Workshop on green skills in the Mediterranean: Education and research for renewable energy

12-13 June 2024, Algiers (Algeria) – L’Union pour la Méditerranée en collaboration avec le Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (MESRS) d’Algérie et des partenaires internationaux, organise un atelier sur l’intégration des compétences vertes dans l’enseignement supérieur et la recherche pour les énergies renouvelables à Alger les 13 et 14 juin 2024. L’atelier vise à renforcer la pensée durable et à promouvoir une “transition juste” à travers des innovations dans l’enseignement supérieur et la recherche. Il abordera les compétences vertes techniques et les compétences transversales nécessaires au développement durable, incluant l’analyse des discours politiques. L’atelier vise le monde académique, l’industrie, les acteurs politiques et les organisations de la société civile, offrant une plateforme d’interaction et de dialogue pour développer des solutions et élaborer des partenariats. Les participants effectueront un travail préparatoire avant l’atelier et des exercices de groupe, aboutissant à des présentations de cas. La participation à l’atelier est gratuite, mais les places sont limitées. L’atelier bénéficie de l’assistance technique fournie par l’UfM, la Fondation européenne pour la formation (ETF) et Paeradigms. De plus, grâce au soutien de la GIZ, un nombre limité de bourses de voyage et d’hébergement est disponible pour les participants des États membres de l’UfM non européens, à l’exception de l’Algérie. Pour plus d’informations et pour soumettre votre candidature, veuillez visiter le lien fourni.

Call for application is now OPEN.

The Union for the Mediterranean is co-organising with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS), a regional workshop on integrating green skills into teaching and learning linked to renewable energy. The European Training Foundation (ETF) and Paeradigms are providing technical assistance, and the workshop is supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

Education plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable thinking and moving toward green transformation and a “just transition”. Green transformation requires a holistic approach, including revamping higher education, vocational, and continuous professional development through policies, institutional strategies, curriculum development, research, innovation, and green campus initiatives.

Thus, the workshop will focus on

• Transversal green skills that change mindsets and address root causes of inequality that sustain climate vulnerability. Effective integration necessitates a robust policy environment, a culture of dialogue, and the political will of both state and non-state actors to disrupt unsustainable systems.
• Technical green skills linked to renewable energy from two perspectives: a technical perspective through, and a policy-level perspective looking at national frameworks and sustainability. This integration is essential to ensure that these institutions can effectively contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals and enhance the employability of their graduates.

Date/Venue

12-13 June 2024 at University of Science and Technology Houari Boumedienne (USTHB), Algiers

Mode of delivery

In-person, English language

Participant profile

Although the workshop is focused on higher education and research, it shall encompass multi-sector participation, including industry, policymakers, and civil society institutions. This shall facilitate the development of comprehensive solutions, fostering innovation and building partnerships for systemic sustainable development.

• Academia (primary focus): Directors/Heads of teaching or curriculum committees from institutions and faculties, Heads of special services linked to teaching, e.g. career centres, diversity, equity and inclusion function, quality assurance.
• Private sector and NGOs/nonprofits in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and tech startups.
• Policymakers, both as policymakers and employers.
• Others, e.g. project leads from development cooperation in the field of renewable energy.

Certificate

Participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Application and registration

The workshop is limited to 30 participants and follows a rolling admission policy.
Participants are asked to apply through the registration form below and send their CV by email to greenskills@paeradigms.org. Registrations will close on 22 April 2024 at midnight (GMT). Applicants will be informed by 30 April 2024.

Link to registration form

UfM Green Skills Workshop Registration

Costs 

Thanks to the support of GIZ, workshop participation is free.
Travel to and from Algiers as well as accommodation will need to be covered by participants and/or their organisations. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) will provide funding for a limited number of participants from non-EU UfM Member states (excl. Algeria), according to UfM rules on eligibility.

Workshop preparation

Participants are tasked with pre-reading and other activities to complete prior to the first session. This method is a variant of the “flipped classroom” approach, which allows participants to use workshop time to discuss and digest the material already studied in advance. The workshop is interactive and relies on exchange between participants to enrich the experience and instil stronger retention of concepts and practices. In the afternoon of the first day, participants will work in groups to prepare a case to present on day two. The winning team will announced at the end of the workshop. A field visit to a research centre working on renewable energy is envisaged.

For questions, please contact us: 

Paeradigms

greenskills@paeradigms.org

 About the organisers

Union for the Mediterranean

Launched in 2008, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is an intergovernmental Euro-Mediterranean organisation that brings together the 27 countries of the EU and 15 countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. The UfM provides a forum to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on its citizens, with an emphasis on young people and women as vectors of peace and stability. As regional challenges call for regional solutions, UfM activities aim to address the main strategic objectives of the region – regional integration, development and stability – by concentrating efforts on two main pillars of action: fostering human development and promoting regional sustainable development. By joining forces with the regional and international community, and particularly with the UN System, the UfM is determined to address global challenges and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Euro-Mediterranean region through tangible and concrete activities and initiatives. www.ufmsecretariat.org

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS), Algeria

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research as a public institution, proposes elements of national policy the field of higher education and scientific research and ensures its implementation. It is responsible for studying and proposing the necessary measures for the organization and development of the different levels of higher education with a view to setting up a global and integrated system. In terms of scientific research; the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, implements measures allowing optimal use of national research resources, ensures the coordination of the fundamental and applied research programs and supports actions to popularize science and technology within society. In terms of technological development, the MESRS organizes technological monitoring and monitors the evolution of new technologies and their application in the economic, social and cultural fields. It implements scientific research and technological development programs in the areas established by law and conducts all studies or work promoting the development of technological centres in the national industrial ecosystem. www.mesrs.dz

European Training Foundation

The European Training Foundation is the EU’s agency supporting countries surrounding the European Union to reform their education, training and labour market systems. Its unique role is based on the expertise of our staff, and experience gained over nearly 30 years of working hand-in-hand with government, business, and social partners in countries in and around the EU’s neighbouring regions. Its aim is to support each country’s own process for education, training, and labour market reform, with a range of evidence-based methodologies. ETF has a staff of130, led by Director Pilvi Torsti, and a budget of approximately EUR 20 million. The organisation is based in Turin, Italy, and has been operational in 1994. www.etf.europa.eu

Paeradigms

Paeradigms is social enterprise and NGO founded in 2019 by a diverse group of development experts from academia and practice. Its mission is to support development actors and policymakers, higher education, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in their quest for capacity development and excellence across teaching, research, and contribution to society (the so-called third mission) and improve access to the labour market. The organisation has its own projects but also provides technical support in developing projects/programs, MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning), private-public partnerships, employability, curriculum development/review, innovation and entrepreneurship, diversity, and inclusion, as well as outreach and stakeholder engagement. The focus lies on projects that have the potential to lead to lasting transformational outcomes, social change, and sustainable economic impact. Paeradigms emphasises a transdisciplinary approach with participation, consensus, and ownership. It has built a global network of researchers involved in sustainable economic development and sharpened its core expertise by carrying out complex projects across diverse geographies and disciplines. www.paeradigms.org