European Multi-level Skills offensive

PROF/TRAC, a Horizon 2020 initiative bringing together 15 partners from eight EU countries with the aim to develop a European training and qualification scheme for technical experts, architects, engineers and building managers involved in nZEB design, construction and maintenance. The project will conclude with the final event organized by Housing Europe on 20 February in Brussels. 

The link between the energy transition and the need to boost skills is clear. The revision to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and ongoing negotiations on the Energy Efficiency Directive, will ensure that EU legislation adapts to current and future needs. The promise of high quality jobs, life-long learning and better quality of life in our homes, cities and neighbourhoods will be central in gaining political support for this transition. The final PROF/TRAC conference will give vital pointers and concrete examples on how EU can help deliver this support, through improved skills.

The PROF/TRAC project, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation, has identified the skill gaps among professionals, technical experts, architects and building managers involved in the design and construction of Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB). PROF/TRAC has been addressing this gap with specially designed training courses and an open source repository of training material. This final event will address gaps of awareness, skills and confidence within the construction supply chain, but also within our administrations and among our citizens. This problem slows the demand for building renovation across Europe. The conference will discuss strategies to address these gaps with a focus on initiatives such as European Structural and Investment Funds and the skills Agenda, now in the post-2020 programming period, which is under preparation.

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Agenda

Moderated by Ms. Yamina Saheb, senior energy policy analyst, OpenExp

9:00 – 9:30: Registration

9:30 – 9:45 Opening: Skills and the fair energy transition in the housing sector

- Sorcha Edwards, Secretary-General, Housing Europe

9:45 - The importance of innovation in skills and processes

• Horizon 2020 support for improved skills and processes in the buildings sector, M. Philippe Moseley, EASME
• The role of innovation in skills and processes for the reduction of cost of renovation, Yamina Saheb, Senior Energy Policy Analyst, OpenExp
• The role of quality control to create trust in the renovation supply chain, Peter Wouters, Belgian Building Research Institute

10:30 - Coffee break

11:00 - How to improve skills for NZEB?

• The PROF/TRAC qualification scheme | Peter Op ‘t Veld
• The EU Blueprint for sectorial cooperation on skills | Roman Horvath, European Commission
• Example of cooperation between social housing providers and training bodies | Paul Sachot, Est-Metropole Habitat

Q&A session

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12:30 - Lunch

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14:00 | Roundtable: what skills will be needed for the construction and renovation of affordable homes in the next decade? What role for ICT?

• Ingrid Vogler, GdW Housing Germany and Vice-Chair of Housing Europe Working Committee on Energy, Construction & Standardization
• Domenico Campogrande, Director for Social Affairs, FIEC
• Sebastien Garnier, Housing Europe Project Manager
• Carolina Mateo, Instituto Valenciano de la Edificación | IVE
• Elin Sjostrand,  Head of Riksbyggen construction of new homes in the East region of Sweden  

15:30 - Coffee break

16:00 - The role of the EU in boosting skills for a fair energy transition

Introduction: Herman Jult, Architect B2AI, Kortrijk: the story of Eco-life Venning

Discussion with

• Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Member of the European Parliament (tbc) 
• Adrian Joyce, Director, EuroACE
• Bert Wijbenga van Nieuwenhuizen, Chairman, Woonbron and Chair of the Housing Europe Working Committee on Energy, Construction and Standardization

17:00 – Conclusion of the workshop