BACKGROUND & CHALLENGESThe introduction of energy efficiency measures designed to reduce resources consumption and greenhouse emissions is pulling the adoption of environmental technologies & services in the building sector. Facility managers, apart from technical & management proficiency, require a mix of digital & environmental skills to respond to the use of energy efficiency technologies systems and support carbon emission reduction practices in buildings. However, the environmental sustainability skills needs of facility managers are only partially and sporadically supported by VET programs & apprenticeships; relevant VET provision is insufficient in quality and quantity, fragmented and infrequent, not adequately addressing facility managers’ needs in environmental technologies systems for sustainable building services.OBJECTIVESDEFMA aims to tackle this challenge by delivering a modular VET course and OERs on environmental technologies & sustainable building services to empower facility managers across the EU with modern digital and environmental knowledge, skills and competences. Project objectives are to: 1) Enhance the labour market relevance of VET for facility managers to address digital and environmental needs.2) Introduce modern training delivery methods and innovative open access pedagogical resources, enabling learners to acquire and self-assess digital & environmental skills.3) Facilitate mutual recognition of the developed learning outcomes across the EU. THE DEFMA PARTNERSHIPThe partnership comprises 6 organisations from 5 countries, from the world of VET, the Facility Management segment, energy efficiency research, as well as learning innovation experts. The South West College (SWC) leads the research in innovative technologies for the building construction sector and has strong expertise in the design of energy efficiency courses. The National School of Services (SNS) and the Vilnius Building Training Centre (VSRC) bring the expertise in the design & delivery of VET programs across a broad spectrum of Facility Management services. The Bulgarian Facility Management Association (BGFMA) has solid understanding of occupational needs and workplace realities. PROMEA is an expert in R&D and delivery of innovative ICT-based methodologies and Summit Skills, a standard setting organisation, works with the wider building sector to develop standards and qualifications. ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY- Analysis of current and future workforce training needs to develop updated and tailored to occupational needs, modern environmental technologies and services learning outcomes.- Development of modular learning units for a comprehensive VET programme in environmental technologies and sustainable building services.- Development of pedagogical resources and assessment tools to be offered as Open Education Resources.- Development, testing, and delivery of a Massive Open Online Course on environmental technologies and services, promoting the adoption of innovative practices in VET.- Involvement of key policy makers & stakeholders for the endorsement and mutual recognition of DEFMA units of learning outcomes.- Sharing and validation of outputs with multiplier events, inviting target groups to uptake DEFMA results and to act as further disseminators.RESULTS & IMPACTThe DEFMA project is expected to have the following results and impact: - VET world and occupation validated learning outcomes for training provision in environmental technologies & sustainable building services for facility managers (to reach 200 VET providers).- Formal VET learning units and VET integration guidelines (to reach 200 VET providers).- Pedagogical resources and assessment tools for environmental technologies & services, offered as OERs (to reach 6000 learners & 200 VET providers). - DEFMA Massive Open Online Course on environmental technologies and sustainable building services for facility managers (200 learners).- A signed agreement on the validation, endorsement & mutual recognition of the DEFMA units of learning outcomes (60 stakeholders involved in the process). - A sectoral recommendations paper to support decision-making and pave the way for future developments in VET policies (40 stakeholders reached).- Two demonstration workshops and three national infodays to promote project results and validate all developed materials (impacting 440 participants).POST-PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY- Uptake of project materials and OERs from relevant VET providers across the EU.- Participation of a growing number of initial and continuous VET learners in courses based on project outputs.- Expansion of the strategic partnership towards a network of collaborating VET and sector stakeholders, including in-house training centres & large VET providers.- Further maturing & development of national and EU VET policies targeted to the occupation influenced by DEFMA recommendations.- Cross-border certification of skills acquired.