In March 2026, partners of the REPOWER REGIONS project gathered in Stavanger, Norway, for the project’s third Transnational Partner Meeting, kindly hosted by Fagskolen Rogaland.
Over two productive and inspiring days, representatives from vocational education and training, higher education, research, public authorities, and industry came together to review progress, strengthen cooperation, and shape the next phase of work supporting Europe’s heating and cooling transition.
The meeting provided an important opportunity to advance collaboration across the partnership while also highlighting the strong regional ecosystem in Rogaland, where education providers, municipalities, and industry actors work closely together to support innovation, workforce upskilling, and the green transition.
A key focus of the meeting was progress across the project’s main work packages, including curricula development, training resources, communication, evaluation, and long-term sustainability. Partners reviewed achievements to date and aligned on the next steps to ensure that the learning materials being developed through REPOWER REGIONS remain responsive to regional labour market needs and evolving technological developments in the heating and cooling sector.
These discussions reinforced one of the project’s central ambitions: to bridge European policy objectives with practical, regionally relevant skills development, ensuring that education and training systems can respond effectively to the fast-changing demands of the clean energy transition.
A strong emphasis throughout the meeting was placed on regional collaboration, a core principle of REPOWER REGIONS. Exchanges between partners highlighted how local alliances between training providers, municipalities, public bodies, and industry can accelerate the development of the green and digital skills needed to meet Europe’s climate and energy goals.
As part of the programme, partners took part in a study visit to the IVAR waste facility, which serves more than 300,000 residents in the Stavanger region. The visit provided valuable insight into sustainable infrastructure, waste management systems, and circular economy practices, offering a concrete example of how technical innovation, regional planning, and workforce skills intersect in practice.
The meeting also included an opportunity to experience Stavanger’s cultural landscape, with a visit to Sverd i fjell at Hafrsfjord. As a symbol of unity and lasting peace, the monument offered a fitting reflection of the collaborative spirit that underpins the REPOWER REGIONS partnership.
As the project now moves into its next phase, partners remain focused on developing high-quality curricula, innovative training resources, and stronger regional alliances that will support a fast, fair, and skills-driven energy transition across Europe. The consortium extends its sincere thanks to Fagskolen Rogaland for hosting the meeting and to all partners for their active engagement and continued commitment to equipping Europe’s workforce with the green and digital skills needed for the future.
