The Green Transition in TVET: A Global Guide to Sustainable Skills Development
The global landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift. We are no longer merely discussing the necessity of environmental sustainability; we are actively navigating a transition that demands the complete reconfiguration of our economic, industrial, and educational systems. As we move toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient future, the demand for a workforce equipped not only with technical proficiency but with a profound commitment to sustainable practice has never been more urgent.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) stands at the epicenter of this transition. For decades, TVET has served as the primary engine for industrial growth, employability, and social mobility. Today, that engine must be recalibrated. This book, The Green Transition in TVET: A Global Guide to Sustainable Skills Development, is born from the recognition that traditional vocational training models, while successful in the past, are insufficient to meet the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century.
This guide is intended for the policymakers, institutional leaders, educators, and industry practitioners who carry the weight of this transformation. My journey in this field—as a TVET expert, employability master trainer, and researcher—has underscored one undeniable truth: greening is not an “add-on” or a peripheral project. It is a normative, systemic process that requires an institution-wide commitment. It is a continuous journey that challenges us to move beyond isolated environmental initiatives and toward embedding sustainability into the very “institutional DNA” of our training providers.
Throughout these pages, I have synthesized global best practices, research, and frameworks to provide a clear, actionable blueprint for institutional greening. We explore how to redesign competency standards to reflect new green realities, how to infuse sustainability into every corner of the curriculum, and how to harness the potential of the informal economy—the sector where the majority of the global workforce resides—to mitigate environmental harm.
We also address the psychological dimensions of this shift. Technical education is not just about the mechanics of a trade; it is about mindset. Educators are the catalysts who must facilitate the transition, helping learners move past traditional behavioral patterns to embrace the complex, interdisciplinary thinking required for a sustainable future.
The initiatives highlighted in these chapters—from the comprehensive sustainability frameworks in Canadian colleges to the integration of green technology training in the centers of excellence across Southern Africa and the innovative business incubation models in Bangladesh—serve as testaments to what is possible. They illustrate that whether one is working in a high-tech facility or a local community craft workshop, the principles of sustainability are universal, and the opportunity for innovation is limitless.
It is my sincere hope that this book provides not only the structural tools necessary for your institutional greening plan but also the inspiration to lead this charge. The transition to a green economy is the defining challenge of our generation. By empowering our youth and upskilling our existing workforce with the competencies for a sustainable future, we are doing more than just training workers—we are securing the future of our planet.
Khan Mohammad Mahmud Hasan
January 2026
