The overall aim of the project was to minimize man-made pollution in the environment due to acute shortages of labours in the water management sector. Therefore, an acute national problem of Latvia and Estonia – the lack of professional and competent young professionals in the water sector – was tried to be solved within the project. Thus, reducing the risks associated with the provision of inadequate water supply and sewage treatment services, which often adversely affects the environment. By implementing the project the competence of trainers and managers of vocational education institutions in the field of environmental sustainability and water sector was developed; vocational education opportunities, considering the requirements and needs of the environment and water sector was improved; a basis for the creation and development of a transnational network between Latvian and Estonian water sector and vocational education sector representatives was created; as well as a promotional material for the water sector was made.
Now Latvia and Estonia are experiencing an acute shortage of teaching and professional young professionals in the water sector. The release of untreated wastewater into the environment, inadequately collected wastewater, the preparation and supply on inappropriate drinking water are only some of the potential problems that may occur due to insufficient and inadequate labour. In Estonia and Latvia, new specialists with the competence of which is necessary to ensure production of drinking water and technological processes of wastewater treatment are not currently being prepared in vocational education institutions. Moreover, the average age of people in the water sector is well above 50 years. Therefore, it was planned to develop and improve the trainers and managers competencies and skills under the water sector and environment sustainability topic; to promote the cooperation on regional and international level between water sector companies and vocational education institutions; to provide an opportunity to increase public awareness of environmental and water sector issues in general, as well as to promote the water management industry to potential professionals/students.