Our practice focuses on equipping vocational education teachers in the field of renewable energy with up-to-date sectoral knowledge and skills. To address the gap between industry advancements and educational content, we actively collaborate with renewable energy companies and sectoral experts. Through these partnerships, we organize targeted in-service trainings, site visits, and technical workshops designed around the latest technological developments such as wind turbine maintenance, solar energy systems, and energy storage solutions.
Our methodology includes conducting needs analyses to identify the professional development areas for teachers, co-designing training modules with industry representatives, and integrating practical, hands-on learning with real sector equipment. By doing so, we ensure that vocational teachers are better prepared to train students in line with current and future labour market demands. This approach not only increases the employability of students but also strengthens the alignment between vocational education and the green energy transition.
As a result of our sector-based collaboration and training initiatives, vocational teachers significantly improved their technical competencies and understanding of current trends in renewable energy. This directly enhanced the quality and relevance of their classroom teaching. Teachers reported increased confidence in delivering up-to-date content and using real-life industry scenarios in their lessons.
One key lesson learned is the importance of continuous engagement with the industry. Regular communication with sectoral partners ensures that the trainings remain relevant and responsive to rapid technological changes. Additionally, hands-on learning with industry-grade equipment proved far more effective than theoretical approaches alone. Another outcome was the creation of a growing network between schools and renewable energy companies, fostering internship opportunities for students and promoting work-based learning models.
We believe that empowering vocational teachers with current industry knowledge is key to ensuring quality education in the renewable energy sector. Through our ongoing collaboration with industry and international networks, we aim to scale up this model, contribute to the green transition, and inspire similar initiatives across Europe. We would be pleased to share our practices and learn from others working toward the same goal.
Innovator: Tuba Akilli, Cezeri Green Technology Centre