CATALYST Event in Vienna Highlights Sustainable Practices in VET

On January 24, 2024, the Austrian National Event, organised by BEST Institut für berufsbezogene Weiterbildung und Personaltraining GmbH (www.best.at), took place in Vienna. This significant gathering aimed to bolster the EU-funded CATALYST project and sustainably anchor the Austrian CATALYST Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE).

The event, attended by over 30 prominent stakeholders from the Austrian and European VET sectors, featured an engaging introduction followed by a lively round-table discussion. Key attendees included the President of Caritas Austria and Caritas Europe, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, and the Austrian Data Protection Authority, among others.

The opening presentation by Helmut Kronika (BEST) provided insights into the CATALYST project, highlighting its objectives, expected outcomes, and the framework of the Austrian CoVE. This set the stage for an in-depth round-table discussion moderated by Dr. Christian Lang, marketing specialist, focusing on the multifaceted concept of sustainability.

Key discussion points included:

• Historical and Conceptual Understanding of Sustainability: Exploring the term's evolution and its relevance today.
• Social Dimension: Addressing societal responsibility and the role of SMEs in fostering sustainable practices.
• Economic Dimension: Debating distributive justice and the role of innovative technologies in driving social and environmental policies.
• Ecological Dimension: Evaluating strategies for sustainable development such as sufficiency, efficiency, and consistency, and the perspectives of business and VET representatives.

The consensus among participants emphasised the necessity of integrating sustainability into educational offerings to effectively anchor the Austrian CATALYST CoVE. The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with over 90% of participants rating the venue, setting, and content as "very satisfied." Networking opportunities and interaction were rated even higher, with a 98% satisfaction rate.
Participants lauded the CATALYST project for its innovative approach and multidisciplinary reach, underscoring the importance of sustainability in contemporary society. They expressed keen interest in following the project's next steps and emphasised the need for continued collaboration among diverse stakeholders to achieve a green transition and sustainable business transformation.