<< Background >>NaturBuild project seeks to create a comprehensive, module-based training course to skill construction blue-collar workers in the installation, maintenance, and deconstruction of nature-based solutions (NBS) for urban and building sustainability, improving education, awareness and institutional capacity on buildings and cities impact mitigation.The European Commission defines Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as “solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience; such solutions bring more diverse nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes”.Some of the proven effects of NBS are the improvement of buildings’ sound and thermal insulation (reducing their energy consumption), the reduction of the Urban Heat Island Effect (caused by a higher temperature in metropolitan areas than in suburban ones), improvement of air quality, and to serve as refuges for wildlife in urban areas, thus supporting in conserving the biodiversity.Nature-Based Solutions training and implementation (and green roofs as one of the most efficient, popular, and easy-to-install solution) respond to the needs collected in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Some of them are Quality Education (SDG4), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11), Climate Action (SDG13), and Life on Land (SDG15). EU’s strategies are aligned with UNO’s SDGs. NATURBUILD project is supported by three main UE pillars: *European Education Area (especially its ‘green and digital transitions’); *European Skills Agenda (with one of its focus on construction, stating that ‘skills gaps are visible in green design, technologies and materials. As recovery starts, upskilling needs to focus on energy- and resource efficiency’);*European Green Deal (concretely ‘sustainable industry’ and ‘building and renovating’ areas).According to the UN, the world’s cities occupy just 3% of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80% of energy consumption and 75% of carbon emissions. Slowing and reversing the growth rate of GHG emissions is crucial to address climate change. One key way to reduce and, ultimately, phase out the greenhouse gases produced by the construction industry is transforming the way buildings are designed, built, and operated. To reach this goal the need to improve skills of construction workers in relation to energy efficient and environmentally-friendly processes, materials and technologies is widely acknowledged. However, the high rate of innovation in construction industry shapes the speed of skills obsolescence in the sector workforce. Therefore, in order to make VET more innovative and meaningful for the sector it is necessary to ensure long term structural alignment between EU policies, market and VET. Skilling construction workforce according to the mentioned pillars (SDG and EU policies), ensures core green skills are embedded in sector’s procedures, allowing the transition to a greener and more sustainable future, due to the potential of their work performance to impact in quality and green execution of buildings.Giving this, NATURBUILD training course is outlined with the aim to provide with green skills for blue-collars from the construction industry in South Europe, for an adequate perform in the installation, maintenance and deconstruction of green roofs. And this is another central value of the NATURBUILD project: the transnational cooperation, as the share and exchange process and the harmonisation among countries, permits cross-fertilization and facilitates personal development, employability and mobility in the European labour market.<< Objectives >>The project aims to develop a training course to address the skills gap on nature-based solutions, more concretely on green roofs, and their digitalisation. These results go in line with the previously identified needs, United Nations’ SDGs, and European Union’s strategies, channelled in the following project objectives:-Providing workers with the required skills to meet market trends and European objectives on green construction and sustainability. The European Education Area has set, as one of its objectives, assuring that individuals possess the skills needed to thrive in the green economy of the future. Additionally, there is a market trend of higher demand on sustainable construction and NBS with the Renovation Wave for Europe strategy aiming at renovating up to 35 million public and private buildings over the next decade to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their ecological footprint. The skills gap needs to be covered through high quality VET training material that will be developed during the project lifetime.-Digitalising construction VET with innovative training curricula and resources. VET offer and trainers in general, construction VET in particular, have still a long path towards digitisation. The digitisation of the developed training modules seeks to support this, also by including professionals and trainers in the development process with a twofold objective: (1) to ease the learning process of certain concepts and phases by adding digital and more visual resources (such as 3D objects or recreations), and (2) moving towards more innovative VET provision, trainers and, finally, learners with improved digital skills. The digitalisation of the modules will support the achievement of this objective.-Preparing VET centres and trainers with updated training materials on green roofs. There are two main reasons behind this objective: The already mentioned need to align VET training offer with market trends, and aligning VET training offer with UN’s SDGs and European Union’s strategies and goals. The creation of the training material will mean VET centres and trainers have available updated training materials on nature-based solutions and green roof.-Raising construction workers', trainers’, and companies’ awareness on the importance and benefits of NBS. As the ‘Education for Climate Coalition’ initiative shows, awareness is a key element towards fighting climate change. Buildings in the EU generate 40% of energy consumption – NBS highly reduces it and the pollution, for which awareness raising is crucial to achieve any objective for the environment and against climate change. A whole module will be dedicated on raising awareness on the NBS’ benefits.<< Implementation >>The activities to be implemented are divided in 4 main areas: Project management, Dissemination and Communication, Project Results, and Other Activities.PROJECT MANAGEMENT:* Management and monitoring of the project. This includes the project coordination activities, implementation of the Quality Plan, risk assessment and control, communication mechanisms, financial management, reporting etc. * Project meetings and other management actions will set the framework for cooperative work and efficient management between partners.DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION:* Dissemination, valorisation and sustainability. Dissemination Plan, visual identity of the project, project dissemination products and materials, Memorandum of Understanding development, etc.* Multiplier events. As part of the dissemination strategy, 5 multiplier events are planned, involving all partner countries. The timing of the events are expected when the project has obtained partially the project results (4 of them). A final multiplier events is envisaged once all project results are available.PROJECT RESULTS:For PROJECT RESULTS 1-4 (modules on global awareness, installation, maintenance, and deconstruction), the activities that will be followed are similar, with some specificities that will also be detailed:1. Documentary analysis to gather the latest legislation, documentation, and practices at EU & national levels. For project results 2&3, concrete occupations that take part in those phases (installation and maintenance) will also be identified.2. Experts’ consultation to deepen the results of the previous task. This task will be validated with a fine-tuning of the preliminary results and a second round of surveys through Delphi methodology. This expert’s group will be maintained throughout the project for validation purposes.3. Development of the content based on the new curricula and needs identified in previous tasks.4. A final fine-tuning of the module and its translation once experts' feedback is collected through a digital pilot with trainers and experts.PROJECT RESULT 5 (online training platform) have different activities to accomplish it:1. Decision on the most suitable digital solution, considering the target, the content, etc.2. The structure of the digital solution and the main elements it needs to include.3. The adaptation of the developed training material to the digital media.4. Development of digital educational resources, such as 3D objects, videos and/or AR.5. Fine-tuning the digital solution based on the feedback received.6. Replication of the complete course into the languages of the consortium (ES, GR, IT, PT)OTHER ACTIVITIES (results-related):* Digital pilot testing. A focus group with researchers, trainers, and experts will be created to test the created modules and the digital platform. * Translation of the project materials, the created modules and digital training platform. Activity to be carried out by all project partners to translate the materials from English to their languages.<< Results >>Expected PROJECT RESULTS are:RESULT 1.Global awareness module. A training module to establish a common background for all occupations involved on the building process of nature-based solutions, providing an overview of the state of art. At the same time, it will raise awareness on nature-based solutions and the benefits it brings to the building performance, urban climate, and biodiversity.RESULT 2.Installation module. Module to provide clear instructions on the steps to be followed in each phase of the installation process, divided by occupations so that the module is specialised according to professional profiles involved in the installation of green roofs.RESULT 3.Maintenance module. The main objective of this module is to provide instructions on the steps to be followed in the different maintenance tasks. This module will potentially cover also the more appropriate vegetation to be used within the Mediterranean climate in each of the covered green roof type.RESULT 4.Deconstruction module. Module with two main objectives: (1) How to deconstruct a green roof to install a new one. This may happen for cases in which the green roof was not properly installed or for those green roofs that are not sustainable (for example, due to the type of vegetation used or improper installation) and thus a more appropriate one should be installed. (2) How to deconstruct a (normal) roof. For those cases in which the green roof is to be installed in a building where a common roof is installed.RESULT 5.Online training platform. To improve not only the digitalisation of the training in the construction sector, but also of its workers' skills, the developed modules will go through a digitalisation to include them as part of the training offer of the VET centres that are part of the consortium.Besides project results, further OUTCOMES that this project intends to achieve are:1.Research and analysis of green roofs skills demand (labour market and EU policies) and related skills gaps (occupational profiles involved) and definition of skills perimeter.2.Sound training structure and learning outcomes by means of the contribution and endorsement of key experts in education, construction labour market, innovation, and sustainability.3.Design and development a modular training course following the EQF methodology- learning-outcome oriented- and underpinned with EQAVET principles. (R 1-4)4.Analysis of the adaptation of the training course to the priorities identified (online pilot testing and validation)5.Enhancing VET innovation by offering an updated green training for blue-collars by means of e-learning and Open Educational Resources, in EN, GR, IT, ES and PT. (R 5)6.Paving the way for the uptake of training course and its recognition.7.Better meet common challenges, such as energy efficiency and climate change, by common approaches and harmonisation among countries.8.Improvement of the construction VET providers' and trainers’ activity to include an appealing training offer for the current and potential construction sector workers.9.Building mutual trust, and facilitating cross-border recognition with the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the sustainability of the course and its endorsement.10.Dissemination of key information of the project at regional, national and European level, paving the way for the uptake of project outcomes, generating interest, raising awareness and attracting attention of key actors, target groups and industry in general.11.Contribute to urban and building sustainability by providing construction workers with the needed training for the installation, maintenance and deconstruction of green roofs.12.Spread the word, share solutions and know-how, enabling a wider community to benefit from EU funding.

Every year public authorities in the EU spend around 14% of GDP on Public Procurement (PP), which amounts to more than EUR 1.9 trillion. To this end, ‘Greening’ public procurements is among the key factors that stimulate the transition to a resource efficiency and green growth, as it is strongly highlighted in the recently launched EU Green Deal.Especially for construction works, public sector is a key source of demand. Considering that the construction sector is one of the most resource-intensive sectors, Green Public Procurement (GPP) in the sector is a key driver for works with limited environmental impact, as well as a major contributor to reaching the EU environmental, sustainability and energy efficiency targets.Nevertheless, EU countries face many obstacles in implementing GPP policies, ranging from lack of information, training, and knowledge for establishing criteria and standards eligible with GPP, along with inadequate capacity building of the PP workforce and limited knowledge transfer between practitioners and the educational sector.In this context, the GUPP project anticipates to tackle the aforementioned challenges and needs through developing capacity building and increasing learning opportunities of the public procurement related staff and public and procurement authorities in implementing GPP that address green criteria and standards in construction works.With this respect, the project envisions to have overall impact on the construction sector, by responding to current, emerging and growing needs of the sector for accelerating transition to a resource efficient and circular economy, towards EU's energy and environmental goals. In parallel, with view to the training system, the expected impact is to enhance the education’s sector capacity building towards meeting the abovementioned challenges by integrating innovative learning tools and resources and facilitating the supply of high quality learning opportunities for adults, through making available flexible learning offers tailored to their learning needs. Overall, the project foresees to:-Enable behavioural changes of key stakeholders involved in a PP process towards a sustainable, greener and circular economy.-Create new opportunities for public authorities to stimulate resource efficiency and green growth.-Facilitate knowledge transfer between key stakeholders involved in PP processes, as well between practitioners and the educational sector and raise awareness about the lifecycle environmental impacts of projects.-Strengthen synergies and empower transnational social dialogue between all relevant stakeholders.The aforementioned results will be achieved through the implementation of complementary activities and innovative outputs, as follows:-The development of a Green Handbook: An instrument on GPP Regulatory Framework and Practice on Construction Works, that will provide a general understanding of the GPP process and challenges faced upon its implementation on construction works.-The development of the GUPP capacity building program that will provide participants (public procurement staff, professionals of construction works), with up-to-date knowledge and advanced aspects of GPP in construction works, facilitating deeper knowledge and familiarity with GPP.-The development of the GUPP Web Platform, an online hub for GPP that will serve as an innovative e-training and e-learning tool and will bring together all the latest news, events, and resources on GPP and enhance retention and learners engagement, as well enable social dialogue and knowledge transfer on the subject matter.-Engagement with GPP in construction works, which will be further facilitated through piloting the capacity building programme in min. 100 public procurement related staff and workforce, delivering all data and information collected in the framework of the previous outputs and providing/ delivering relative policy recommendations to a growing number of key stakeholders and public authorities (min. 40).The target groups addressed range from Public Authorities, contracting Authorities in local, regional, National level, including Public procurement staff, to key stakeholders representing the construction sector, policy makers, social partners and entities involved in procurement processes, as well as education’s sector stakeholders, including training and adult learning providers.The envisioned impact will be enabled through the involvement of 5 project partners, coming from 4 EU countries: France, Slovenia, Greece, Ireland, that represent the construction sector, the education sector as well as public authorities in regional and national level. Their complementary backgrounds and expertise, familiarity with the project topic and close proximity with the target groups will ensure the projects’ high sustainability, dissemination and exploitation impact.

RenovUp project results from an observation made by professionals in the construction industry: the current training facilities for site managers and team leaders do not take sufficient account of the specificities related to the renovation of buildings and its various constraints. There is a real need, confirmed by companies and professional federations in the partner countries, to reorient them in terms of objectives, content and methods of learning, in order to enable the targeted learners to strengthen their capacity to better understand the renovation as a whole, to foresee and plan the related specific interventions, to better communicate and convince in complex situations on these sites.In order to achieve this objective of professionalization the targeted audiences in the countries of the partnership first, then beyond, 5 partners from 5 countries have come together to design a model of repository to meet the evolutions of these two functions, declinable in national schemes, consistent with the priorities, contexts and resources specific to each partner country.This project brings together experienced and complementary partners in the design and implementation of professionalization schemes for managers, technicians and construction workers: 3 national and regional networks of vocational training (initial and continuing) in the building trades in France (CCCA-BTP), Italy (Formedil) and Spain (FLC Asturias), a recognised technological and pedagogical research organisation in Poland (Lukasiewicz ITE Network) and in Greece, a professional federation of the sector, also advisory body (Pedmede). A systemic approach, based on cooperation with associated actors (national, regional and local) involved in the fields of guidance, vocational training and recognition of learning outcomes (formal and informal), will be implemented. This cooperation will enable the following projects to be carried out for site managers and team leaders of building renovation projects:•A transnational model for positioning, coaching and professionalization, mainly based on training in working situations in the company, supplemented by training modules in training centres, as well as by e-learning.•Transnational schemes for:oThe evaluation and recognition of learning outcomes with Open BadgesoThe training of teachers, trainers and masters/tutors preparing for the accompaniment and training of the targeted audiences.•Implementation of a transnational strategy for the positioning, support and professionalization of targeted audiences.This three-year project includes conceptualization, implementation, in situ experimentation and evaluation of results. Ongoing and final productions will be supervised by National Expert Groups (NAG) and subject to an ongoing evaluation. 6 biannual transnational seminars will have to validate them, to ratify any adaptations if necessary and to promote the dynamic of the communication and dissemination of the results.RenovUp will allow the evolution of the design of professional development of targeted audiences, more individualized and more based on the formative exploitation of the real work situations of the learners. The partners also want the skills acquired to be clearly identifiable, and their recognition and validation to be effective.With 3 well-identified impacts, declinable at national levels, this project will meet the expectations of SMSE in terms of the skills development of the targeted audiences:•Real and measurable strengthening of education and professional partnerships established locally, regionally, nationally and at transnational level to meet the expectations of the enterprises concerned in a sustainable and satisfactory manner (especially SME) in terms of their site manager and team leader skills in building renovation•Better integration of work situations training into individual professionalisation projects, creating lasting links between in-company training, vocational schools/training centres and e-learning,•Systematic integration of environmental and climate objectives, as well as constantly evolving OSH standards, into the management of work sites and teams on the work sites concerned.

Fiber reinforced plastics (FRP), composites, are advanced materials combining different single materials that lets achieve stronger and more flexible characteristics. FRP have experimented a wide expansion in multiple industrial sectors as they produce high-quality, cost-effective, and durable products. Construction FRP market is driven by the rising product demand in the construction industry due to its long life and low maintenance cost. Some countries as Poland, Greece and Slovenia have wide opportunities of growth in their use. To promote the introduction of FRP in the construction the partnership has identified the need to focus in two different targets that are in the core of the value chain of the construction industry: architects – civil engineers and building construction workers. Architects – civil engineers design building construction works, while building construction workers are in charge of implementing construction works. Both targets are key in the introduction of FRP. According to a report from the Architects Council of Europe, the majority of them have not received any education in FRP. In addition to this, building construction workers with primary or secondary studies neither have knowledge on FRP. Furthermore, the partnership has detected a lack of IVET and CVET training to use FRP in the construction sector that limits FRP introduction . TAB4BUILDING project aims to develop a common training for both targets that let them to increase their skills in the knowledge and application of FRP in the construction sector. This main objective has been defined in several operative objectives. A short summary of them would be:- increasing the knowledge of target groups about FRP and its usability.- increasing the technical, quality control and management skills with these materials.- promoting the use of FRP in the architectural design. - transfering harmonize guidelines and tools to target groups, and to increase the collaboration and learning in FRP applied to construction. To achieve these objectives the project will develop a blended training with in person sessions combined with online sessions with a common training programme for both targets sharing some common subjects and dedicating some specific to each target. Along 24 months, 3 Intelectual Outputs will let develop the professional profile map (IO1), develop the methodology and the e-learning tool (IO2) and the training contents (IO3). In addition, 4 complementary activities: A4 management and coordination, A5 validation actions, A6 dissemination and communication activities and A7 sustainability and exploitation activities will help to achieve the expected results. The partnership is composed by 6 partners from 5 EU countries to assure the widest scope of representation. -Silesian University of Technology (SUT) from Poland will coordinate the project and help with its technical knowledge from their School of Civil Engineers. They will connect with the industry from NE of Europe. -Asociación de Investigación en Materiales Plásticos y Conexas (AIMPLAS) from Spain is a technological centre expert in FRP materiales with a wide CVET training programme. It will take a lead in the development of the IOs and in the training contents. -3s Research Laboratory (3s) is a Research Institute from Austria with expertise in the design and implementation of projects in the field of knowledge with a multidisciplinary focus.They will take a lead position in the development of the professional profile map and the IOs. -Federación Valenciana de Empresarios de la Construcción (FEVEC) from Spain is a leading association in the building sector in the región of Valencia with a wide training programme. They will connect the industry in the SW of Europe. -Gospodarska Zbornica Slovenije(GZS) is the construction area in the National Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia with a wide training programme, leading promotion at international level. It will connect the industry in the Centre of Europe. -Panhellenic Association of Engineers Contractors of Public Works (PEDMEDE) is leading the construction sector in Greece representing the whole industry. They have a wide training programme and will be the link with the industry in the SE of Europe. European Industry Construction Federation (FIEC), as associated partner will contribute to spread TAB4BUILDING training through other the EU associations.Project result will be a training programme with ECVET certification for architects – civil engineers and building construction workers in the knowledge and use of FRP in construction that will help to introduce this material in construction with the benefits that it represents. Partners will disseminate results in the EU industry with an open access focus. The online distribution of contents, the inclusion of the training in partners portfolios, and the promotion of the training in third countries will guarantee results sustainability.

Buildings are the single largest energy consumer in Europe, as they are responsible for approximately 40% of EU energy consumption and 36% of the CO2 emissions. At the same time, the existing buildings stock energy potential is extremely high, considering that at present, about 35% of the EU's buildings are over 50 years old and almost 75% of the building stock is energy inefficient.To this end, energy performance of buildings is in the center of policies established by the EU, targeting on the EU’s energy consumption reduction, with the most significant example to be the recently launched EU Green Deal.The significant structural changes that are taking place as a result of such interventions are thus directly affect the building sector, having substantial impacts on labour markets, driving employment and generating new training needs and skills demands green oriented.In this context, the BUNG project aims at delivering knowledge, developing zero energy building skills and encouraging energy efficient behavior amongst building occupants through the development of an nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Building) learning game (BUNG game) that maximizes the learning effect of individuals, as well by introducing innovative pedagogies and learning approaches.More specifically the project anticipates to respond to current, emerging and growing needs of the construction sector for accelerating transition to a resource efficient and circular economy, as well as enhance its readiness to exploit its high potential in reaching the EU's energy and environmental goals. In parallel, the project’s core scope is to enhance the VET system capacity building and attractiveness through introducing modern and innovative gamifying learning resources.To achieve these, the BUNG project foresees to meet the following results and outputs:•The development of a Best Practice and Competence Framework Analysis for nZEB Skills that will gather experience on relevant best practices and on nZEB skills needs.•The BUNG learning game development, based on a curricula designed through game scenarios analyzed in learning outcomes and ensuring compatibility with EQF and ECVET.•The BUNG game technical setting, integrating the game application, which will facilitate vocational learning and training processes in the building industry and increase learner’s motivation towards training, though innovative pedagogical methodologies and digital tools•The BUNG game Didactic Handbook oriented to VET educators interested in using digital games in their nZEB lessons.The target groups addressed range from construction workers, to VET educators and providers, the educational sector, to stakeholders and associations in the construction, the building or the energy efficient sector as well as policy and decision-makers.In this light, the project impact is expected to be on multiple levels from local to European/international one, as its principle idea is based on the development of digital game approach and the creation of a vibrant community that will engage multiple actors. In particular:•Increased number of construction workers with professional skills and competences in the nZEB area•Increased number of VET educators/trainers with integrated innovative digital training tools and efficient ways of informal learning and consequently with increased capacity building•Modernized and greener local and regional labour market adapted to meet the growing skills needs of the nZEB sector•Construction and building works with limited environmental impact and advanced energy efficient performance•Raised awareness of experts and stakeholders on the skills mismatches that nZEB evolution in the building sector implies.•Increased coordination of policy makers and public authorities to align their policies on education, training and skills provision with green building innovations in the market.•Increased social dialogue for the need of nZEB building skills and a more sustainable globalized labour market.•Strengthened cooperation and better synergies among partner organizations transnationally.The aforementioned impact will be enabled through the involvement of 7 partners (coming from 5 countries: France,Germany,Slovenia,Greece,Italy), allowing a significant and balanced geographical coverage, bringing contribution, perspectives and overview of different EU areas, in terms of learning needs, VET contexts and labour market skills demands. The partnership includes stakeholders, from the training and VET sector, associations representing the construction sector, highly engaged with the construction and VET sector’s challenges and trends, preserving close proximity to the target groups addressed as well as great capacity in dissemination and exploitation activities. This complementarity of backgrounds and fields built on different expertise and common missions, will allow the effective implementation of all project activities and ensure the anticipated results.