Raising Awareness Initiative through Sustainability Education in VET

<< Background >>The RAISE VET project was developed in response to a recognized need to integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into technical vocational education and training (VET) across Europe. Partner schools and institutions identified critical gaps in sustainability-focused teaching and learning materials, particularly in technical fields such as mechanical engineering, product design, and automation.Moreover, the project aimed to address the lack of transnational learning opportunities for students with fewer resources, and the absence of a unified curriculum that links green skills to real-world applications. The growing climate emergency and the European Green Deal highlighted the urgency of equipping future technicians with the mindset, digital competences, and transversal skills to contribute to a sustainable and inclusive economy.By building on strong existing partnerships through the EMEU network, the project aimed to design and pilot a shared European blended learning module tailored for VET, co-created by Spain, Germany, and Ireland, with a focus on technical studies, inclusion, and environmental responsibility.<< Objectives >>RAISE VET set out to:- Implement Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into VET through a European 3-week blended, cross-curricular study module- Develop high-quality teaching and learning materials focused on environmental sustainability- Create international learning opportunities for students with fewer opportunities- Foster a sustainable mindset in future technicians- Reflect on and embed green skills aligned with the EU GreenComp framework- Strengthen students’ digital and technical English competences- Promote collaborative learning, intercultural exchange, and best practice sharing among VET professionals- Raise awareness at local, national, and European levels about the importance of sustainability in VET<< Implementation >>The project was developed in 9 phases (A1–A9):- Preparation and virtual mapping (A1–A3): including a digital educational Escape Room, a sustainability questionnaire, and student reflection videos- Joint teacher training sessions (A2, A4, A6): held in Spain, Germany and Ireland to co-create, test, and refine content and methodologies- - Preparation of practical, challenge-based learning units for the face-to-face module (A5), to address topics such as energy audits, renewable energy systems, circular economy, and environmental awareness campaigns.- In-person student mobility (A7): featuring hands-on sustainability workshops, energy audits, visits to renewable energy facilities, and collaborative presentations- Evaluation and improvement (A8): collecting feedback from all involved stakeholders to refine the module- Dissemination (A9): sharing the results through institutional platforms, eTwinning, EPALE, national newsletters, and local stakeholder events<< Results >>Key outputs and results include:- A 3-week European blended VET module on sustainability, tested in three countries and aligned with GreenComp- A suite of practical, challenge-based lesson plans, covering energy audits, renewable energy systems, circular economy, and environmental advocacy- A Digital Escape Room and interactive tools that fostered student reflection and digital engagement- Stronger institutional and pedagogical cooperation across partner countries- Inclusion of external stakeholders (companies, municipalities, and dual training providers) to contextualize sustainability in real-world practice- Development of digital literacy, technical English, and intercultural skills among students- Raised visibility of ESD at institutional, local, and European levels, including awareness campaigns, newsletters, and online resources- Creation of new transnational partnerships, such as with a Slovakian VET school, ensuring project legacy and future collaborations.