Green Skills: Think. Learn. Act.

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On 17 October 2025, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) hosted a hands-on conference that brought together 50 teachers, company representatives, and sustainability allies from across Latvia to explore how to build the green skills our future needs—and the practical tools to teach them.
What was discussed
  • What was achieved in the Green Leadership project and where to find relevant materials on the project website. A workshop on the GreenComp framework was also delivered inciting conference participants to imagine how to teach the Green Comp competences within their disciplines or think of initiatives in their schools or regions where these competences are developed.
  • Demand for new talent in Latvia remains high and especially “blue-collar” roles. ERDA shared the latest labour-market trends and introduced the “Nākotnes Darbs” (Future of work) platform, which helps young people (and adults) to plan meaningful careers.
  • In some years’ time circular economy will hopefully become a normal mindset and as natural as recycling. Santa Krastiņa from Green Liberty led a practical workshop on creating circular solutions—a format teachers can easily repeat with their students in class to engage them into imagining more sustainable operations.
  • Experience and activities delivered within the GreenVET Pathway and EULEP projects.
  • AI meets the circular economy in the classroom. Edgars Čerkovskis shared how he uses AI tools to streamline circular-economy projects and boost learning at EKA University of Applied Sciences— including AI-tailored tests that reflect each student’s progress and learning.
The conference was closed by a panel discussion moderated by Līga Sičeva, Director of EU Project Department at the LCCI. The discussion was provokatively titled “From talk to action on sustainability” and focused on the personal experience of the panelists to work with sustainability. Speakers included Ilze Vamža from Riga Technical University, Ilze Dalbiņa-Sarma from the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, Ilona Šņikvalde from Riga State Technical School and Edgars Čerkovskis. They shared how they practice sustainability in their lives. Ilona Šņikvalde recommended gathering all personal items in one place to visualize consumption and curb new purchases.
The conference titled “Green Skills: Think. Learn. Act.” was organised in cooperation with GreenVET Pathway and EULEP – two other projects Erasmus+ funded projects implemented by the LCCI and the event featured in the #ErasmusDays programme in Latvia. This cooperation allowed to create a full day event and attract VET teachers from all of Latvia thus ensuring effective dissemination of the project results.

Partners’ meeting in Tartu, September 5

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Green Leadership partners’ meeting took place in Tartu, September 5, 2025 in order to follow up on the conference results and to discuss the final project tasks.

 

Meet the Speakers of the International Conference

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Get to know the speakers who will bring their expertise and experience to the International Conference 4.September in Tartu.

Check the finalized programme and register

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International Conference PROGRAMME

Cultural programme to welcome foreign visitors 3 September at 17.30. Meeting point is at Tartu Townhall Square, at Kissing Students Statue. Guided walking tour in Tartu city center hosted by Ilze Salnaja-Värv, Estonian Agricultural Museum 

4 September 2025, Tartu Vocational College, Põllu 11 campus 

10.00 – 10.10
Welcome and Conference Opening
10.10 – 10.30
 “Developing Green Skills in Cooperation with Education Institutions and Entreprises”, Ena Drenkhan, Head of Adult Education, Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia
10.30 – 10.50
 “Integrating Sustainability into Education: The Finnish Case of Sustainability Roadmap and Network”, Tiina Taipale, Project Manager, Kartalla – På Kartan project
10.50 – 11.10
 “One step forward, two steps back. TalTech’s sustainability journey”, Helen Sooväli Sepping, Counsellor of Sustainable Develoment and Green Transition, Tallinn University of Technology
11.10 – 11.30
 “NGO and Education Sector Cooperation to Foster Sustainability Awareness in Latvia”, Santa Krastiņa, Environmental NGO “Green Liberty”
11.30 – 11.40
Stretching Break
11.40 – 12.20
 “Future-Proof Skills: What Green Competencies Do Employers Want?” Panel discussion with: Hanna Uibokand, ESG Specialist, A. Le Coq;
Joel Pihlak, Product Development Specialist, Thermory; Lilian Svetljakov, Head of People and Marketing, Eesti Metsameister; Nina Maarit Partanen, Head of Partnership and Collaboration, Sykli.
12.20 – 13.20
 Lunch and networking
“Circular economy atelier” hosted by the Estonian Agricultural Museum
13.20 – 14.00
 Workshop 1
Kuidas õppijaid päriselt kaasata: Rohehäkatoni kogemused ja praktilised töövahendid korraldajale. Mariliis Maremäe, vanemõpetaja, Tartu VOCO. (Eesti keeles) “How to Teach Green Competencies: Methods and Student Engagement.” by Katariina Mustonen, Trainer, Sykli. (English language)
14.00 – 14.40
 Workshop 2
Roheteemade integreerimine tundidesse: Haaravad meetodid ja vahendid. Heike Toomik, loodusainete õpetaja, Tartu VOCO. (Eesti keeles) “Creating Lasting Impact: Leveraging Online Learning Resources”, Vita Žunda, Baltic Bright. (English language)
14.40 – 15.00
Coffee break
15.00 – 15.20
 “Green Leadership: Empowering Students as Agents of Change”, Linda Lappuķe, Project Manager for EU Projects Department, Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference closure
15.20 – 16.00
 Supplementary: Visit to electric and hydrogen vehicle lab in VOCO, hosted by Ismail Mirzojev, senior teacher of engineering department 
Registration is open:

 

Green Leadership Newsletter No. 3

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The third edition of Green Leadership newsletter.

Download Newsletter No. 3

 Save the Date: International Hackathon April 3-4, 2025

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VET Students as Agents of Change

3-4 April 2025

Rīga, Latvia

Hackathon: Tackling Circular Economy Challenges with Creativity at VESK, January 16, 2025

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On 16 January, the Business and Hospitality Training Centre (VESK) hosted the national edition of the Green Leadership Hackathon, bringing together students, mentors and business professionals to solve real challenges related to the circular economy.

The challenges for this event came directly from Lithuanian businesses: 

  • “Mano Guru”, a social enterprise known for its sustainability-driven practices.
  • “HBH Vilnius”, a prominent restaurant group committed to reducing its environmental footprint.

The students were tasked with solving two critical problems:

  • Reduce food waste: Developing innovative solutions for repurposing seasonal fruit and vegetable waste.
  • Reimagining coffee waste: Creating sustainable products or processes from the coffee grounds generated daily by cafes and restaurants.

The hackathon began with an inspiring keynote speech, setting the tone for a day of creativity and teamwork. Guided by teacher-mentors, students worked non-stop to refine their ideas and create actionable solutions.

The event concluded with team presentations to the experts. After extensive discussion, the jury selected three winning teams to represent Lithuania at the Baltic Green Leadership Hackathon in Riga, Latvia, on 2-4 April 2025.

The Lithuanian hackathon complements recent events in Latvia and Estonia, demonstrating how the Baltic countries can lead the way in empowering youth to become agents of change in the green transition.

Stay tuned for updates on the Baltic Green Leadership Hackathon in Riga, where the winning teams from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will present their solutions to a broader audience!

Winning Ideas

First-place winners: The first-place winners proposed transforming coffee grounds into eco-friendly briquettes, contributing to the circular economy by turning waste into valuable resources. This idea harmonizes sustainability, ecology, and energy needs.

Second-place team: The second-place team focused on reducing the disposal of used coffee grounds, minimizing waste while creating products such as skin-nourishing scrubs and scent bags. Their initiative also engaged seniors in meaningful activities and promoted volunteerism, fostering a sense of community and environmental awareness.

Third-place team: The third-place team introduced a sustainable approach to utilizing vegetable peels, husks, and seeds in animal farming. Their solution emphasized creating high-quality feed, compost, and energy supplements from agricultural byproducts, ensuring 100% vegetable waste utilization while promoting cost-effective and eco-friendly farming practices.

Sykli Workshop on Sustainability Vision for Vocational Education and Training 2030, Helsinki, December 12, 2024

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Katariina Mustonen, expert of Sykli Environmental College, introduced the”system change” approach and  the “whole school” concept. Expert Sini Raita-aho from Sykli Environmental College shared information about VASKI project funded by the Finnish National Agency and implemented by Sykli.  During 2022 and 2023 the project developed the Sustainability Roadmap for vocational education and training in Finland and involved 61 Finnish VET schools in network activities. The roadmap offers a systemic approach to integrating sustainability competences in VET. Workshop participants were required to discuss the 5 aspects of sustainability vision through perspective of their own schools or own experience. The participants were also introduced to the self-assessment tool and each of them could try it out with one’s own VET school or VET system in mind.