Abstract:

The construction industry faces growing pressure to transition toward more sustainable and circular practices, particularly in the use of timber and wood-based materials. At the same time, digital transformation is reshaping industry standards, demanding new competencies from the vocational education and training (VET) system. European initiatives such as the Green Deal, the Digital Education Action Plan, and the European Skills Agenda stress the urgent need to adapt training to these dual challenges.

Although wood construction offers significant potential for low-carbon and resource-efficient building, existing VET curricula do not consistently integrate circular economy (CE) principles or digital technologies. This gap is especially evident in traditional construction-related training. The WENUS project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme, addresses this need through the development of a joint curriculum focused on sustainable timber construction, enriched with practical content on 3D printing and digital tools.

A comprehensive curriculum has been designed and validated, structured into four modules that cover circularity, advanced materials, digital technologies, and future trends. The training content is aligned with EQF Level 4 and incorporates European competence frameworks such as GreenComp and DigComp. The project also delivers an e-learning platform and open training resources tailored to VET learners and educators.

The results achieved to date contribute to the improvement of VET in the timber sector, providing future professionals with relevant knowledge and applied skills to support the green and digital transition in the construction industry.

Keywords:

Vocational education and training, timber construction, circular economy, digital skills, joint curriculum, 3D printing, sustainability.