Environmental protection and the green economy are on the rise - current trends are placing increasing emphasis on environmental friendliness and long-term sustainability in all areas of social life and the economy, including industry. The production of individual products uses less and less energy and uses sustainable and recyclable materials. Labor market requirements are changing - the question of how to obtain future experts in the field of green economy is increasingly being debated. Therefore, NUE has prepared a study that examines the possibilities of creating a new group of teaching and study fields of education that reflect the green transformation of society.
The aim of the study is to identify new trends in the field of education and training of future labor market professionals in relation to the priorities and trends in the green economy and environmental protection.
Experience shows that Slovakia needs to create and subsequently further develop an expert base capable of responding effectively to environmental challenges, climate change and a more sustainable lifestyle. STEAM skills, reading literacy, critical thinking, digital and business skills, but also to implement interdisciplinary and participatory learning approaches will be key competences needed for the development of environmental education.
In the study, NUE identified key occupations that will be affected by the green transformation in Slovakia. The results show that the introduction of green economy mechanisms in the coming years will affect up to 123 curricula for secondary schools. In these fields, it is therefore necessary to gradually innovate existing and integrate new specific environmental performance education standards. To provide qualified professionals in the green economy, it is crucial to create new education departments, innovate existing education departments, or create a functional retraining system for them. Employers are proposing a new group of "green" fields of study.
Detailed results of the NUE analysis are available in downloadable documents.
