The ForestWell project aimed to design and implement an innovative educational programme in forest wellbeing and sustainable tourism for VET teachers, learners, and entrepreneurs. The programme bridges the fields of forest therapy, wellness, sustainable tourism, and digital education, combining green and digital competences within a modern pedagogical model. The key objectives were to: Identify green and digital skills needed in the tourism and wellness sectors and develop a competence framework; Design a modular course with micro-credentials, a MOOC, teacher handbook, and AR learning environment; Pilot and validate the materials in five partner countries within VET and business contexts; Strengthen cooperation between education, industry, and local communities; Contribute to the green and digital transition in vocational education. ForestWell established a foundation for long-term use of its results, supporting innovation, employability, and quality improvement in the tourism and wellness sectors across Europe.
The ForestWell project was developed in response to the growing need to integrate nature, sustainability, and digital innovation into Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the fields of tourism, wellness, and wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of mental health and regenerative tourism, while revealing a lack of educational content combining environmental awareness, digital skills, and practical competences for green jobs. ForestWell addressed these needs by creating an innovative educational programme that connects forest wellbeing, sustainable tourism, and digital learning. Through the development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), an interactive Augmented Reality (AR) environment, and a collection of case studies, the project introduced modern learning approaches that strengthen green and digital competences among teachers, students, and entrepreneurs. The project filled a major gap in existing curricula, increased the attractiveness of VET education, and contributed to the development of sustainable tourism destinations. ForestWell has become a European model linking education, business, and the natural environment in support of the green and digital transition.