WINd: A European Vocational Education and Training (VET) Framework for Reskilling Energy Workers into the Wind Energy Sector

This article reports the design, development, and implementation of the WINd project’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) framework for reskilling workers from unsustainable energy sectors into the wind energy industry. This reskilling process is the central focus of the article, set against two converging challenges: the rapid expansion of wind energy in the European Union, projected to require over 700,000 additional workers by 2030, and the parallel displacement of professionals from unsustainable energy sectors, such as Offshore Oil and Gas and conventional electricity generation, driven by decarbonization policies. The WINd project responds by developing a flexible, inclusive VET framework intended to upskill blue-collar workers into wind turbine technician roles. Grounded in skills-matching analyses, stakeholder consultations, and co-designed curricula, the framework comprises a curriculum aligned to European Qualifications Framework (EQF) levels 4–5, Open Educational Resources, a multilingual Massive Open Online Course, a step-by-step technical mobile application, a European blueprint for a micro-credentialing scheme, and an online career support platform. By detailing the rationale, methodology, and outputs underpinning this reskilling process, the article discusses how targeted upskilling initiatives of this kind have the potential to strengthen sectoral skills intelligence, support just transition policies, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the European wind energy workforce.