Green and Blue Schools

Scope

The Green & Blue Schools Training Course aims to equip teachers with the knowledge, skills, and tools to promote sustainability and environmental awareness within their school communities. The course focuses on integrating Green Skills (environmental awareness, resource efficiency, circular economy practices) and Blue Skills (ocean and water literacy, blue economy understanding) into educational practice.

It supports schools in transitioning toward environmentally responsible institutions by embedding sustainability into curricula, school culture, and community engagement.

The course provides both theoretical grounding and practical applications, guiding educators through the process of designing lesson plans, implementing participatory projects, and fostering collaboration with local communities and stakeholders.

ECVET points: 3.5

Target groups

This training course is designed for:

• Teachers and educators at all levels (primary, secondary, and vocational education) who wish to integrate sustainability principles into their teaching practices.
• School leaders and coordinators aiming to develop or enhance their institution’s environmental strategy.
• Education professionals interested in developing cross-curricular approaches to climate literacy and environmental citizenship.
• Representatives of educational authorities or local networks supporting sustainable education initiatives.

The course welcomes participants from diverse educational contexts across Europe to encourage exchange of good practices and promote a collaborative European vision for sustainability in education.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the concepts of Green and Blue Skills and their relevance to education for sustainable development (ESD).
• Recognize the European framework for green competences and explore methods to integrate it within their school curricula.
• Develop pedagogical strategies and lesson plans that foster environmental awareness, problem-solving, and active citizenship among students.
• Design and implement participatory activities and school initiatives (e.g., environmental competitions, local partnerships) promoting sustainability.
• Use digital tools for environmental self-assessment and reflection at both personal and institutional levels.
• Build networks and partnerships with local stakeholders, policymakers, SMEs, and peer schools to enhance the school’s sustainability transition.
• Apply feedback and reflection techniques to monitor and improve their school’s sustainability plan.
• Promote student engagement in sustainable practices through experiential and project-based learning.

Methodology

The training follows a blended, experiential, and participatory learning approach, combining theory, practice, and collaboration:

• Interactive lectures to introduce key concepts such as Green & Blue Skills, sustainability frameworks, and participatory design.
• Group activities and workshops encouraging peer collaboration, co-design of lesson plans, and school-based environmental initiatives.
• Participatory design sessions where participants co-create plans for networking and stakeholder engagement.
• Hands-on experimentation through project simulation (e.g., school competitions, community engagement plans).
• Use of digital tools for environmental self-assessment and monitoring progress toward sustainability goals.
• Reflection and feedback sessions (Hattie, Flashlight methods) to consolidate learning and enhance practice.
• Networking and exchange of good practices among educators from different national contexts to strengthen European collaboration.

This learner-centered methodology ensures that participants not only gain knowledge and practical tools, but also experience the mindset and collaborative spirit necessary to transform their schools into sustainable, future-oriented learning environments.

Cost

Tuition fee: 400 euro per person

The cost includes the learning material and the certificates: Certificate of completion, Europass Certificate Supplement, Europass Mobility.

The cost can be funded by Erasmus+ programme KA1 mobility of staff.

Cultural activities (optional)

Includes:

A walking tour of Piraeus and welcome dinner,

Indicative menu: Cretan salad, zucchini fritters, sausage, cretan grilled cheese, cretan meat balls, pork slow roasted in the oven with sauce and herbs, served with mashed potatoes flavoured with mushroom truffle, traditional cretan pasta, dessert, wine / raki

PRICE per person: 25 euros (beer or other drinks are not covered, except those mentioned above)

A guided tour of Athens, visit to Archaeological sites,

It includes: The Acropolis hill, Parthenon, the historical area of Plaka & Monastiraki: 3 hours guided tour
COST: 180€ divided to the number of participants. No transport costs or entrance ticket to Acropolis Hill are included.

A common dinner in Athens,

Indicative menu: Feta wrapped with honey and sesame, greek salad, black eyed peas, octopus, calamari, cod croquettes, chicken strips, burger patties, orzotto with vegetables, wine and refreshments

PRICE per person: 30 euros (beer or other drinks are not covered, except those mentioned above) 

The restaurants and menu may change depending on the availability and time of the year and the weather conditions.

The cost of local transportation and the entrance fees to sites and museums are not included.  

Training sessions 

Further information

Lila Anthopoulou, tel: +30 2104286227, e-mail: lila@idec.gr