BACKGROUND & CHALLENGESThe adoption of energy efficiency measures for buildings creates a strong demand for digital and green skills for smart metering and home automation technologies. Electricians, apart from technical proficiency, require a combination of digital and environmental skills to respond to the installation, maintenance, and programming of smart metering and energy efficiency home automation systems. The energy efficiency skills needs of electricians are partially and sporadically supported by VET programs and apprenticeships; relevant VET provision is insufficient in quality and quantity, fragmented and infrequent, not adequately addressing the needs of electricians in smart metering and home automation. OBJECTIVESSMARTEL aims to tackle this challenge by delivering a modular VET course and OERs on smart metering and home automation to empower electricians across the member countries of the consortium with modern digital and environmental knowledge, skills and competences. In particular, project objectives are to: 1. Enhance the labour market relevance of VET for electricians, to address smart metering and home automation skill needs.2. Introduce modern training delivery methods and open access innovative pedagogical resources, enabling learners to acquire and self-assess relevant skills.3. Facilitate mutual recognition of the developed learning outcomes across the EU.THE SMARTEL PARTNERSHIPThe partnership comprises 6 organisations from 5 countries, from the world of VET, the electrical installation sector, energy efficiency research, as well as learning innovation experts. The Panevezys College (PANKO), VSRC and XABEC bring the expertise in the design and delivery of engineering and electricians VET programs and courses; the European Association of Electrical Contractors (AIE) represents the needs and workplace realities of the electrical sector at EU-level; EXELIA is an expert in R&D and delivery of innovative ICT-based methodologies for VET and Sofia Energy Agency (SOFENA) brings experience from the area of energy efficiency.ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY- Analysis of current and future workforce training needs to develop updated and tailored to sectoral needs, modern smart metering and home automation learning outcomes.- Development of modular learning units for a comprehensive VET programme in smart metering and home automation. - Development of pedagogical resources and assessment tools to be offered as Open Education Resources.- Development, testing, and delivery of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on smart metering and home automation, promoting the adoption of innovative practices in vocational training.- Involvement of authorities and stakeholders for the endorsement and mutual recognition of SMARTEL units of learning outcomes.- Sharing and validation of outputs with multiplier events, inviting target groups to uptake SMARTEL results and to act as further disseminators.RESULTS & IMPACTThe SMARTEL project is expected to have the following results and impact: - VET world and sector validated learning outcomes for training provision in smart metering and home automation technologies for electricians in the building installation sector (to reach 250 VET providers).- Formal VET learning units on smart metering and home automation and VET integration guidelines (to reach 250 VET providers).- Pedagogical resources and assessment tools for smart metering and home automation technologies, offered as OERs (to reach 11000 learners and 250 VET providers). - SMARTEL Massive Open Online Course on smart metering and home automation for electricians (200 learners).- A signed agreement on the validation, endorsement, and mutual recognition of the SMARTEL 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 and skill development policies (40 stakeholders reached).- Two demonstration workshops and three national information days to promote project results and validate all developed educational resources (affecting 440 participants).POST-PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY- Uptake of project materials and open educational resources 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 electrical enterprises, in-house training centres, and large VET providers.- Further maturing and development of national and European VET policies targeted to the construction sector influenced by SMARTEL recommendations paper.