<< Objectives >>The forest sector in Europe is a major economic playground and home to 13 million employees. It is characterised by strong traditional settings. Its education needs fundamental change on sectoral, organisational, individual levels. The FOREE objective is to develop blended-learning Train-the-Trainers & MOOC courses to transform forestry adult education and training to a flexible hybrid system through the complementary use of digital learning concepts, tools and platforms in broad applications.<< Implementation >>3 forestry education centers, one university (pedagogy), and one wood-cluster will implement the following: Based on preceding needs analyses, WP2 assesses required skills & technology readiness via online survey and 6 focus group workshops, WP3 develops the design and content for a ToT and MOOC to instruct teachers/trainers on how to create and facilitate online adult education. WP4 implements pilot courses and evaluates by workshops and feedback forms. WP5 disseminates and networks broadly.<< Results >>Results are (1) Status & critical success factors of digital teaching in forestry education & recommendations, (2) Handbook & Toolkit, (3) Design of online platform, (4) Concrete course pilots. All results are reusable, transferable and will be shared (open access) with key target groups (forestry trainers, teachers) who are integral part of all activities. Courses will be Quality-labelled. Results are promoted via Associated partners to policy/decision makers from local to transnational level.

BACKGROUND & CHALLENGESConstruction with wood yields high energy efficiency value, becoming increasingly relevant in the construction materials market. Correspondingly, skills relevant to innovative woodworking methods and applications are in high demand in the EU construction market. However, construction employers note a gap between the skills and knowledge acquired by workers and apprentices through Work-Based Learning (WBL) in the construction sector and the woodworking skills needed in the workplace. Stringent renovation requirements and policy measures seeking to stimulate the transformation of existing buildings (e.g. Energy Performance of Building Directive) and the fast-paced emergence of relevant new markets (e.g. green building) exacerbate this gap even further. Upskilling construction workers with innovative woodworking skills through work-based learning VET is therefore essential to meet the current and future demand for energy efficient solutions in the construction and renovation sector.PROJECT OBJECTIVESUPWOOD forms a Strategic Partnership to improve work-based learning VET, by developing and making available educational resources to address current and emerging occupational skills needs for energy efficient and innovative woodworking construction practices. The UPWOOD specific objectives are to:1. Develop new training content (i.e. WBL educational resources) on energy efficient wood construction methods and applications.2. Develop teaching materials, VET integration guidelines, and trainer’s guide to support VET providers to integrate new woodworking technologies and processes into their WBL and apprenticeships offerings.3. Improve cooperation between VET providers and businesses to provide opportunities that will enable learners to apply the acquired knowledge and skills in real-life workplace situations.THE UPWOOD PARTNERSHIPThe partnership comprises 5 organisations from 5 countries, drawing from cluster associations, VET schools, the construction sector, higher education, as well as learning innovation experts. HCS and UPV are at the forefront of innovative timber construction technologies, methods, and applications, being also pioneers in the upskilling schemes for woodworking professionals. Woodpolis brings the expertise in the design and delivery of VET courses, covering the entire value chain of construction with wood. LVT represents occupational needs and workplace realities at national and EU level, committed to the continuous improvement of training provision and upskilling professionals. EXELIA is an expert in R&D and delivery of innovative ICT-based methodologies.ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY- Analysis of current and future skills and knowledge needs leading to the development of learning outcomes.- Development of the structure of a curriculum on innovative, energy efficient woodworking technologies, methods, and practical applications.- Creation of corresponding pedagogical materials to be offered as Open Education Resources.- Development, testing, and delivery of Online Training Scenarios on woodworking in construction, promoting the uptake of innovative and flexible practices in VET.- Involvement of key policy makers & stakeholders for the recognition of UPWOOD learning outcomes as well for supporting the integration of construction woodworking skills into occupational standards.- Sharing of outputs with multiplier events, inviting target groups to uptake UPWOOD results and to act as further multipliers.RESULTSThe UPWOOD project is expected to have the following results:- Learning outcomes for training provision in innovative & energy efficient woodworking technologies, methods, and applications in construction for current and future construction workers.- Learning units (curriculum structure), trainers’ guide, and VET integration guidelines.- Open Educational Resources for woodworking technologies, methods, and applications in the construction sector.-UPWOOD Online Training Scenarios & content on woodworking technologies, methods, and applications in construction for current and future construction workers.- A Certificate Supplement for the integration of woodworking in construction skills into certification schemes.- A position paper to support decision-making and promote the incorporation of woodworking in construction skills requirements into the European e-Competence Framework.- 5 national information days (one in each partnership country) to promote project results and set an open discussion on increasing the quality and effectiveness of VET provision.POST-PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY- Uptake of project materials & OERs from relevant VET providers across the EU.- Participation of a growing number of initial and continuous VET learners in courses based on project outputs.- Expansion of the strategic partnership towards a network of collaborating VET and sector stakeholders, including in-house training centres, VET providers & ICT companies.