A certificate in green transition will be able to lift the Danish building and construction sector right up to the top of the world. At the same time, it will be able to ensure that the skilled and unskilled in the sector continuously maintain and update their knowledge of sustainability and climate-friendly construction.
We have to make demands
The proposal comes from René Malm, who is director of education at the vocational training center CELF in Lolland-Falster:
– We have a desire to be a leader in the green transition, and then we have to make demands. There are many professions and educations that require certification – for example within the electrician and plumbing professions. This could be advantageously extended to, for example, bricklayers, carpenters and structural engineers, says René Malm.
Declining enrollment in further education
As FemernReport wrote on Friday, enrollment in further and continuing education is at rock bottom and has been steadily declining since 2009. A requirement for a green certificate in construction could motivate the workforce and companies to continuously maintain their knowledge and skills within climate, environment and sustainability up to date.
Lots of talk
– There is a lot of talk about sustainability and green transition from, for example, Femern A/S and FLC, but it is critical that we also do something about it. After all, we (in the VEU system, ed.) exist for the business world. And they already have many well-educated and skilled employees. And why should they do something different than they have always done if it is not necessary?, asks René Malm.
The content must be clarified
The CELF director does not yet have a concrete proposal for what a certification course in green transition should contain. This is to be clarified in cooperation and dialogue with the labor market partners, the Agency for Labor Market and Recruitment (STAR) and the Agency for Education and Quality (STUK).
Regularly in dialogue
– We are in regular dialogue with STUK about our courses – including the certification courses. But right now it can’t run around if we have to offer courses to very small teams. We would prefer to go up to 16. But if there is a requirement for a certificate, then it will pay off better, says René Malm.
