Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SKILL BILL (SKILL BILL: Skill to Boost Innovation and professional fulfiLLment in a sustainable economy)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-09-01 bis 2024-02-29
SKILLBILL’s overall objective is to develop a large and strong foundation for the growth and acceleration of renewable energy’s deployment, thanks to engaging with stakeholders of the whole chain, diffusing scientific culture and skilling multi-level workers.
The basic idea underling the project is that the knowledge should be diffused at several different levels and qualitatively appropriate both to train the adequate number of workers and to increase RES awareness contributing to a more social and inclusive Europe.
The project aims at creating pathways to induce target groups to get interested or involved in RES besides their initial level of education and their working position.
It’s important, beside the creation of instruments for the upskilling and reskilling of workers, technician and designers, to have awareness modules for unspecific public in order to fight against lack of information, bad quality material, gender gap and the phenomenon of functional illiteracy: it is widely documented that lifelong suitable learning process is the fundamental driver to support the development, maintenance and update of skills. Thus, SKILLBILL proposes concrete actions to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy at different levels to analyse and involve all the interested parts in open discussion using adequate language; create several different pathways to increase skills after having mapped knowledge gap and without gender prejudice; develop and implement innovative learning method and evaluate the work performed.
The basic idea underling the project is that the knowledge should be diffused at several different levels and qualitatively appropriate both to train the adequate number of workers and to increase RES awareness contributing to a more social and inclusive Europe.
The project aims at creating pathways to induce target groups to get interested or involved in RES besides their initial level of education and their working position.
It’s important, beside the creation of instruments for the upskilling and reskilling of workers, technician and designers, to have awareness modules for unspecific public in order to fight against lack of information, bad quality material, gender gap and the phenomenon of functional illiteracy: it is widely documented that lifelong suitable learning process is the fundamental driver to support the development, maintenance and update of skills. Thus, SKILLBILL proposes concrete actions to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy at different levels to analyse and involve all the interested parts in open discussion using adequate language; create several different pathways to increase skills after having mapped knowledge gap and without gender prejudice; develop and implement innovative learning method and evaluate the work performed.
The first half of SKILLBILL has seen significant advancements towards the project objectives, including the establishment of infrastructure, development of educational materials, and completion of promotional activities. These achievements have the potential to impact education, innovation, and policy in renewable energy and STEM fields, contributing to the EU's goals for sustainability and carbon neutrality. Moving forward, we remain committed to refining the program, extending its scope, and maximizing its impact in the second half of the project.
Since the early stages of the project, a financial, technical, and administrative organization has been provided to the project consortium in order to meet contractual commitments and reach the project objectives within the pre-defined time frames and in respect of costs constrains.
A comprehensive database of 108 European key stakeholders in the renewable energy, efficiency and fuel technology fields was established. 32 of these stakeholders, with an equal proportion of male and female participants, have been engaged and involved through semi-structured interviews to analyse the educational needs and steer the set-up of effective academic and training courses.
The administrative and didactic organization of the 1-year European Master, called “European Specialization School in Sustainable Energy” was performed and the program management board has been established. Master’s degree title will be awarded by the University of Tuscia, with Metropolia University, University of Seville, Utrecht University officially supporting the organization of the program as well as the teaching activities. The University of Tuscia will award the title of “First Level Master” to the students that successfully complete the whole program. In addition to the Master, the Vocational Education Training (VET) program has been finalized. This program includes two courses (Energy Manager and Photovoltaic Panels) and the relative Training of the Trainers.
The Universities interacted to define the Virtual Reality (VR) content for each identified module. VR content consists of 3D-modeled virtual environments containing interactive objects and simulations. It was implemented and integrated in each module. Whereas for the VET program a mobile training application combining gamified sections and augmented reality was developed.
The Green Portal was launched in March 2023. It represents a reference point for sustainability and renewable energy providing reliable information for all, regardless of their educational level. In addition, to reduce the gender gap the Green Portal highlights examples of women excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and RES to follow and be inspired by. Each material in the Portal is classified with the Quality Label that indicates the level and type of users that material is aimed at.
Since the early stages of the project, a financial, technical, and administrative organization has been provided to the project consortium in order to meet contractual commitments and reach the project objectives within the pre-defined time frames and in respect of costs constrains.
A comprehensive database of 108 European key stakeholders in the renewable energy, efficiency and fuel technology fields was established. 32 of these stakeholders, with an equal proportion of male and female participants, have been engaged and involved through semi-structured interviews to analyse the educational needs and steer the set-up of effective academic and training courses.
The administrative and didactic organization of the 1-year European Master, called “European Specialization School in Sustainable Energy” was performed and the program management board has been established. Master’s degree title will be awarded by the University of Tuscia, with Metropolia University, University of Seville, Utrecht University officially supporting the organization of the program as well as the teaching activities. The University of Tuscia will award the title of “First Level Master” to the students that successfully complete the whole program. In addition to the Master, the Vocational Education Training (VET) program has been finalized. This program includes two courses (Energy Manager and Photovoltaic Panels) and the relative Training of the Trainers.
The Universities interacted to define the Virtual Reality (VR) content for each identified module. VR content consists of 3D-modeled virtual environments containing interactive objects and simulations. It was implemented and integrated in each module. Whereas for the VET program a mobile training application combining gamified sections and augmented reality was developed.
The Green Portal was launched in March 2023. It represents a reference point for sustainability and renewable energy providing reliable information for all, regardless of their educational level. In addition, to reduce the gender gap the Green Portal highlights examples of women excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and RES to follow and be inspired by. Each material in the Portal is classified with the Quality Label that indicates the level and type of users that material is aimed at.
Within the project, the following results deserve special attention:
- On the 28th of June (act registered the 30th of June) the Academic Senate of University of Tuscia decreed the establishment and activation of the Specialization School. The program has been officially launched in December 2023 and the lessons started on February, 19th 2024. This interdisciplinary European Master integrates several virtual labs and boasts the participation of students from 7 different countries.
- More than 160 contents related to RES technologies and sustainability have been uploaded to the Green Portal. Over 50 of these contents are about women excellence in RES and STEM. The platform has more than 6200 views, and about 11000 “likes” on the contents.
- The creation of 4 Working Groups concerning four different themes (sustainable and renewable electricity, sustainable and renewable fuels, sustainable and renewable heat, sustainable mobility) formed by stakeholders with different expertise. For each working group a Lighthouse Expert has been identified and recruited. Moreover, the first round of meeting of all 4 WGs has been completed and 54 regulatory/economic/technological recommendations have been developed.
- The Dissemination and Communication campaign has started at the beginning of the project, resulting in: - launch of the comprehensive website (8.000 views) - the production of several promotional materials (physically and digitally distributed); - 47.000 social media impressions; - synergies with other projects (7);
- On the 28th of June (act registered the 30th of June) the Academic Senate of University of Tuscia decreed the establishment and activation of the Specialization School. The program has been officially launched in December 2023 and the lessons started on February, 19th 2024. This interdisciplinary European Master integrates several virtual labs and boasts the participation of students from 7 different countries.
- More than 160 contents related to RES technologies and sustainability have been uploaded to the Green Portal. Over 50 of these contents are about women excellence in RES and STEM. The platform has more than 6200 views, and about 11000 “likes” on the contents.
- The creation of 4 Working Groups concerning four different themes (sustainable and renewable electricity, sustainable and renewable fuels, sustainable and renewable heat, sustainable mobility) formed by stakeholders with different expertise. For each working group a Lighthouse Expert has been identified and recruited. Moreover, the first round of meeting of all 4 WGs has been completed and 54 regulatory/economic/technological recommendations have been developed.
- The Dissemination and Communication campaign has started at the beginning of the project, resulting in: - launch of the comprehensive website (8.000 views) - the production of several promotional materials (physically and digitally distributed); - 47.000 social media impressions; - synergies with other projects (7);