Training construction workers on energy-efficient building practices
The BUStoB (BUILD UP Skills to Business) project worked on addressing the skills gap in the Netherlands. The project’s main goal was to develop a large number of training modules covering a range of subjects related to green skills for the building and installation workforce. “The project went beyond just designing training courses,” says project coordinator Peter Smulders. “To ensure a sustainable building environment, researchers also sought new ways to stimulate demand so that more workers would participate in the green skills training.” In addition to designing and promoting the training modules, the project developed quick skill assessments. “These assessments help raise awareness among the workforce about the importance of energy-efficient building design, identify skill gaps and promote the need for training,” explains Smulders. “They’re meant to serve as an easy way to highlight the need to participate in the full training.” There’s an app for that In total, the project developed 65 new e-learning modules, covering 79 thematic areas on such topics as NZEB technologies, quality assurance and interdisciplinary skills, among others. Many of these courses are available via online media, including the BUILD UP Skills Advisor app. “We incorporated the app’s ‘Learning from Building Errors’ module into several of our trainings,” says Smulders. “Our trainers are using these short sets of questions to enhance the impact of their training.” In addition to an assessment tool, the app also offers seamless and free access to all BUStoB’s e-learning modules, along with job-specific overviews of other learning opportunities. “Our online instruments for disseminating and promoting the training have proved to be of great value for projects of this sort,” adds Smulders. He notes that the app was funded in large part by OTIB, a project partner. OTIB donated the app to the consortium at project closure, thereby making it available for other EU projects and further development. From demand to action Thanks to its focus on practical information and regional partnerships, the project successfully triggered an increase in demand for green skills training. “We are very proud of the alliances we forged during the project, such as those between the building and installation sector, vocational training institutes and local and national governments,” says Smulders. “As a result, the training resources developed during the BUStoB project are playing a central role in the human capital agenda of our country’s National Energy Agreement.” Since the formal end of the project, there have been over 2 500 downloads of the BUILD UP Skills Advisor app and around 550 trainers/ambassadors have been fully trained. The BUILD UP Skills analysis methodology is currently applied to address the skills related to a circular construction economy and the effect of digitisation in the construction sector.” The challenge is to ensure continued momentum and uptake. The app has been further developed and enriched thanks to follow-up H2020 projects and also projects at national level.
Keywords
BUStoB, energy-efficient, NZEB, green skills, skills gap, circular construction economy, EU, e-learning
