low-emissions means of transport for the main part of the travel, such as bus, train or car-pooling); Preventing pollution; Green areas and maintaining biodiversity.
  • Administrative Management, Teaching & Learning: Digitalisation of Education and Training institutions (paperless administrative procedures); Embedding green and sustainability principles in HE curricula and developing green skills for new labour market scenarios; Implementing innovative teaching and learning pedagogies (prioritising pedagogies that are relevant for Agro, Green Biotech and Life Sciences, but extending to other areas of knowledge).
  • Community Engagement and Awareness: Engaging the educational community and reaching out to the wider community for promoting behavioural change (promotion and recognition of voluntary and community work in students’ academic results).
  • A3 – U-GREEN Label Handbook (document describing the rationale and needs underpinning the U-GREEN label, as well as the methodological framework adopted and the practical steps towards obtaining the label).
  • A4 – Report.

3 – Online Training Programme for U-GREEN Experts

Activities:

  • A1 – Definition of the Online Training Programme for U-GREEN Experts structure and methodologies, which will include the following training modules:
  • The U-GREEN Label (Principles, Methodology and Criteria)
  • Navigating through the different Assessment Formats: Peer-Auditing and Self-Assessment
  • Awarding the U-GREEN Label and formulating Recommendations
  • Providing Guidance to implement changes and follow-up
  • Practical project: carrying out a Peer-Auditing and a Self-Assessment
  • A2 – Development of training contents and materials.
  • A3 – Online Collaborative Workshop for U-GREEN Facilitators (Consortium members).
  • A4 – Implementation of the Online Training Programme for U-GREEN Experts by U-GREEN Facilitators.
  • A5– Collection of results and fine-tuning.
  • A6 – Report.

4 – U-GREEN Virtual Knowledge Hub

Development of an online platform that will serve as a repository of Open Educational Resources that Education and Training institutions and local stakeholders can use to promote the European Green Deal and to raise awareness on the topic of environmental sustainability and promote green competences among their institutional ecosystem.

Activities:

  • A1 – Operative Plan.
  • A2 – Technical development of the U-GREEN Virtual Knowledge Hub platform.
  • A3 – Usability pre-tests and fine-tuning.
  • A4 – U-GREEN Knowledge Toolkit – proposed list of 4 micro training topics:
  • The European Green Deal: becoming a resource-efficient society by 2050;
  • Thinking and Acting Green: what it is, for whom and how to do it;
  • Skills for emerging labour market needs, green jobs and new professional profiles;
  • Green Transformation at work and beyond.
  • A5 – Report.