BuildSkills Academy Coordination Meeting in Athens Marks Significant Progress

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June 6-7, 2024 – Athens, Greece

The BuildSkills Academy project reached another significant milestone with the successful Coordination Meeting held in Athens, Greece. Hosted at the Athens University of Economics and Business, the two-day event brought together partners from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Strategic Focus and Achievements

The meeting was a crucial platform for discussing the further implementation of the project and planning activities for the upcoming period. The BuildSkills Academy project aims to strategically develop up-skilling and re-skilling within the construction ecosystem by providing certified transitional skills and competences through a robust network of Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers across Europe.

Key Highlights

  • Presentations on Methodology: Dr. Ebun Akinsetee and Voula Samara from the AUEB team presented their methodology for up-skilling and re-skilling VET providers with essential green and digital skills. This was complemented by Eleni Toli and Panagiota Koltsida, who introduced the digital platform designed to support this methodology.
  • Work Package Updates: Leaders of various work packages shared their progress, fostering engaging discussions on the methodology and certification processes. AUEB, overseeing Work Package 2 and Task 2.3, announced the upcoming delivery of their work focused on developing methods for VET providers in the construction sector.
  • Special Address: The event concluded with an address by Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Principal Investigator of AUEB. She highlighted the work of the Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aephoria (Ae4ria) and presented insights from the report “Twin Skills for the Twin Transition: Defining Green Digital Skills and Jobs,” developed in collaboration with Huawei and launched during COP28. This report links directly to the objectives of the BuildSkills project, identifying necessary skills and occupations for implementing the Green and Digital Transformation of the European Green Deal.

Networking and Collaboration

Beyond the formal sessions, the meeting facilitated valuable networking opportunities. Attendees enjoyed discussions over lunches and dinners, fostering a collaborative spirit and shared vision for the future of the construction industry.

Project Impact

The BuildSkills Academy project is poised to significantly impact the construction sector by equipping the workforce with the skills needed for the green and digital transitions. The project’s strategic development and the dedication of its partners underscore its potential to drive sustainable growth and innovation in the industry.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making this meeting a success. We look forward to continuing our work together to empower the construction ecosystem.