RES4CITY: Upskilling the workforce to boost renewable energy technologies

Guided by its ambitious target to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2050, the EU is throwing a spotlight on the technology supporting the green transition while also focusing on the general skillset of the work force in terms of employing and mastering sustainable technologies. The EU-funded RES4CITY project is creating a co-designed educational framework to rapidly up-skill both academics and professionals - by integrating, influencing, and combining the existing best practices for renewable energies and fuel technologies in cities.

RES4CITY started by establishing a strong stakeholder community through an advisory board and eight national & international hubs, involving 160 industry members. Quarterly interactions optimise support measures, identify gaps, and boost the uptake of sustainable technologies, fostering job creation and competitiveness. At the same time, the project analyses 30 innovative renewable energy technologies, applying a sustainability framework and developing lighthouse case studies to accelerate decarbonisation and promote circularity.

In addition, RES4CITY focuses on the co-design of multidisciplinary pedagogical approaches. This includes the identification of 20 learning outcomes, the development of tailor-made MOOC-based microprogrammes and the creation of 44 microcredentials to accelerate the deployment of renewable energies. At the same time, innovative pedagogical tools, such as an AI self-assessment tool, and three serious games, enhance the learning experience by simulating real-life problems related to sustainable energy technologies.

Efforts also extend to strengthening industry-academia links, identifying exemplary case studies, launching an open innovation programme (Accelerathon) and providing targeted refresher courses for sustainable energy transition professionals. RES4CITY will conclude with the development of a comprehensive sustainable exploitation and replication strategy to ensure the impact of the project after its completion. This includes the creation of an exploitation plan and the search for Erasmus+ opportunities.

RES4CITY's Mattia De Rosa of Università degli Studi di Genova also took part in this year's COP28 in Dubai, UAE Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum event on 8th December Climate Classroom “Upskilling for Decarbonisation” session.

MORE INFORMATION

CORDIS project factsheet: Renewable Energies System for Cities | RES4CITY | Project | Fact sheet | HORIZON | CORDIS | European Commission (europa.eu)

Website: https://www.res4city.eu/

Twitter account: https://twitter.com/res4city

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/res4city/