About the Project
Rationale
The economic and health crisis, supported by the increasing environmental disasters due to the climate change, have accelerated the necessity to proceed with the integration of sustainable ESG (Environmental Social Governance) criteria aligned with the Green Deal and the 2023 EU Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) pushing for tangible outcomes of social justice, transparency and accountability.
‘Becoming sustainable is not a choice, it is an obligation’, for all. Ensuring eco-friendly, inclusive and sustainable practices, in the VET /labour market aligned with the ESG standards has been the motivation of ESG4VET project and its consortium, that have direct link to the target groups; VET trainers, SMEs, R&D, developers, NGOs, through which their real needs were identified for targeted results to be integrated into their practices.
In 2023, the European Parliament adopted the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which expanded the existing EU requirements for sustainability reporting, taking effect from 2024, initially for large public-interest companies, but it will be mandatory for all SMEs by the end of 2026.
How prepared is VET to adapt to the ESG challenges and support the labour market? ESG is not just a framework that assesses an organisation’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices impacting citizens, related to:
- ENVIRONMENTAL evaluating the way it addresses ecological challenges e.g. climate change, carbon emissions, water, waste, air pollution, energy management etc
- SOCIAL examining how it integrates human rights, diversity, inclusion, health and safety, community engagement and development
- GOVERNANCE focusing on leadership, ethics, corruption, transparency, internal control etc ESG represents a new way of thinking, introducing a holistic approach into expressing the values, purpose and impact of a company, fostering trust, collaboration, and a sense of shared responsibility and commitment. Integrating ESG standards within the policies of an accompany is a growing expectation from all; beneficiaries, staff, community, investors and stakeholders.
Project Aims
- Equip Vocational Educational Training (VET) trainers with ESG-related competences (green, digital skills, as per the GreenCOMP, DigiCOMP Frameworks, the ESG model and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) standards), validated through the Micro-Credentials
- Upgrade c-VET training with new tools/resources based on inclusive, Eco-Friendly and Sustainable practices for ethical, transparent and efficient governance ensuring systemic impact for their SMEs, the community, staff etc.
- Promote transnational, national and regional collaboration, exchange of good practices as per the co-design methodology and the creation of synergies among Non-Profit Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), etc. for the promotion of ESG compliance in SMEs
- Promote digital innovation, readiness, resilience and capacity of c-VET organisations and trainers based on the development of a series of digital tools to support SMEs to set, monitor, assess and report their ESG compliance as per the needs of the 14 industrial eco-systems and the
customized plans to be generated - Promote the localization, exploitation, evaluation and
impact assessment via the setting up of ESG HUBS, for better transferability based on a more responsible corporate world that contributes to social justice, environmental and transparent practices
Target Groups
VET Trainers working in the c-VET sector providing professional upskilling trainings to professionals/students who have relevant expertise, or who are interested to upgrade their profiles
Professionals, employers, directors, researchers, developers, consultants, managers, advisors, youth/social workers, environmentalist, civic expert etc. who are working in/with SMEs, companies, firms etc. who will lead or be involved in the ESG compliances procedure of their organisation or support others.
