We did it! – Committed Statement for Sustainability in VET at the G2VET Conference in Valladolid
The Location
Our project partner, the Junta de Castilia y LeĆ³n (JCYL), the ConsejerĆa de EducaciĆ³n is located in the former monastery “Monasterio de Nuestra SeƱora del Prado” in Valladolid. For our conference, we were able to receive our guests in the “Sala de Fray Pio”. The splendour of this extraordinary venue alone provides participants with a unique and unforgettable experience, offering a taste of the rich cultural heritage of Valladolid and the Castilla y LeĆ³n region.
The Conference
Titled “Internationalization as the way to excellence in VET: Empowering Sustainable Futuresā marked our conference the culmination of our (only) 18 months long Erasmus+ partnership-journey focused on promoting sustainability for staff working in vocational education and training (VET).
The day commenced with a brief overview of the project’s activities, partners, and intellectual outputs produced over the past two years. This was followed by an engaging quiz on sustainability, setting the stage for the Director General AgustĆn SigĆ¼enza to deliver the fundamental keynote address on the topic of “Teaching Sustainability.” In his committed appeal, he emphasized the need to shift from merely imparting knowledge to fostering a sustainable mindset grounded in values and attitudes. This mindset should first be embraced by everyone involved and then instilled in learners, with the EU GreenComp Framework playing a supporting role.
A true highlight of the conference was the expert panel discussion featuring representatives from businesses and VET providers. This roundtable fostered a rich dialogue on good practices in sustainable action across different sectors and the future skills needs of a green workforce. The panel discussion provided valuable insights and perspectives on the practical implementation of sustainability initiatives in various industries and the importance of equipping the workforce with the necessary skills to drive sustainable development.
After a networking coffee break, the Finnish project partners shared insights into how Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been successfully integrated into vocational training in their country. Two representatives from vocational schools from the region stimulated discussion and solution finding with their contributions.
The Workshop
The afternoon was dedicated to hands-on workshops, where teachers could dive deeper into practical approaches for embedding sustainability into their classrooms and curricula by discussing questions around sustainable competence building based on the EU Green Comp framework.
Lively discussions and idea exchanges made these workshops truly valuable for all participants.
A symbolic highlight was the “Promise Tree”, where attendees wrote down personal commitments to sustainable action, decorating a tree installation. This creative activity reinforced the conference’s message of empowering individuals to drive positive change.
Conclusions
Overall, the feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Teachers expressed feeling inspired and equipped with new ideas to promote ESD. The diverse perspectives from different stakeholder groups enriched the dialogue and fostered mutual understanding.
As the G2VET project draws to a close, this successful multiplier event in Valladolid exemplified the power of international cooperation in advancing sustainability in VET. By sharing knowledge, exploring practical solutions, and fostering commitment, we are paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future for vocational learners across Europe.
Impressions
At this point we would like to thank all guests, speakers, our supportive colleagues, and everyone who contributed to making our event a success!
Projects and plans can only be implemented collaboratively and every contribution, no matter how small, is an important element in the whole. This applies to both event management and sustainable action.
Let’s keep it up!
I love to see all the promises on the promisetree!!!
It was a great and interesting time!
Thank you for letting me get involved š
It was a pleasure to have you and Annemarie and Madlen in our Conference-Team! Without your creative and hands-on support, we would not have been able to design the tree so beautifully, nor would our guests have been so warmly welcomed!