PRESS RELEASE: Fifth edition of ETF Green Skills Award spotlights innovative approaches to sustainability
Turin, 3 February 2025 – The European Training Foundation (ETF) launches the fifth edition of its Green Skills Award today. This initiative focuses on sustainability and progress by promoting environmentally responsible education, training, and skills development. Since its inception in 2021, the award has established itself as a leading platform for showcasing best practice in skills development for circular and carbon-neutral economies.
ETF Director, Pilvi Torsti, declared, “A sustainable future depends on equipping people with the right skills to drive the green transition. Through the Green Skills Award, we recognise and amplify innovative solutions that prepare learners, workers, and businesses for a low-carbon, circular economy. These stories of transformation serve as inspiration for policy-makers and practitioners worldwide”.
Over the past four editions, the award has attracted around 1,100 applications from more than 60 countries and 51,000 votes from around the world. Winning initiatives from countries such as Latvia, Türkiye and Madagascar concentrated on topics such as sustainable farming and the ecological use of hemp, sustainable fashion in an all-female vocational high school, and technical vocational education and training initiatives to create green jobs and combat global warming. This year’s edition is expected to draw an even larger pool of applicants, further underlining the importance of education, training, and skills for a more sustainable future. For the first time, there will be a special award in support of the #ForOurPlanet campaign.
The ETF invites submissions of successful green skills development initiatives that can inspire policy-makers and practitioners at al global level. The award is open to individuals, enterprises, training providers, industries, public institutions, public employment services, civil society organisations and schools implementing measures to equip learners for the green economy.
An international jury will select five finalists, with the winners determined by public vote. Award recipients will receive the 2025 ETF Green Skills Award alongside various benefits, including an invitation to the award ceremony, increased visibility through ETF communications, and the production of short films showcasing their initiatives.
How to apply: To apply, candidates should complete an online application form available in English, French, or Russian by 7 March 2025 (23:59 CET).
The ETF Green Skills Award
First introduced by the ETF in 2021, the Green Skills Award highlights innovative efforts by individuals and organisations worldwide that contribute to sustainable, circular, and carbon-neutral economies. The initiative has become a recognised source of best practice, inspiring change and promoting collaboration in the transition to a greener future.
- Past winners: 2024: (1) Latvia: Andris Visnevskis, “Hemp School”; (2) Türkiye: Nilufer Gunay with Always fashion project; (3) Madagascar: Matthews Wafula from Don Bosco. 2023: (1) Lebanon: Zero Waste project; (2) Morocco with Spain: Bouregreg Med-O-Med Gardening School by FUNCI; (3) Kenya: E-waste management. 2022 (1) Croatia (with Armenia and Türkiye):The Green Changemakers; (2) Nigeria: Operation Skill Them Up; (3) Kenya: Don Bosco Tech Africa. 2021 (1) Palestine: Ghada Krayem, Gaza Training Centre; (2) Türkiye: Selcuk Arslan, Ataturk Vocational and Technical High School; (3) India: PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education
- Past finalists per country: Albania: City of my Dreams; Albania: Shipmentt; Armenia: TUMO Labs; Azerbaijan: Inkoel; Belarus: Volma; Belgium (with France): Label Emmaüs; Cyprus: Yenesis project; Croatia (with Armenia and Türkiye): The Green Changemakers; Georgia: Agriculture education in school; Georgia: Sustainable Development Academy K4S; Georgia: Construct2; India: PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education; Indonesia: Carbon Addons; Indonesia: Schneider Electric; Ireland: Fifty Shades Greener; Ireland: SOLAS; Italy: Atelier Riforma; Jordan: Creating Green Land; Kazakhstan: Begimbetova Ainur and AUPET; Kenya: Don Bosco Tech Africa; Kenya: E-waste management; Latvia: Hemp School; Lebanon: Zero Waste project; Madagascar: Don Bosco ; Malaysia: Green Putrajaya ; Moldova: Training the Green Trainers; Morocco with Spain: Bouregreg Med-O-Med Gardening School by FUNCI; Netherlands: Blue Hotspot Dordrecht; Netherlands: 21CC Education ; Netherlands (with Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Romania, and Spain): European Platform Urban Greening; Nigeria: Operation Skill Them Up; Palestine: Ghada Krayem, Gaza Training Centre; Serbia: The Green Art Incubator; Türkiye: Selcuk Arslan, Ataturk Vocational and Technical High School; Türkiye: Distance Learning Gate; Türkiye: Always fashion project; Ukraine: Emau; Ukraine: Professional Qualifications in Energy Efficiency Project; Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko National University; USA with Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe: WeCareSolar.
Background
The European Training Foundation (ETF) is the EU agency supporting education, training, and labour market reform in EU neighbouring countries. The ETF plays an active role in advancing sustainability through skills development, helping societies transition towards carbon-neutral and circular economies.