In the period between 26th and 28th June, 2023, the kick-off meeting of the project "Academy for Transitional Skills in the Built Environment" (BuildSkills Academy), financed under the Erasmus+ Programme, co-financed by the European Union took place in Sofia, Bulgaria. The project officially started on the 1st of June, 2023 with a total budget of 3,938,490 euros. The three-days event was hosted by the coordinator of the project -Cleantech Bulgaria Ltd.– an innovation support network organization based in Sofia working actively on twin transition and skills development.

The consortium brings together 17 partners from 10 European countries, who will work together to achieve its main goal – creating a pan-European framework and scheme for certification and upgrading of knowledge and skills for the so-called "twin" transition (green and digital) with a focus on the construction sector.

From Cyprus, 3 different organisations are participating in the project, which with their knowledge and experience will contribute positively to the successful completion of the project: the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), the Cyprus Certification Company (CCC) and the KYKLOIKODROMIO.

An important role in the project is played by organizations providing vocational education and training and their main task will be to update and adapt the services offered to the emerging new needs in the field of green and digital skills. Within the framework of the project, a BuildEnrichedSkills methodology will be prepared to promote the offering of trainings related to the real needs of the labor market when applying the "lifelong learning" approach, incl. through reskilling and upskilling. A procedure will also be developed to support vocational education and training centers to boost the rapid adaptation of the workforce to the twin green and digital transition. Another leading objective is the creation of a certification framework for the recognition of skills and competences corresponding to the needs of the twin transition, which will serve as a reference at global level for the improvement and certification of VET services.

The results achieved by the project will be transferred to 12 pilot projects in 6 countries, involving 300 trainees and reaching 100 vocational training providers, 1.000 companies and 20 organizations at European level in the field of construction skills thus achieving at least 100 collaborations between VET and industry.

The project “Academy for Transitional Skills in the Build Environment” is co-funded by the European Union ERASMUS+ Programme under Grant Agreement number: 101104419