Abstract:

The WENUS project, co-funded by Erasmus+, pioneers the development of a fully web-based vocational education curriculum in sustainable timber construction, positioned at EQF Level 4 and directly aligned with the European competence frameworks GreenComp and DigComp 2.2. Rooted in the ambitions of the European Green Deal (EGD) to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the project responds to the urgent need for large-scale reskilling and upskilling across Europe. Research conducted by Cedefop indicates that the implementation of the EGD could create over 2.5 million additional jobs by 2030, particularly in construction, renewable energy, and waste management, while traditional fossil-fuel sectors decline. Against this backdrop, WENUS positions vocational education and training (VET) as a crucial enabler of both employability and sustainability.

The project addresses persistent barriers in VET, such as limited accessibility in rural or disadvantaged areas, digital divides, linguistic and inclusivity challenges, and the insufficient integration of transversal competences like collaboration, critical thinking, and systems-based problem-solving. Through a modular, flexible, and web-based learning design, WENUS overcomes these barriers by embedding interactive multimedia, gamification strategies, simulations, and virtual 3D printing tasks that connect theoretical knowledge to hands-on application. Assessments are continuous and feedback-oriented, supporting learner autonomy and inclusivity. By explicitly mapping learning outcomes to GreenComp and DigComp 2.2, WENUS ensures that graduates acquire both specialised technical competences and broader 21st-century skills demanded by green and digital labour markets.

Beyond pedagogy, WENUS exemplifies the value of international cooperation. The consortium—comprising partners from Poland, Spain, Germany, and Slovenia—demonstrates how web-based collaboration enables co-design, piloting, and cross-border transferability of curricula. In this way, WENUS not only strengthens VET innovation but also serves as a replicable model for other sectors undergoing transformation within the green transition.

The symbolic duality of Venus—the goddess of renewal and the planet devastated by runaway greenhouse effects—frames the project’s narrative. WENUS embodies both warning and promise: a reminder of the risks of inaction and a demonstration of how education can catalyse renewal. By embedding sustainability and digitalisation into vocational education, WENUS highlights how VET can function not merely as training for employment but as a cornerstone of Europe’s collective capacity to navigate the path between planetary crisis and sustainable futures.

Keywords:

WENUS project, vocational education, web-based learning, green skills, European Green Deal, skills anticipation, transversal competences, international cooperation.