Green people - Green working skills

By implementing the ABOUT GREEN project, we wanted to achieve several key goals. First, to create a manual that brings together the knowledge of partner organizations and establish a digital platf...

By implementing the ABOUT GREEN project, we wanted to achieve several key goals. First, to create a manual that brings together the knowledge of partner organizations and establish a digital platform for online courses on sustainable construction, the use of recycled materials and renewable energy sources. The goal is to educate teachers, students, small and medium-sized enterprises and the general public about green construction and renewable energy sources. The project seeks to improve teachers' knowledge of ecology, sustainable construction and the use of recycled materials, and to support teachers in acquiring new skills. By creating a digital platform, access to knowledge will be made available to all interested parties. The manual will be adapted and translated into the languages ​​of the partner organizations, including English. International cooperation between Croatian and Dutch teachers will enable the exchange of knowledge and experience, and the development of innovative approaches to teaching students. The project will result in training staff to teach sustainable construction and the use of renewable energy sources, and increasing the possibility of participating in larger and more complex projects.

The activities carried out in the ABOUT GREEN project included several key steps. First, the consolidation of existing knowledge among partners through continuous communication and meetings. The first meeting of the partners was held in Croatia, where green architecture topics were discussed and a digital manual was created. Students created a model of a tiny house, workshops and a photo exhibition were held. The second meeting was held in the Netherlands, where the partners focused on creating a digital manual and workshops on green roofs and bio-glue. They visited TU Delft and Green Village, where Croatian students prepared a quiz on green architecture. The creation of a digital platform and an online course was a key activity. The partners worked together on the creation of the platform by sending materials and communicating via video meetings and emails. The third meeting of the partners was held in Croatia with the aim of eliminating difficulties and doubts, and several workshops were also held. The last activity included testing the digital platform and the online course among target groups, with a high percentage of passing the final exam. These activities enabled the acquisition of new knowledge and skills.

Concrete results of the ABOUT GREEN project include teachers’ understanding and application of green architecture principles. Quantitatively, 24 teachers from Croatia and the Netherlands completed a 15-month training course on sustainable building techniques. Seven workshops were held on topics such as green roof construction, green materials, energy-efficient building, heat pumps, energy plantations and bio-glue production. A model of a sustainable tiny house was created, and 87% of participants reported an improved ability to integrate green design into their teaching. Qualitatively, participants agreed that the theoretical concepts came to life in the prototype, which increased their awareness of the accessibility of sustainable building. Teachers jointly developed a digital platform and a manual with interdisciplinary lesson plans, which they later piloted in their schools. A Dutch school piloted the use of a tiny house model as a teaching aid, which generated high student engagement and cross-curricular learning. By combining theoretical learning with practical practice and peer collaboration, the project directly improved the capabilities of educators in green architecture.