A roadmap for the development of green skills in key economic sectors was presented on 29 June at the Technical University of Moldova (UTM).

The document was developed with the support of the European Union as part of the project “Enabling an inclusive green transition in the Republic of Moldova”, implemented by UNDP Moldova. Based on this document, a national capacity-building programme will be launched to prepare the workforce, institutions, and the education system for the demands of the green transition.

The programme is co-created with stakeholders’ involvement, through interactive sessions and by applying methods of systems thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration. All of this is done in partnership with Climate KIC, one of Europe’s leading climate innovation communities.

As a result, public institutions need experts who are ready to implement and ensure compliance with increasingly complex environmental legislation aligned with EU standards. At the same time, educational institutions should adapt their curricula and training programmes to prepare current and future professionals in the environmental field.

“The green transition is about resilience. It is about building a society and an economy that can thrive and prosper for generations to come. This starts with investing in skills and education. The EU can only innovate and make the green transition happen on the ground if people are on board and prepared,” said Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, who attended the dialogue bringing together students, recent graduates, universities, and vocational education institutions. 

The event provided a forum for discussion on the green skills of the future and the career opportunities created by the green transition. 

“The green transition requires not only new technologies, but also new competencies. At the Technical University of Moldova, we are continuously adapting our educational programmes to equip students with the green skills demanded by the labour market and the future economy. The creation of the Green Tech Hub Innovation Center is a concrete example of this commitment, providing a collaborative environment where education, research, entrepreneurship, and industry come together to develop practical solutions for a sustainable future", said Viorel Bostan, rector of UTM.

“I was pleased to learn that there are more and more career opportunities in fields that help protect natural resources, reduce pollution, and promote energy efficiency. I believe that we, as young people, have an important role to play in this transformation and that, by choosing such professions, we can help create a greener and more prosperous Moldova,” said Dragoș Scurtu, a student at the Cruzești Middle School and Kindergarten Educational Complex.

The universities and colleges specializing in the environment and sustainability that attended the event presented their educational offerings to the new generation of students interested in green fields and sustainable development. One of the spaces featured was the Green Tech Hub, located at UTM.

Developed on the UTM campus, the Green Tech Hub will bring together students, researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, and partners from the public and private sectors to transform innovative ideas into concrete solutions for a greener and more sustainable future.

The European Union, through the project “Enabling an inclusive green transition in the Republic of Moldova”, implemented by UNDP Moldova, will equip the Green Tech Hub with a laboratory dedicated to testing construction materials and integrating waste as a raw material into production processes. At the same time, the EU and UNDP support community development by organizing hackathons, pre-acceleration programmes, and initiatives focused on developing green skills.

The Green Tech Hub also includes a modern innovation and prototyping lab, equipped with 3D printers, CO2 laser equipment, CNC (computer numerical control) machines, machinery for recycling plastics and textiles, as well as spaces dedicated to educational activities and collaborative projects.

The Green Tech Hub is being developed through a collaboration between the Technical University of Moldova and UNDP Moldova, with support from the European Union and the Innovate Moldova programme, funded by Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Download here the press-release in Russian.