Why Green Skills Alone Are No Longer Enough: The Rise of Micro-Credentials for Sustainability Professionals The green transition is no longer a future ambition. It is reshaping industries, redefining job roles, and changing what employers expect from professionals across Europe. But while the demand for sustainability expertise is growing rapidly, traditional education alone can no longer keep pace. Today, organisations are not simply looking for employees who understand sustainability in theory. They need professionals who can apply sustainability principles in real business environments, interpret new regulations, support ESG strategies, implement circular economy practices and drive organisational change. This is where micro-credentials are emerging as one of the most important innovations in vocational education and...
Why Green Skills Alone Are No Longer Enough: The Rise of Micro-Credentials for Sustainability Professionals
Greenlab International Congress 2026
Vocational Education at the Crossroads of Green Transition, Innovation Ecosystems and Micro-Credential Transformation Tuula Pohjola D.Sc. (Tech), CRnet Ltd Jouni Hytönen, M.Sc. (Econ.), Helsinki Business College Abstract The Greenlab International Congress 2026 provided a significant European platform for discussing the future role of vocational education and training (VET) in supporting the green transition, sustainability management, and innovation ecosystem development. This article integrates findings from the Greenlab project’s cross-country applied research and the SME sustainability research presented by Vastuu Group. The findings reveal strong convergence between the two studies, highlighting rapidly growing sustainability competence needs, practical implementation barriers among SMEs, and...
GREENLAB International Congress “New VET Opportunities for Future-Oriented Managers & Consultants”
The agenda for the GREENLAB International Congress, titled “New VET Opportunities for Future-Oriented Managers & Consultants”, is now available. The congress, taking place on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, will bring together professionals, educators, policymakers and stakeholders to explore how Vocational Education and Training (VET) can better support the development of green skills and sustainable leadership. The programme includes keynote presentations, expert discussions and interactive sessions focusing on: the role of micro-credentials in sustainability education innovative and flexible training pathways the development of skills for managers and consultants navigating the green transition Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with...