Sustainability in Vocational Education
The aim of this Erasmus+ project was to identify good and bad practices within our Vocational institutes on areas of environmental concern, to examine firstly how the institutes operate and identify ways in which environmental best practice can be incorporated into the normal day to day operation of the Institutes
Topics
SIVE Project Team
Impacts of the Project
The project partners in the Sustainability in Vocational Education project intended that their work would yield the following results:
- Identification of good and bad practices in relation to sustainability within each partner institute and the sharing of best practice in respect of sustainability initiatives
- Practical implementation of sustainability initiatives within the colleges. As a minimum each partner will implement one initiative in respect of each of the five key environmental issues, but the expectation is that the number of initiatives will far exceed this.
- Examination and practical changes to vocational curricula to include sustainability initiatives / practices.
- Make staff and students in VET more aware of the importance of engaging with local sustainability initiatives and through these initiatives work to carry the project objectives into the future.
- The improvement of the pedagogical and didactic skills of the participating teachers. Teachers from all countries will take part in international vocational lessons, re-evaluate their own approach to sustainability and examine how sustainability can be incorporated into their classes. improve their own teaching and share their learning with colleagues and the wider teaching profession. They will take time to listen to the views their students have on sustainability and through this engagement a better learning environment will be created.
- Professional enrichment for all project team members by means of exchange of good practices with the other institutions.
- Improvement of vocational school life for all students and through working together make the school a more inclusive environment for all vocational learners.
It is clear from our experience that engaging in local sustainability initiatives fosters a sense of community involvement. VET Schools can collaborate with local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations to address environmental challenges collectively. This not only benefits the environment but also strengthens ties between the school and the local community.
In a competitive education market embracing sustainability can enhance the reputation of VET Schools. It displays a commitment to ethical and responsible practices, attracting students and faculty who value environmentally conscious education. A positive reputation can also lead to increased support from the community and potential partnerships with like-minded organizations.
Integrating sustainability practices and initiatives into vocational education institutes not only aligns with the current and future needs of various industries but also provides a holistic education that prepares students to be responsible, environmentally conscious professionals. It allows students to actively engage in an issue that is of importance to all and gives them an opportunity to shape the future in a very real way through positive action. The sharing of best practice and local sustainability initiatives by schools / colleges is an important means through which they can promote sustainability. Through these initiatives both staff and students are empowered to tackle local sustainability issues, given an insight into regional, national, and global sustainability concerns, and acquiring the tools to tackle these issues at every level.
Project Partners
