On February 27, 2025, the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) and Biz-Up hosted the webinar “Vocational Bioeconomy Training – From Development to Implementation.” The event brought together educators, science communicators, training developers, and project managers to discuss innovative vocational training methods for the bioeconomy sector.
Participants got insight into the Engage4BIO co-creation process of educational formats, from initial concept development to practical implementation. The Engage4BIO Austrian (AT) hub served as a case study, providing valuable insights into structuring co-creation efforts, selecting suitable educational formats, and incorporating audience feedback. Discussions emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange in developing effective vocational education and training (VET) programmes across Europe.
A central topic discussed was engaging stakeholders, particularly industry representatives, in co-creation processes. While industry involvement is crucial, participants acknowledged the challenge of ensuring their active participation. One key recommendation was to provide allowances for industry representatives to attend co-creation workshops and it was positively acknowledged that the AT hub made sure to engage industries in their map and gap analysis process, which was conducted before the co-creation workshops. Future events and projects may explore practical strategies for overcoming this barrier, ensuring a stronger collaboration between training developers and industry representatives.
Another discussion focused on leveraging existing networks and research to develop training programmes. The collaboration of the AT hub with Bioeconomy Austria, BOKU, and other clusters served as an inspiring example. Participants exchanged strategies on how to integrate their initiatives into established networks, recognizing the challenges of entering well-established ecosystems.
Stay tuned for more Engage4BIO activities as we continue to foster innovation in vocational bioeconomy training!
