Estonia: investing in green and digital reskilling and upskilling

State-commissioned free-of-charge courses for adults, focused on the development of digital skills will continue in 2024, offering both basic digital skills courses and more specific training in areas such as digital solutions for industrial automation, digital marketing, multimedia, and 3D modelling.

Through the Recovery and Resilience Fund, EUR 11 million have been reserved for the green and digital transitions. Another EUR 9 million have been allocated to advance knowledge and skills in the production, engineering, technology, and IT sectors. In 2023, provisions were approved to support businesses in their green transition. This initiative involves developing new green-skills-oriented microcredential programmes in fields such as transportation, energy, agriculture, food processing, construction, chemical technology, materials processing, environmental sciences, and waste management.

The Ida-Virumaa region, which has traditionally relied on shale energy, is getting targeted support of EUR 4.8 million from the Just Transition Fund. This fund is designed to enhance the skills of the region's working-age population, aiding their move towards a climate-neutral economy. The shift in the shale sector takes guidance from green skills forecasts, which are based on suggestions from local businesses and development organisations. The initiative's steering committee offers advice on the higher education and VET programmes that should be developed. Cooperation between VET and higher education institutions is encouraged. A part of this initiative is aligned with the focus areas of the national R&D, innovation, and entrepreneurship development plan for 2021-35. These areas include digital solutions, valorisation of local resources, and smart and sustainable energy solutions.