The NEB Academy will accelerate up-skilling and re-skilling in the construction ecosystem to support the transition from an extractive, mineral-based and fossil hydrocarbon-fuelled construction economy to a regenerative bio-economy and circular system of material reuse.
In line with the integrated approach of the New European Bauhaus, the NEB Academy embraces a systemic thinking around sustainable construction, looking at all the phases and links in the sector’s value chain. Identified knowledge gaps in the use of bio-based materials, digital technologies, and increased circularity in construction offer the first focus areas.
To promote inter-regional exchange of skills and best practices, the NEB Academy will:
- Encourage the creation of NEB Academy Pioneer Hubs
As a first step to the creation of the NEB Academy, and in order to foster the bottom-up approach of the New European Bauhaus, the European Commission will provide a framework for interested NEB Partners that already carry out skilling and upskilling activities, to establish NEB Academy Pioneer Hubs. These are established notably to provide learning activities with the purpose of advancing the overall objective of the NEB Academy to upskill and reskill workers in the construction ecosystem in the next five years, in line with the ambition of the European Green Deal, the European Climate Law, and the Renovation Wave strategy.
The NEB Academy Pioneer Hubs will represent a first level of commitment to the NEB Academy. The creation of a NEB Academy Pioneer Hub is a self-committing action that does not entail financial support on behalf of the EU budget.
- Create a Network of NEB Academy Hubs
The European Commission will support the creation of a NEB Academy Hub network. The NEB Academy Hubs will be selected based on objective criteria. This procedure will be put in place in the coming months. The Network of the NEB Academy Hubs will benefit from financial support from the EU budget, as a stronger commitment will be requested from them.
Established NEB Academy Pioneer Hubs may apply to the status of NEB Academy Hub, once the procedure is in place.
- A NEB Academy Collaborative Platform
An online platform, designed in cooperation with DigiNEB.eu, will make training materials easily accessible, and eventually offer courses in real-time.
Contribute to the NEB Academy
True to its bottom-up approach, the New European Bauhaus calls on members of the NEB Community, as well as other European stakeholders working at the forefront of sustainable construction, to take together the first steps of the NEB Academy.
How to contribute in the next months?
We have received more than 50 expressions of interest in contributing to the NEB Academy. The proposals to share learning materials, host courses, or organise NEB Academy workshops/summer schools are currently under review.
The call called on education and training providers (e.g., universities, professional chambers, VET centres) to propose a concept for a NEB Academy Hub, a Summer NEB Academy, or other relevant activities. The selected project will receive up to EUR 1 million at 90% co-funding rate.
The call was for consortia of education and training providers with expertise in sustainable construction to support the establishment of the NEB Academy network.
The New European Bauhaus initiative is driven by the strong engagement of its community. NEB Partners—either existing education structures or newly formed consortia—that have taken early steps and wish to invest further in NEB Academy actions can now establish NEB Academy Pioneer Hubs.
Interested NEB Partners are invited to register their activity by signing the NEB Academy Pioneer Hubs Charter. NEB Academy Pioneer Hubs must commit to support, through their pilot actions, the objectives and ambitions of the NEB Academy. Registering as NEB Pioneer Hub is a self-committing action that does not entail financial support on behalf of the EU budget. The NEB Academy Pioneer Hubs are only the first step in setting up the NEB Academy structure, consistent with the New European Bauhaus bottom-up approach. More steps are to follow during this European Year of Skills.