Advancing Skills for a Circular Water Economy: Insights from the CIRSEAU Workshop

The UNESCO Chair for Green Innovation and Circular Economy co-organised the educational workshop “Skills for a Circular Water Economy: Co-Designing How We Learn”, in collaboration with TU Delft, Prof. Dimitris Xevgenos, and the NTUA team within the framework of the CIRSEAU project.

The workshop convened participants from academia, public administration, and the water sector to explore how education and training can more effectively support Greece’s transition toward a circular water economy. Drawing on Dutch best practices and experiences, discussions centred on how learning pathways can be adapted to local conditions — addressing the needs of water utilities (DEYA), young water professionals, and stakeholders seeking to enhance innovation and promote lifelong learning.

A key message emerging from the event was the importance of engaging the Association of DEYA, major utilities, and local authorities in the next phase of work. Their insights will be essential for refining training needs and co-developing targeted educational programmes with real impact.

The workshop was opened by our UNESCO Chairoholder Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis alongside with Dr. Olga Kafetzopoulou, General Secretary for Vocational Education, Training and Lifelong Learning, whose contribution underscored the value of aligning skills development with national strategies and sectoral priorities.

Prof. Dimitris Xevgenos (TU Delft) followed with a presentation placing the workshop in the context of the EU skills agenda and CIRSEAU’s long-term vision. He pointed out the significant gap in adult education participation between the Netherlands (45.3%) and Greece (8.4%), reinforcing the urgency of targeted upskilling.

Valuable inputs from partners of the WaterWise Hub further enriched the dialogue, offering practical perspectives that will inform the design of future actions under CIRSEAU.

This initiative represents a significant step toward co-creating context-specific programmes that enhance skills, resilience, and circularity in the water sector, advancing CIRSEAU’s vision to bridge European and local efforts for a skilled and sustainable water workforce.