Empowering VET Providers for a Greener Future: The GROWS Project
- Published in News
Across Europe, the green transition calls for new skills, new mindsets and new education models. The Erasmus+ project GROWS – Moving towards a Green tRansitiOn through sustainable Waste management education in the VET sector, supports this effort by equipping VET providers, trainers and learners with the practical tools they need to reduce waste, adopt circular economy practices and foster sustainability in their institutions.
Why GROWS?
Waste generation and resource overconsumption remain critical challenges for Europe. VET institutions play a key role in shaping tomorrow’s workforce, yet many educators report a lack of practical tools, structured guidance and accessible training materials on sustainable waste management.
The GROWS project bridges this gap by providing ready-to-use resources that support the development of Green Education Action Plans in VET schools and training centres.
What has GROWS developed so far?
The project delivers a set of innovative, open and practical tools:
- GROWS Toolkit – a step-by-step guide to help VET providers create and implement a Green Strategy in their organisation.
- E-Learning Platform & Intelligent Tutor – a digital learning environment with OERs, interactive modules and personalised guidance for users developing their action plans.
- Training Program for VET Trainers – already piloted in partner countries, strengthening the capacity of VET educators to lead the green transition.
- GROWS Community Forum – an online space for sharing practices, ideas and Green Action Plans across Europe.
What’s coming next? National Workshops and Final Conference
In October and November 2025, the GROWS consortium will organise national workshops in all partner countries – Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Bulgaria. These events will bring together VET trainers, educators, policymakers and NGOs to: explore GROWS resources, exchange good practices, and strengthen cooperation around waste management and green education.
The project will conclude with a Final European Conference on 19 November 2025 in Warsaw (Poland), gathering stakeholders to discuss sustainability in VET, circular economy skills and the future of waste management education. All interested stakeholders are warmly invited to join these initiatives by contacting the project partners and becoming part of the GROWS community.
Who is behind GROWS?
The project is implemented by a strong transnational consortium of seven organisations, working together to impact on the national and European level:
- SYSCO POLSKA Sp. z o.o. (Poland) – Project Coordinator
- KMOP – Education & Innovation Hub (Greece)
- CARDET – Centre for Advancement of Research and Development (Cyprus)
- INNOVADE Li Ltd (Cyprus)
- LAND Impresa Sociale S.r.l. (Italy)
- Rightchallenge Associação (Portugal)
- Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce (BRCC) (Bulgaria)
GROWS promotes a culture where VET institutions lead by example, empowering learners to become responsible citizens who understand how small daily actions can generate long-term environmental change.
This article was published in EPALE Platform, available here.
More information about the project you can find here.