Building Green Skills for the Future: A Look at EU4Green’s Micro-Credentials Portfolio

As Western Balkans is aiming towards a sustainable future, education and training have become important in achieving the ambitious goals outlined in the Green Agenda.

The EU4Green project, in alignment with this vision, is taking concrete steps to build the skills necessary for this transformation. Central to this effort is the development of a micro-credentials portfolio for life-long learning in green skills and reskilling, targeting key areas such as wastewater treatment and the circular economy.

The EU4Green project has developed two foundational learning modules, addressing areas crucial for a green transition in the Western Balkans: the Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant (UWWTP) Self-Assessment and the Green Transition, with a particular focus on circular economy. These micro-credential portfolios serve as educational tools that support professionals with tailor-cut knowledge needed to support environmental sustainability. The modules are designed to be flexible, allowing for stackable learning that can be customized to local and regional contexts​.

The project’s micro-credentials are responding to the European Union’s 2022 recommendation on learning for the green transition. This policy calls for short, targeted learning courses that provide individuals with the skills needed to navigate a rapidly transforming economy, particularly in green technologies and sustainable practices​.

Certification and Accreditation

Micro-credentials, by nature, are smaller, more flexible qualifications that certify specific learning outcomes over a relatively short period. Within EU4Green, these basic learning modules have been developed to align with European standards. Each credential specifies the learner’s achievements, the workload in terms of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits, and the type of assessment involved​.

One of the innovative features of micro-credentials is a possible future recognition within the European Digital Credentials for Learning. This system allows for verifiable, portable digital documents that can be issued by any education provider, ensuring that learners’ achievements are recognized across the EU. These digital credentials not only ensure authenticity but also align with frameworks such as the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)​.

Goals and Outcomes

The learning modules are intrinsically linked to the broader goals of the EU4Green project, basically to ensure that local communities and professionals are equipped with the necessary skills to support the green transition. The life-long learning approach adopted in these portfolios is aimed at providing continuous education that addresses emerging environmental challenges. This ensures that local workforces in the Western Balkans can contribute to—and benefit from—the shift towards circular economies​.

These portfolios are not designed in isolation. They are the result of a collaborative, multi-level decision-making process that includes input from educational experts, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders in the region. For instance, during the development of the UWWTP module, water associations and professionals in the wastewater sector played a role in shaping the basic learning module. Similarly, the Green Transition module was co-designed with input from municipal administrators and local decision-makers​.

A Targeted Approach for Inclusivity

One of the defining features of the EU4Green approach is its inclusivity. The project recognizes that achieving the green transition requires broad-based participation, from grassroots workers to policymakers. As such, the micro-credential portfolios have been designed to cater to various target groups, including municipal staff, wastewater treatment professionals, and civil society organizations. By involving stakeholders from different sectors and levels of governance, EU4Green ensures that its training programs are relevant and accessible.

The next step for the EU4Green project involves the roll-out of pilot trainings. These trainings are not merely a one-off initiative. EU4Green aims to establish a sustainable model for continuous education. By striving to partner with local educational providers and integrating the micro-credential modules into existing training frameworks, the project seeks to ensure that green skills remain a priority for years to come​.

Ultimately, the EU4Green project’s micro-credentials portfolio represents a forward-thinking approach to addressing the skill gaps that stand in the way of a green transition. Through targeted training modules, aligned with European standards, the project is equipping local professionals with the knowledge they need to support sustainable development. As pilot trainings roll out, and local educational providers seize the mantle, the EU4Green project is setting a strong foundation for a greener, more resilient future in the Western Balkans.