Closing the Gaps Between HE and the Green Economy

Higher Education Institutions (HEI) have an important role in the transition towards carbon neutrality and the green economy. HEI will be able to help achieve the goals of the UN SDGs and the European Green Deal (EUA, 2021; UNESCO, 2021). Promoting green skills in higher education will help graduates boost their chances of employment since there is a need for skilled individuals for the new green industry to promote a green economy and sustainable development (Sern et al., 2018). The green economy is not clearly understood and practised within HEI. Students understand that the curriculum is not developed according to the green economy since it does not provide room for green technologies and the development of green skills. There is a great demand to alter the HE curriculum for the graduates to have the appropriate green skills and competencies and be ready for the changing labour market (Otieno, 2021). According to experts, green jobs require workers from all educational levels. (Cedefop, 2018). The correct training complemented with green skills can make all graduates competent for the green jobs available. Adapting green skills within the HE curricula will help students understand the importance of environmental degradation and climate change and will thus be better prepared for the new green economy (UNEP 2016). In order to develop these skills, it is important to involve technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) technology (WEF, 2021). AR technology is considered one of the most efficient ways for HE to suggest the introduction of green skills and competencies within all disciplines. The combination of the digital and real worlds allows HE to prepare for the green economy in a playful and visible way (Cabero-Almenara et al., 2019; Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, 2017). An e-Toolkit and Green HE Strategy will be developed to help build the capacity of HE educators to implement activities on the green economy to improve their green competences and prepare and implement a Green Higher Education Action Plan. Mobile Augmented Reality Games and Digital Escape Rooms will be developed, aiming at the infusion of alternative strategies and methodologies for developing a broad set of knowledge and skills to sufficiently support HEI students to develop the new skills and competencies required by the green economy in the changing labour market.