Bridging the renewable energy gap: UfM Workshop integrates green skills in Academia
12-13 June 2024, Algiers, Algeria – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), supported by the German Development Cooperation, recently concluded its second regional workshop on integrating green skills into academic curricula, focusing on renewable energy. This initiative is part of the UfM’s commitment to fostering innovative approaches to learning, teaching, and research to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The workshops, designed to prepare Mediterranean graduates and researchers for evolving job markets, underscore the critical role of education in the green transition. A holistic approach encompassing higher education, vocational training, and continuous professional development is essential, as outlined in the UfM Ministerial Declaration on Research and Innovation.
The first “Workshop on green skills in the Mediterranean: education and research for sustainable food systems“, co-organised in February with CIHEAM Zaragoza, addressed sustainable food systems and featured contributions from the SFS-MED Platform and other regional experts. The second “Workshop on green skills in the Mediterranean for education and research for renewable energy”, co-organised with the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, took place on 12-13 June 2024 at the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene startup hub.
Participants from academia, government, industry, and civil society discussed the challenges and opportunities of sustainable and renewable energy, a priority theme for the UfM R&I agendas since 2021. This workshop aimed to bridge the gap between current and future renewable energy sector needs, promote sustainable thinking, and encourage innovation in higher education and research.
UfM Senior Deputy Secretary General Grammenos Mastrojeni led a session on building a Mediterranean energy community aligned with climate goals. As highlighted by Giuseppe Provenzano, UfM Project Manager for Higher Education and Research: “In a region where electricity demands are forecast to increase manyfold, we need the innovators and changemakers of tomorrow, which in turn need to find the right knowledge, skills, and career opportunities. This can only be achieved by connecting the different pillars of society, including academia and industry.”
The workshop emphasised the importance of transversal green skills, which foster sustainable mindsets and address climate vulnerability, alongside technical green skills in renewable energy. Participants agreed that regional cooperation is vital for institutions and stakeholders to contribute effectively to the Sustainable Development Goals and enhance graduate employability.
Related publications
- Green Innovation and Employability in the Med through the Triple Helix
- Towards a Union for the Mediterranean Strategy on developing new Vocational pathways in Higher Education
- Reinforcing the Innovation-Employability Nexus in the Mediterranean – A Handbook for Academia, Industry and Policymakers
More information on the UfM action for R&I
