The partners discussed the results of the first phase of the research and the next stages of the GREENFIT project during a project meeting in Naples on 17–18 September 2026.
The project meeting took place at the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Naples ‘Federico II’ in Naples and was opened by Valeria Costantino, the Rector’s representative for Erasmus programmes, and Marta Maciocia, Head of the Office for the Erasmus+ Programme and International Mobility. The participants summarised the progress made on the individual work packages.
Presentation of research findings and future plans
The first stage of the research work is now complete. The project team has prepared a literature review on the understanding of green competences in Poland, Turkey, Italy and Sweden. The common conclusion is that the problem for the green transition is no longer a lack of awareness of climate targets, but rather the difficulty in translating them into measurable actions at company level. In most SMEs, there are no specialised departments or individuals responsible for sustainable development, and tasks in this area fall to a small number of employees.
The most significant common gap appears to be the measurement of carbon footprints, energy and resource consumption, and the management of environmental data. However, awareness within companies varies. 56 per cent of Polish SMEs are familiar with the concept of a carbon footprint, 28 per cent with ESG, and just 19 per cent with the EU Taxonomy. As many as 80 per cent of Polish SMEs do not use renewable energy, whilst 11 per cent have a formal strategy for reducing their carbon footprint (Greenfit, 2026).
We also have the initial results of a survey of students. The survey, conducted between 13 May and 22 June 2026, involved 247 students (from UG, METU and UNINA). The results reveal a clear gap between general awareness and practical skills. Students have a fairly good understanding of industry’s impact on the climate, but 61 per cent report having no or limited knowledge of methods for calculating a carbon footprint, whilst 59 per cent report having no or limited knowledge of life cycle assessment (LCA).
More than half of those surveyed (51 per cent) believe that their current degree programme does not prepare them for the demands of the green industrial transition, whilst 71 per cent have so far taken no more than one module on sustainability issues. At the same time, half of the students (50 per cent) see technical green skills as an asset in the labour market.
Next on the agenda is a survey of business leaders and the key task of preparing content for the training modules (climate change and the circular economy), so that we can launch the training in the form of MOOCs in the next phase.
During the meeting in Naples, particular attention was paid to the further development of the so-called Sustainability Framework, a competency framework that will be used to identify skills gaps and will directly inform the content of the training modules. It is based on three interrelated dimensions. The first is technical competences: emissions accounting, life-cycle assessment, energy and resource efficiency, eco-design and digital environmental monitoring. The second is operational and managerial competences: knowledge of regulations, environmental indicators, sustainable procurement and supply chains, transition planning and change management. The third is a focus on sustainable development: systems thinking, collaboration and communication, and a willingness to engage in continuous learning.
The programme also included two thematic seminars. The first, led by Prof. Silvia Grandi from the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT), focused on sustainable finance and the financing of carbon-neutral investments. The second day began with a seminar by Prof. Erkan Erdil, an econometrician from the Middle East Technical University (METU), on digitalisation and digital skills in the context of the green transition.
Discussions also covered issues of project management, the dissemination of results, their sustainability, and the potential for utilising the project’s outcomes in the future. The substantive part of the meeting concluded with the planning of activities for the next six months and the finalisation of organisational details regarding the trainer training course, which is to take place in Stockholm next year.
The University of Gdańsk was represented in Naples by Dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, Professor at the University of Gdańsk and Director of the University’s Centre for Sustainable Development, and Dr Barbara Kijewska, Professor at the University of Gdańsk and project manager on behalf of the University.
About the GREENFIT project
GREENFIT is an international project funded under the ERASMUS+ programme, which aims to support the green transition of the industrial sector. The project focuses on developing employees’ practical skills in the areas of sustainable development and responsible environmental practices.
As part of the project, a multilingual e-learning platform and training modules will be developed, 12 experts will be trained, and 100 employees from 50 companies will take part in pilot schemes. Through face-to-face training, collaboration with industry and promotional activities, GREENFIT will support the implementation of green solutions in business and education across four countries: Poland, Turkey, Italy and Sweden.
The GREENFIT consortium comprises five partners. The project leader is Middle East Technical University, which is responsible for coordination and research work carried out mainly by the METU-TEKPOL unit, which deals with science and technology policy, analysis of the green transition, training design and evaluation. The Ankara Chamber of Industry contributes its expertise in implementing vocational training programmes and collaborating with businesses, ensuring that the project’s activities are aligned with industry needs, fostering stakeholder engagement and facilitating the transfer of results. The University of Gdańsk supports the project with its research facilities in the field of sustainable development, its experience in international projects, and its dissemination and sustainability-ensuring activities, carried out, amongst others, by the Centre for Sustainable Development. The Sustainability Collaborative contributes expertise in designing training programmes, facilitating change processes and applying practical tools for transformation. The Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II provides support in the management of educational projects and international cooperation, drawing on many years’ experience in Erasmus+ programmes.