The construction sector faces new challenges in order to provide smart, energy efficient and sustainable lighting environments for infrastructure, cities, buildings and the industry, in order to follow the 2050 low-carbon economy roadmap of the EC. Current professional discourse on lighting design portrays different approaches to the profession depending on academic background. As such, a holistic approach to lighting design is not achieved, but rather confined and not addressing interdisciplinarity, a must-have skill of the 21st century. As such, there is an imminent and growing need of lighting design skills that bring together lighting design and smart technologies, as well as skills that take into account ecological and human-centric issues on lighting systems in the connected world that we live in. The creation of an Environmentally Conscious Smart Lighting (ECOSLIGHT) Designers training program will actively enhance employability and improve career prospects of lighting-related professionals. ECOSLIGHT will identify the competences required as well as particular job role profiles related to them, and will create modular VET curricula (EQF 5) based on the learning outcomes approach. Engaged professionals will be upskilled participating to a MOOC and to specialized professional development activities, including work-based learning and collaborating through communities of interest. The project will adopt EQF, ECVET and EQAVET in order to improve the recognition of the identified qualification, both in EU and national levels. ECOSLIGHT will build upon well-known and widely accepted EU frameworks, such as the e-CF, DigComp, EntreComp, and the framework for the 21st century skills. Overall, the project is expected to present a serious impact in raising the productivity and results of professionals working in the construction sector, and especially in the areas of exploitation of contemporary technologies, energy saving, and human well-being.
The objectives of ECOSLIGHT were (a) map existing and identified emerging skills needs of lighting professionals in France, Italy, Greece, Germany and beyond with special emphasis on the lighting, green, digital, entrepreneurship and life skills; (b) identify emerging Job Role profiles and develop four modular VET curricula; (c) implement human capital development interventions for the sector; (d) promote, disseminate and exploit project results at the national and European levels.
The ECOSLIGHT project aimed to address the need of bridging the gap between formal education, non-formal training, work-based learning and informal learning in the construction sector, and specifically the sub-sector related to lighting. The emergence of new job roles and associated skills has created an imminent need due to the proliferation of ICT technologies, as well as the need to respect and support environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship and human qualities.
<< Background >> The ECOSLIGHT project aimed to address the need of bridging the gap between formal education, non-formal training, work-based learning and informal learning in the construction sector, and specifically the sub-sector related to lighting. The emergence of new job roles and associated skills has created an imminent need due to the proliferation of ICT technologies, as well as the need to respect and support environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship and human qualities. << Objectives >> The objectives of ECOSLIGHT were (a) map existing and identified emerging skills needs of lighting professionals in France, Italy, Greece, Germany and beyond with special emphasis on the lighting, green, digital, entrepreneurship and life skills; (b) identify emerging Job Role profiles and develop four modular VET curricula; (c) implement human capital development interventions for the sector; (d) promote, disseminate and exploit project results at the national and European levels. << Implementation >> ECOSLIGHT identified seven emerging job role profiles and developed four VET curricula. These were delivered through a MOOC and four specialization courses (one for each curriculum) including blended and work-place learning. It exploited the DigComp 2.1, e-CF 3.0, LifeComp, EntreComp and other lighting and green frameworks. Extensive evaluation, dissemination, communication and quality assurance efforts accompanied the implementation, closing with the final conference. << Results >> ECOSLIGHT produced 34 deliverables, including 4 VET curricula accompanied with ECVET points and the subsequent handbooks, 51 competence modules, 1 MOOC, 4 specialization courses, more than 300 OERs, certificates and online badges, a book, a series of conferences in the project countries, and a final conference. It managed to engage around 900 trainees in the MOOC and around 80 in the specialization courses. Results were evaluated by a series of questionnaires and other activities.