BuildSkills Certification Framework validated by stakeholders across Europe

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The BuildSkills Academy has successfully completed a series of national Country Round Tables dedicated to the verification of its Certification Framework for transitional (green and digital) skills in the construction sector.

The discussions brought together stakeholders from vocational education and training (VET), industry, certification bodies, public authorities, and academia across Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, Cyprus, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The aim was to assess the framework’s structure, feasibility, and relevance, while collecting practical feedback to support its further development and implementation.

Strong validation of quality and relevance

Across all participating countries, stakeholders positively evaluated the framework as:

  • Structured and transparent, with clearly defined certification procedures
  • Aligned with ISO principles, ensuring credibility and comparability
  • Relevant to labour market needs, supporting competence-based training and upskilling

The importance of independent certification and objective assessment was consistently highlighted as a key factor in building trust among employers and learners.

Supporting European skills recognition

Participants emphasised the added value of a common European approach, noting that the framework can:

  • enhance recognition of skills across countries
  • support workforce mobility
  • improve comparability of qualifications

At the same time, the framework was seen as a tool to help VET providers update curricula and align training offers with emerging green and digital skills.

Key recommendations for implementation

Stakeholders also identified several important conditions for successful implementation:

  • alignment with national qualification systems and regulations
  • stronger involvement of employers and sectoral organisations
  • provision of practical guidance and capacity-building for VET providers
  • ensuring visibility, recognition, and financial sustainability of certification

A step toward a trusted European reference

The outcomes of the Country Round Tables confirm that the BuildSkills Certification Framework has strong potential to become a reliable and widely recognised reference for skills in the construction sector.

The feedback collected will directly support the refinement of the framework and its future uptake across Europe.