Geothermal & Solar Skills in Continuous Vocational Education and Training Erasmus Project

Project Title

Geothermal & Solar Skills in Continuous Vocational Education and Training

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Sector Skills Alliances in vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal)

Project Summary

The overall objective of the GSS-VET project is to address the gap in the continuing education of plumbers and electricians in geothermal, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic installation skills by creating and implementing a demand driven training:• To meet the growing demand for new skills from the above-mentioned professionals in today’s building industry.• To enable unemployed people with appropriate technical training, as well as active workers, to develop and improve their skills in the fields of geothermal and solar installations.• To strengthen the exchange of knowledge and practice between education and training institutions and the labor market.• To develop three European core curricula programs on EQF level 4 & 5 in the fields of solar-thermal, photovoltaic, and geothermal systems.• To set an evaluation and certification framework for each curriculum according to ECVET recommendations and to the ISO 17024 norm.• To disseminate information throughout the Europe about the GSS-VET project and the importance of the green and renewable energy professions for the development of the sectors concerned in a general framework of energy sustainability at national and EU level.The specific objectives of the project per partner’s country (Greece, Bulgaria, Spain, and Germany) are:• To train technicians / installers working in the green industry / renewable energy companies and sectors to cover the personnel shortages they are experiencing in skilled workforce.• To apply new methods and advanced training material in the continuous training of the above-mentioned professionals, specialists in the installation, repair, refurbishment, and maintenance of geothermal, photovoltaic, solar thermal systems.• To disseminate among users and VET providers of continuous training the benefits of the e-learning platform developed in the framework of the project and which makes possible the self-training as well as its evaluation. Furthermore, to enable them to implement the platform and the curricular in their portfolio in future. Actions and results of GSS-VET project were based on the following facts: • According to the European Green New Deal carbon emissions should be lowered by at least 50% by 2030 compared to the levels of 1990. Renewable Energy Sources (RES) can assist to succeed this effort. • Employment trends and patterns are shaped in a wide range of technical, economic, and policy-driven factors that include robust EU policy on the promotion of renewables and sustainable growth.• RES can offer new employment opportunities, while careers in non-renewable energy fields seem to be fading away. As RES technologies are developed and become more complex new job opportunities arise for technicians with no extended expertise on the field if they are offered appropriate training.Main results that emerged from the implementation of GSS-VET project were:Creation of training material in 3 curricula: • Curriculum 1 for Photovoltaic Installers: EQF Level 4&5. ECVET points: 6,0. Learning hours: 100• Curriculum 2 for Geothermal Installers: EQF Level 4&5. ECVET points 6,6. Learning hours: 120• Curriculum 3 for Solar-Thermal Installers: EQF Level 4&5. ECVET points 6,6. Learning hours: 110Design and creation of a training platform where the training material for all curricula is placed in 5 languages (English, German, Bulgarian, Spanish, and Greek). To maximize the effectiveness of the training process a serious game was created per training curriculum and also self-assessment questions are included for the trainees to check their level of competencies before their final examination which also takes place in the end of the training process through the same platform. Finally, in the same platform, additional helpful material and references are included to assist trainees in their studying process.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 1362241 Eur

Project Coordinator

ELLINIKO MESOGEIAKO PANEPISTIMIO & Country: EL

Project Partners

• HELLENIC ASSOCIATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC COMPANIES
• TUV- AUSTRIA ELLAS MONOPROSOPI ETAIREIA PERIORISMENIS EUTHYNIS
• SQLEARN AE
• IGA SERVICE GMBH
• SDRUZHENIE KAMARA NA INSTALATORITE V BALGARIYA
• SOFIA ENERGY CENTRE LTD
• TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOFIA