BuildSkills Academy Masterclass in Bologna: Building the Future of Construction with Young Talent

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On 8–9 October 2026, the third BuildSkills Academy Masterclass took place in Bologna, Italy, bringing together education and construction industry representatives, experts, young professionals and project partners from across Europe. Held at the SAIE International Building Exhibition, the event focused on a shared challenge: how to make the construction sector more attractive, inclusive and accessible to the next generation.

Under the theme “Building the Future: Attracting and Retaining Young Talent in Europe’s Construction Sector”, the two-day Masterclass was organised by Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (SFC), in cooperation with FORMEDIL and SAIE, as part of the Erasmus+ BuildSkills Academy project. The event also formed part of the Erasmus Days 2026 celebrations.

The programme explored four interconnected areas: diversity and inclusion, technology as an enabler, sustainability as a purpose, and quality training pathways.

Presentations are available HERE.

Rethinking construction careers

The first day focused on the barriers preventing young people and women from entering the construction sector, including persistent stereotypes, limited awareness of modern career opportunities and challenges related to working conditions.

Speakers shared examples of how early career guidance, practical learning experiences and closer cooperation between schools and employers can help change these perceptions. Discussions also highlighted how digital technologies, emerging professional roles and the green transition are creating new opportunities in construction.

A panel dedicated to women’s participation examined the importance of inclusive workplaces, equal access to training and stronger representation of women in the sector. Participants also had the opportunity to explore innovations and technologies presented at the SAIE Fair.

From shared challenges to practical solutions

The second day shifted the focus towards developing solutions. Through interactive Table Talks, participants worked together on proposals addressing career awareness, attractive apprenticeships, mentoring, skills recognition and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Expert presentations explored sustainable construction, future skills and innovative education approaches. Topics ranged from project-based learning and bio-inspired engineering solutions to the role of micro-credentials and reliable certification frameworks in supporting lifelong learning and professional mobility.

The discussions underlined that attracting young people requires more than promoting construction careers. It also means providing meaningful work, inclusive environments, accessible training and clear opportunities for professional development.

Turning dialogue into action

The Bologna Masterclass offered an opportunity for project partners, vocational education providers, researchers, industry representatives and young professionals to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation and identify practical priorities for the future.

As the third Masterclass in the BuildSkills Academy series, the event contributed valuable perspectives to the project’s ongoing work on innovative skills development and vocational excellence in construction.

The shared ambition is clear: to place people and the next generation at the centre of the construction sector’s transformation — and turn dialogue and ideas into measurable actions and tangible progress.

BuildSkills Academy thanks the organisers, speakers, partners and participants for their contributions to two productive and inspiring days in Bologna.

BuildSkills Academy Masterclass in Berlin: Connecting Circular Construction Innovation with Future Skills

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On 17–18 September 2026, the second BuildSkills Academy Masterclass took place in Berlin, Germany, bringing together construction industry experts, vocational education providers, researchers and policymakers to explore how circular economy innovations can be integrated into construction training and skills development.

The two-day event was co-hosted by Circular Berlin, the German Energy Agency (dena) and Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, as part of the Erasmus+ BuildSkills Academy project.

The Masterclass addressed a central question: how can the construction workforce keep pace with rapidly evolving sustainable technologies, materials and practices, and how can vocational education respond to these changes?

Presentations are available here:

Day 1  

Day 2  

Connecting innovation with construction skills

The discussions highlighted the growing importance of circular construction in Europe’s green and digital transition. European policy developments, including the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), are increasing the need for sustainable building practices and new professional competencies.

Experts presented practical innovations already being developed and applied in the sector, including bio-based construction materials, Digital Material Passports and the safe reuse of structural concrete elements. These examples demonstrated how circular approaches can reduce environmental impacts while creating new requirements for construction professionals.

Participants also explored emerging skills related to material assessment, selective deconstruction, reuse, refurbishment, data management and digital technologies. A recurring message was that skills development cannot rely on fixed curricula alone: continuous cooperation between industry, research and education is essential to keep training relevant as technologies evolve.

Bringing circular innovation into education

The second major focus was on translating these innovations into practical learning opportunities.

Speakers shared examples of hands-on building and disassembly projects, simulation games for circular material choices, training in traditional crafts using natural materials, and open-innovation platforms connecting education providers with industry.

These approaches demonstrated how vocational education can combine practical experience with emerging sustainability knowledge. Short, targeted learning modules were also discussed as a way to help construction professionals continuously update their skills.

At the same time, participants identified challenges related to rigid curricula, limited resources for educators and the lack of long-term funding for innovative training approaches. Supporting teachers and training providers was therefore recognised as an important part of the sector’s transformation.

Strengthening European cooperation

The Masterclass also explored how European collaboration can support the wider adoption of circular construction skills.

Centres of Vocational Excellence, including initiatives such as BuildSkills Academy, can help connect training providers, companies and researchers, exchange practical experience and develop learning approaches that can be adapted across different national contexts.

Discussions highlighted the potential of digital learning resources, micro-credentials and clearer skills recognition frameworks to improve access to training and support professional mobility across Europe.

A key conclusion from Berlin was that the challenge is no longer simply to demonstrate that circular construction solutions exist, but to make them part of everyday industry practice and standard vocational education. Achieving this requires sustained cooperation between research, education, industry and policymakers.

The Berlin Masterclass provided an important contribution to the BuildSkills Academy Masterclass series, strengthening the exchange of knowledge and practical approaches to green and digital skills development.

BuildSkills Academy thanks Circular Berlin, dena, Berlin Partner, all speakers, project partners and participants for their valuable contributions to two days of discussion, learning and collaboration.

BuildSkills Academy at the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2026

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BuildSkills Academy took part in the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2026 on September 7-9 in Graz, Austria, contributing to the exchange on the future of skills and vocational excellence across Europe.

As part of the programme, the BuildSkills Academy team organised the interactive workshop “Rethinking Skills Recognition in VET – From Challenge-Based Learning to Certification”. The session brought together perspectives from the coordinator Cleantech Bulgaria, Cyprus University of Technology and Cyprus Certification Company and focused on how innovative learning, assessment and certification approaches can make VET more responsive to emerging industry needs.

Participants were introduced to key BuildSkills Academy results, including the BuildEnrichedSkills Methodology, the Digital Platform and the project’s approach to linking skills development, assessment, certification and recognition.

A strong emphasis was placed on interaction. Working in groups, participants explored evolving occupational profiles in the construction sector and discussed how relevant skills are currently learned, assessed and recognised. The exercise helped highlight existing gaps between training provision and credible skills recognition, as well as the potential of certification and micro-credentials to support more transparent and portable skills.

The workshop broadened the discussion to the future of CoVEs and skills ecosystems. Participants reflected on challenges such as rapidly changing industry needs, long-term sustainability, and the need for stronger cooperation between VET providers, employers and public authorities.

One of the main messages emerging from the workshop was clear: skills recognition works best when the whole chain is connected – from identifying labour-market needs, through relevant training and assessment, to trusted certification and wider recognition.

Beyond the workshop, BuildSkills Academy was also represented with a stand in the Forum’s exhibition area, where we presented our project, met other CoVEs and VET stakeholders, and exchanged ideas on future cooperation.

All the networking and exchange activities, incl. the workshops and study visits during the forum, offered further inspiration, practical examples and peer learning opportunities. Last but not least, the Forum allowed us to further strengthen BuildSkills Academy’s contribution to future-ready skills ecosystems in the construction sector.

BuildSkills Academy Masterclass Brought Together European Stakeholders to Shape the Future Skills Agenda for Construction

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The first BuildSkills Academy Masterclass “The Pact for Skills and What New Skills Will Drive the Twin Transition?” brought together more than 100 participants onsite and online from across Europe to discuss how the construction sector can address emerging skills needs and prepare its workforce for the green and digital transitions.

Organised by the BuildSkills Academy, coordinated by Cleantech Bulgaria, together with the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), the event was hosted in Brussels on 18 and 19 June 2026. It gathered representatives from European institutions, industry organisations, vocational education and training (VET) providers, higher education institutions, research organisations, certification bodies, social partners, and Centres of Vocational Excellence.

Across seven thematic panels, 24 speakers representing leading European organisations shared insights, good practices, and practical solutions for developing a future-ready construction workforce.

Addressing the Skills Challenge of the Twin Transition

The discussions highlighted the key challenges facing the sector:

  • growing labour and skills shortages across Europe;
  • the urgent need for upskilling and reskilling of the existing workforce;
  • increasing demand for green, digital, and circular economy competences;
  • the importance of attracting new talent to construction careers;
  • stronger cooperation between industry, education providers, policymakers, and social partners.

A common message emerged throughout the Masterclass: skills development is not only an education challenge – it is a strategic priority for Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience.

Exploring the Future Construction Skills

The Masterclass followed a comprehensive approach, moving from European policy priorities to practical solutions and collaborative action.

Starting from the European Skills Policy and Strategic Vision for the Construction Sector, participants examined the Future Skills Needs for the Built Environment and the Innovative Training Solutions and Skills Development Pathways showcasing the BuildSkills Academy CoVE solutions and those of the Construction Blueprint. The discussion moved From Strategy to Implementation focusing on Scaling Skills Development Across Europe. Best Practices in Green and Digital Skills Development have been also shared.

The second day focused on Recognising, Validating and Certifying Skills for the Twin Transition, exploring how micro-credentials, apprenticeships, and transitional skills certification, can make skills more visible, trusted, and portable.

The Masterclass concluded with the Collaborative Action Lab aiming at Designing the Future of Skills Development, where participants worked together to identify challenges, opportunities, and priorities related to skills recognition, training innovation, and future cooperation.

All presentations delivered during the Masterclass are available here.

The BuildSkills Academy team thanks FIEC, all speakers, moderators, and participants for their valuable contributions and commitment to advancing skills development for a more sustainable, digital, and resilient construction sector.

Exploring BuildSkills Academy Solutions

The Masterclass demonstrated the importance of collaboration and shared action in building a skilled and resilient construction workforce.

Stakeholders are invited to visit and explore BuildSkills Academy resources, tools, and methodologies developed to support skills intelligence, training innovation, and lifelong learning in construction. These include the BuildEnrichedSkills Methodology (BESM) and the tailor-made Digital platform, enriched VET courses, and certification approaches designed for training providers, companies, and other actors across the construction ecosystem.

Participants and interested organisations are also encouraged to join the BuildSkills Community and contribute to a growing European network supporting vocational excellence, innovation, and skills development for the twin transition.

What’s Next?

The Brussels Masterclass is the first in a series of BuildSkills Academy Masterclasses aimed at fostering dialogue, sharing good practices, and supporting the implementation of skills solutions for the construction sector.

Two additional Masterclasses will take place later this year, providing further opportunities for stakeholders across Europe to exchange experiences and contribute to shaping the future of construction skills.

The first one will focus on “How sustainable construction will impact the construction sector in the future?” and will be conducted in hybrid format in Berlin, Germany as well as online on 17 – 18 September 2026. The event will be co-organized by the German Energy Agency (dena). Тhis masterclass will explore how sustainable construction is changing the way buildings are designed, built, used and reused across Europe. Participants will discover how green and digital transition is reshaping the sector and creating new demands for skills, training and collaboration.

Registration for online participation is already open: REGISTER HERE.

On 8 and 9 October 2026 we’ll have the masterclass on “How to stimulate the interest of young people for taking career in construction?”co-organized by Formedil. The event will be conducted also in hybrid format – in Bologna, Italy during the SAIE Bologna 2026, as well as online. It will explore how innovation, sustainability and inclusive workplaces can make construction careers more attractive to young people. Inspired by entrepreneurial examples from ANCE Giovani, the event will focus on youth engagement and future careers in construction.

Registration for online participation is already open: REGISTER HERE.

Follow us for more details!

Masterclass “The Pact for Skills and what new skills will drive the twin transition?”

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18 – 19 June 2026

FIEC premises, Brussels, Belgium

The BuildSkills Academy CoVE is pleased to organize a Masterclass entitled “The Pact for Skills and what new skills will drive the twin transition?”, taking place on 18 and 19 June 2026. The event will be held physically in Brussels, hosted at the premises of the FIEC – European Construction Industry Federation.

As a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) BuildSkills Academy is dedicated to strengthening vocational education and training (VET) systems in the construction sector. Our mission is to equip professionals with the green and digital skills needed to support the twin transition toward a more sustainable and digitalized construction industry.

This distinguished Masterclass is co-organised in close collaboration with FIEC, coordinator of the Pact for Skills in Construction, and will bring together a prominent assembly of industry leaders, VET providers, policymakers, and skills experts from across Europe. The event will serve as a strategic platform for:

  • Insightful dialogue on evolving skills intelligence and labour market foresight
  • Exchange of innovative practices in workforce transformation and capacity building
  • Advancing approaches to apprenticeships, lifelong learning, and skills recognition
  • Identifying concrete pathways for large-scale upskilling and reskilling across the European construction ecosystem

Through high-level deliberations, peer learning, and curated networking opportunities, participants will contribute to shaping a shared European vision for skills development, reinforcing the resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of the construction sector.

The working language of the event will be English.

Stakeholders interested in joining the Masterclass online are warmly invited to complete a short registration form here:

REGISTRATION

Agenda as well as access details for the virtual sessions will be communicated to all registered participants in due course.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

communication@cleantech.bg

BuildSkills Academy in the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2025

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Representatives of the BuildSkills Academy took part in the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2025, held in Kolding, Denmark on 8–10 September.

The event gathered more than 380 participants from nearly 40 countries, including CoVE coordinators, vocational education and training (VET) providers, industry representatives, policymakers, and learners. As a flagship event of the Community of Practice for Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoP CoVEs), the forum served as a platform for sharing good practices, fostering cooperation, and discussing the future direction of VET in Europe.

For BuildSkills Academy, which focuses on advancing vocational excellence in the construction sector, participation in the forum was a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration, exchange experiences, and contribute to ongoing discussions on the development of green and digital skills in VET.

The BuildSkills Academy team extends its appreciation to the organizing institutions and partners for hosting a productive and well-structured event. The next Forum on Vocational Excellence will take place in Graz, Austria, on 7–10 September 2026.

Check out the aftermovie HERE.

BuildSkills Academy presented at the Forum for Vocational Excellence 2024 

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On September 10-12, BuildSkills Academy was represented at the Forum for Vocational Excellence in Lyon, held alongside the WorldSkills Competition.

Our team participated in workshops on energy transition and sustainable cities, discussing the skills needed for the green transition and exploring potential synergies with EU projects. We also engaged in conversations about sustaining Centers of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) and the future of micro-credentials.

The event allowed us to connect with new partners and explore innovative synergies to further enhance our work. We look forward to continuing these collaborations as we strive to drive excellence in vocational education.

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.

Тhe BuildSkills Academy project at the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2023

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On 25 and 26 September 2023 representatives of the BuildSkills Academy project took part at the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2023 held in Amsterdam, organized in cooperation with the European Commission. The event was held at Circa – the first circular venue in the Netherlands where all Erasmus+ Centers of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) met and had the opportunity to exchange lessons learned and good practices. Mrs. Maria Nakova, Project manager of BuildSkills Academy on behalf of the coordinator Cleantech Bulgaria and Mrs. Ivana Russiello representative of Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, partner in the Consortium had the chance to present our CoVE project during the event and to establish contacts with participants from all stakeholders represented during the networking sessions.

During the Forum, education and training (VET) providers, governmental bodies and businesses (more than 900 people on the second day) came together to share knowledge, inspire and learn from each other in this exciting European Year of Skills. They all have a shared vision and responsibility to ensure updated skills, based on the current needs, the market demand and responding to the societal challenges. In this regard curricula needs to be revised regularly, both in terms of content and form with respect to the new skills required. Furthermore, applied research and innovation in VET are incredibly important to share the latest developments with SMEs in the skills ecosystems, find proof of concepts for companies and stimulate the green and digital transition in our societies.

To overcome this huge challenge, VET providers, the labour market and governments have joined forces through the CoVEs in co-creating solutions that offer good quality education and training, in line with society’s needs and achieving inclusiveness excellence.  

Many interactive workshops took place during the forum as well as site visits to local public private partnerships in VET. The discussions have been directed on how to increase our efforts and how can we spread the working models. The Forum on Vocational Excellence was characterized by building a community of practitioners and co-creating synergies between initiatives on regional, national, European and global level.

The event was a great networking opportunity with active participation of different VET centers and relevant stakeholders with the aim to reach the European target of establishing at least 100 networks of vocational excellence by 2027.