The Upskilling Generation Net Zero (GenNZ) Erasmus+ project officially launced as a European Erasmus+ initiative connecting Greece and Slovenia in a shared mission: equipping the tourism and hospitality sector with the green skills needed for a sustainable future, financed by the Greek Erasmus+ National Agency.
Tourism will continue to be one of the world’s most important industries – and also one of the most environmentally demanding. GenNZ will aim to close the gap between policy ambitions for Net Zero and the real skills needed in the workplace. The project will define what green skills mean in tourism, develop a practical vocational training programme, and deliver role-specific learning that will be easy to access and grounded in workplace reality.
The programme will use an innovative framework of Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs), which will be tested in live environments and certified with micro-credentials. Running from September 2024 to September 2025, the project will be led by the European Sustainability Academy (ESA, Crete) with the Entrepreneurship Movement Club (EMC, Slovenia) as partner.
Over the year, six key stages will be delivered:
- Research & Scoping Study
- Green Skills Focus Groups
- Training Module Design
- Pilot “Summer School” in Greece & Slovenia
- Dissemination & post-pilot workshops
- Closing conferences & roadmap for the future
The initiative will support young graduates, mid-career professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a Net Zero world. By empowering people across the tourism ecosystem, GenNZ will contribute to a sector that protects the environment, supports local communities, and strengthens economic resilience.