The transition to a green economy necessitates a workforce equipped with sustainability skills. This is particularly crucial in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, as future professionals must be prepared to contribute to environmental protection and climate change mitigation. However, integrating green skills into VET curricula remains challenging, particularly in Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, and Turkey. Despite growing awareness of sustainability, gaps persist in educators’ competencies and the availability of structured, green-oriented curricula.

Addressing these challenges ensures that VET education aligns with evolving labour market needs and global environmental objectives (Cedefop, 2020; ETF, 2021; UNESCO-UNEVOC, 2022).

In response to these needs, GreenTeach, an Erasmus+ KA220-VET project (2024–2026), was launched to enhance sustainability-focused education in VET institutions. The project is led by Burgas Free University (Bulgaria) in collaboration with ITS Arturo Bianchini (Italy), EU-Track (Italy), Istanbul Atatürk Fen Lisesi (Turkey), Liceul Teoretic "Ion Luca" (Romania), and the Professional High School of Mechatronics and Electronics (Bulgaria). GreenTeach aims to empower VET educators with innovative green teaching methodologies and digital learning tools to bridge the existing skills gap.

In this context, this paper discusses how GreenTeach seeks to enhance green competencies among VET educators through modern pedagogical approaches and digital solutions. The current state of green education in VET was analysed from a needs assessment to identify competency gaps among educators. Based on the collected data, a comprehensive competency framework for green education tailored to the specific challenges in participating countries was developed.

The expected outcomes include a report on integrating green skills in VET curricula and a study on environmental protection and the green economy, emphasising educators' evolving role. Additionally, the project will produce a validated competency framework for green education in VET, the GreenTeach curriculum, an e-learning platform, and a catalogue of online courses. (UNESCO, 2023).

Therefore, by integrating sustainability into VET through innovative teaching methodologies, GreenTeach will strengthen the capacity of educators to train future professionals in green competencies. Its impact will be extended beyond the participating institutions, serving as a model for sustainable VET education across Europe. Through its collaborative approach, GreenTeach aspires to drive systemic change, ensuring that vocational training aligns with the demands of a greener, more sustainable economy.

This paper's insights highlight the project’s significance and potential to reshape vocational education by embedding sustainability as a core component of professional training.

Keywords: Education, Green skills, New curriculum.