M. Strenitzerova, T. Corejova
The development of green&digital skills (so-called twin skills) represents a key challenge for higher education, as more than three-quarters of companies in the EU report a shortage of qualified professionals in this area. Although the emphasis on sustainability and environmental topics has increased in recent years, the integration of these aspects into higher education is still in progress. Therefore, the development of green&digital skills should be a priority for universities. The level of green&digital skills among university students in Slovakia is average and varies depending on the study programme and individual experience. Their development requires a well-thought-out approach that combines modern technologies, an interdisciplinary perspective, and collaboration with practice. The paper aims to examine initiatives that contribute to the development of these skills at a selected university of technology in Slovakia. To assess the level of engagement of selected university in the development of green&digital skills, it is essential to collect data on educational processes, scientific research activities, and other initiatives related to the twin transition. A mixed-method approach was applied, combining the analysis of study programmes, scientific projects, accreditation documents with semi-structured interviews with students, and their subsequent synthesis. The university actively supports the development of green&digital skills through various study programmes, subjects, projects, and cooperation with domestic and international partners. The analysis of selected study programs reveals that 27.1–36.2% of subjects contribute to the development of students' digital skills, while only 7.3–8.5% contribute to the development of green skills. A similar trend is observed in projects carried out at the department, where 25% of projects support digital skills, but only 7.1% of projects contribute to green skills. Looking ahead, 21.4% of newly proposed projects focus on environmental aspects. The key to success lies in practical teaching in specialized classrooms and laboratories, involving students in real-world projects through semester and final thesis work, and utilizing modern technologies to achieve sustainable and technologically advanced education. The findings suggest that targeted university initiatives contribute to preparing graduates for the challenges of twin transition.
Keywords: Green&digital, digital skills, Twin transition, Higher education, Digitalisation, Sustainability, Circular economy.