The lineal economy model take-make-consume-dispose is a reflection of a time when resources and energy were believed to be unlimited and easy to obtain and there was no awareness of the serious environmental consequences. Currently, the Circular Economy (CE) is proposed as the logical and viable alternative, which corrects the main problems of this linear scheme. CE refers to a production and consumption system that creates as little economic loss as possible, and where the majority of the products and resources used in production processes can be reused and recycled. This changing products’ design and production processes could help to minimise waste and increase the potential of unused resources, and thereby, have a positive environmental impact.[1],[2]. The EC stress that “transition to a more circular economy requires changes throughout value chains, from product design to new business and market models, from new ways of turning waste into resource to new models of consumer behaviour”. Industrial Symbiosis (IS) is a waste-as-resource business models aiming to use waste a resource promotes cross-sector and cross-cycle links by creating markets for secondary raw materials.[3] This system approach to a more sustainable and integrated industrial system could contribute to resolve the development and environmental challenges articulated in SDGs. Consequently, the main objective of the project is to develop a new professional profile, the INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS FACILITATOR towards the design of a common curriculum and learning approach on. This IS facilitator would be responsible of different tasks: to conduct analysis in its area of influence, to define and promote synergies between companies from different sectors, to capitalise on the benefits of EC principles implementation, etc. The INSIGHT project will bring together an innovative Consortium made up of 6 partners from 5 European Countries (Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, Romania and Italy): VET providers, research centres, SMEs and non-governmental associations) with wide experience in IS and Education. To this end, the INSIGHT partnerships have defined the following specific and SMART objectives (SO): SO1. To design and develop a Joint Curriculum (JC) for developing and fostering new skills on VET students with the participation of stakeholders and education experts SO2. To deliver the JC on e-learning platform and project it under open licenses SO3. To develop a blueprint strategy and governance guidelines to include IS SO4. To equip VET users and other target users with the right skills and knowledge about IS from today and tomorrow and to foster a sustainable and innovative development SO5. To create new job opportunities for people with the necessary skills (soft and technical ones) SO6. To boost new business related to IS fulfilling the principles of the Circular Economy To carry out these objectives, Consortium will carry out the following activities: - An training path definition which encompasses a key study based on current knowledge, skills and qualifications regarding IS and a Joint Curriculum to define the necessary learning outcomes, methodology which cover previous identified gaps. - The creation of learning and training materials together with methods, pedagogical approaches and tools. - The implementation of a training and collaborative e-learning platform to ensure that all materials developed are certainly deployed by creation an open online course. - The definition of a blueprint and the deployment of its action plan for the transformation of VET programs towards IS. The project will carry out its own assessment, and a wide D&E Plan to spread its results among as many interested parties as possible. INSIGHT will also address transversal skills such as entrepreneurship, innovation and digital competences. In terms of long-term benefits, INSIGHT project will increase the labour market relevance of VET position and will reduce skills mismatches and shortages among the identified target groups (VET students, industry experts, workers, trade associations, research centres, etc.) Results will strengthen the duration and training path or workers, equipping them with all necessary competences and skills to develop a high-quality job in the target sectors defined. Therefore, by supporting lifelong learning and fostering a new educational initiative that will offer learners the possibility of enhancing their skills and acquire new knowledge that will broaden the talent pool and allow them to be better equipped to fabricate future CE business strategies. Consortium believes in the INSIGHT direct impact in our economy, society and environment because they majority of the circular solutions are not in the origin sector. [1] COM (2015) 614 final [2] Johnsen, I. et al. The potential of IS as a key driver of green growth in Nordic regions. Nordregio [3] [3]EEA Report No. 2/2016
With this project, the objective is to support the development of new industrial symbiosis in Europe, by offering the right set of knowledge and skills to the workforce so that they are empowered to facilitate and implement it. Our activities objectives were: 1.To design and develop a Joint Curriculum (JC) for developing and fostering the right skills for VET students; 2.To develop the training material and deliver this course on e-learning platform, under open licenses and freely available online 3.To develop a blueprint strategy and governance guidelines that recognize the need for facilitator profile and secure the involvement of local stakeholder with the adhesion of companies, administration, VET center, and other to the blueprint After the project end, our activities will continue to contribute to the following objectives: 4.To equip VET users and other target users with the right skills and knowledge about IS from today and tomorrow and to foster a sustainable and innovative development. 5. To create new job opportunities for people with the necessary skills (soft and technical ones) 6. Boost new business related to industrial symbiosis fulfilling the principles of the circular economy
Over Europe, Industrial Symbiosis (IS) is recognized as one strong path in the implementation of Circular Economy and an enabling factor to achieve green growth, focusing on keeping the added value in products for as long as possible and at the same time eliminating waste. IS is an innovative way to increase resource productivity and builds waste-as-ressource business model, with exchange of materials, by-products, energy and water. However, one of the major weaknesses in Europe lies in the ability to transfer the knowledge base into specific goods and services. First of all, part of the current productive business sector does not know about the advantages of IS, or when they do, they are incapable of implementing it. Stakeholders report a gap between the skills that are supplied by education institutions and the skills that are actually required by industry. The need for skilled workers to facilitate the implementation of IS was clearly identified thought the experience of the consortium partners as facilitators of IS. The project addresses a need for employee training, and not only as university cursus but as VET for higher technician.