Green Skills Vaasa – Centre of Vocational Excellence in Green Innovation is a forerunner of sustainable growth
Green Skills Vaasa is a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) newly established in the Vaasa region. It brings together the region’s vocational institutes and universities and acts as a link between them and the region’s industry and stakeholders, enabling their close cooperation. The Centre’s purpose is to support green know-how and innovation in the region, strengthening Vaasa’s position at the forefront of sustainable development and smart specialisation.
Green Skills Vaasa’s work is based on the Strategy for Innovation and Growth in Ostrobothnia 2022–2025 and the approaches originally developed within the Greenovet – Centre of Vocational Excellence project, which is co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme. The project is now being established as part of the regional education and innovation ecosystem.
The educational institutes involved are VAMIA, University of Vaasa, YA Vocational College of Ostrobothnia, Novia University of Applied Sciences and Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK). Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK is in charge of coordinating Green Skills Vaasa’s activities, and Technology Centre Merinova is also involved.
Green Skills Vaasa promotes ecological know-how and strengthens the attractiveness of the Vaasa region. The aim is to increase the visibility of education and innovation and develop cooperation between educational institutions, businesses and research institutes. At the same time, Green Skills Vaasa supports multilingual and multi-professional cooperation, finds synergies for projects and funding, and increases international student cooperation.
The Green Skills Vaasa Centre of Vocational Excellence conducts an assessment every three years on the skills needed in the region. This involves asking industry representatives, as well as educational institutes and other stakeholders, about the skills needs they have identified.
An event called Green Skills Week will be organised annually for students from all participating educational institutes in partnership with the region’s businesses. This event is one of the key concrete measures to support sustainable development and educational cooperation in the region.
Green Skills Vaasa will keep a register of the fields of green sector education available in the region, and students will be offered opportunities to participate in local competitions and projects.
Green Skills Vaasa acts as an umbrella and platform for green skills projects and education in the region, while ensuring seamless and effective cooperation. The Vaasa region’s strong commitment to eco-innovation, sustainable development and educational leadership supports the region’s competitiveness and attractiveness for students, educators, researchers and businesses.
- Green Skills Vaasa
