ENNEPlus: empowering VET providers to lead the digital-green transition through challenge-based innovation

Author: Bianca Bisiach, European Grants International Academy Srl 

The ENNEPlus project is bringing fresh energy into Europe’s digital and green transition by empowering vocational education and training (VET) providers to take a leading role in sustainable innovation. Supported by a consortium of 10 partners from across the EU, the three-year Erasmus+ initiative introduces the Eco-Digithon, a challenge-based experience that stems from the Social Hackademy methodology, developed in the last decade by Altheo Valentini at the European Grants International Academy (EGInA).
Based on  co-creation, inclusion and sustainability, the ENNEPlus’ Eco-Digithon unites students, teachers, local stakeholders, and experts to co-create, design and prototype digital and technological solutions for environmental and societal challenges.

This hands-on approach support VET centres to turn into innovation hubs, effectively aligned with the mission of the Digital 4 Sustainability community: valorising digital transformation as a driver for sustainability and community empowerment.
Beyond the Eco-Digithon itself, the ENNEPlus project strengthens long-term capacity through social incubation, Erasmus+ training for VET staff, and European job-shadowing opportunities. Together, these activities help VET providers build networks, exchange best practices, and implement sustainable, future-oriented solutions in their local contexts.
By connecting education, digitalisation, and sustainability, ENNEPlus offers a powerful model that resonates with the need of skills for Europe’s green transition, where digital innovation becomes a catalyst for sustainable and more inclusive societies across Europe.
Therefore, it is all about ecosystem building, where the interconnected actors and processes, both vocated to the osmosis between digital transformation and green transition, foster grass-rooted, community based and multidisciplinary experiences.

Within such context, the EnnePlus project has developed a set of innovative Learning Scenarios designed to integrate sustainability principles with digital creativity and problem-solving competences. These scenarios explore several key twin transition matters and environmental themes, such as circular economy, energy efficiency, biodiversity protection, sustainable mobility, community well-being, and responsible use of technology, while prompting students to analyse real-world issues through inquiry, collaboration, and Design Thinking practices. Each scenario acts as a structured learning pathway that guides youth to investigate real issues, reflect on their implications, and consider possible tech or digital supported responses . It is precisely from these scenarios that the Eco-Digithon challenges emerge: concrete problem statements inspired by authentic community needs, inviting students to co-design eco-innovative digital projects.

Hence, by integrating digital skills, eco-awareness, and collaborative design approaches, the EnnePlus project demonstrate how students can move from ideas to impactful solutions when supported by engaged educators, practitioners, and experts.

In this spirit, we are excited to launch the Open Call for Mentors for the second Eco-Digithon—an opportunity to actively contribute to this shared vision.
If you care about the environment and want to inspire young people in co-designing eco-innovative projects, we invite you to join us and mentor international teams of students as they prototype digital, tech, and green solutions.

Have a look, apply now!