Abstract:

RENATURE is an ongoing three-year project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme aimed at promoting innovation in Vocational Education and Training (VET) and life-long learning through the development of advanced educational resources for sustainability. The project strengthens the educational offer on environmental sustainability through a structured package of Open Educational Resources (OER) focused on Nature-based Solutions (NbS), an increasingly recognised strategy to address climate change mitigation and adaptation while generating environmental, social and economic co-benefits.

NbS are identified as a strategic asset in several Horizon Europe missions related to environmental protection and climate resilience. When implemented within participatory governance frameworks such as Community-Driven Development (CDD) and Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), NbS can foster inclusive economic development and create new employment opportunities, particularly for young people entering the green sector. According to recent United Nations estimates, NbS have the potential to generate up to 32 million decent jobs globally. Their relatively low implementation costs and adaptability to diverse ecological and socio-economic contexts make them suitable for bottom-up initiatives and community-based environmental management practices in both European regions and developing countries.

RENATURE is implemented by a consortium of eight institutions including research organisations, universities and technological parks from six European countries (Italy, Spain, Greece, Lithuania, Finland and Germany). The partnership covers five major European biogeographical regions—Mediterranean, Alpine, Continental, Atlantic and Boreal—ensuring that the educational framework integrates diverse ecological conditions and best practices in NbS research and implementation.

This paper presents the methodological framework developed within the project and its educational architecture designed to support vocational training, life-long learning and youth employability in the sustainability sector. The methodology is articulated through five interconnected Final Results leading to a comprehensive didactic programme:
(FR1) a comparative report on NbS best practices across partner countries;
(FR2) an introductory educational programme providing theoretical foundations on NbS;
(FR3) an advanced programme focused on applied knowledge and implementation;
(FR4) a digital application supporting interactive exercises linked to the educational modules; and
(FR5) an e-book compiling user guidelines, OER testing results and expert contributions.

Particular attention is devoted to the accessibility and scalability of the educational resources developed within the project. By adopting the OER approach, RENATURE ensures that training materials, digital tools and methodological guidelines can be freely accessed, adapted and reused by educators, institutions and learners beyond the partnership. This design supports the wide dissemination of sustainability competences and enables replication of the training model across different educational systems and geographical contexts, fostering green skills development and new professional opportunities for younger generations.

Keywords:

International Project, Vocational Training, Life-long Learning, Education for Sustainability, Erasmus+ Education Project, Education on Fight Against Climate Change.