NEEDS AND CONTEXT The improvement of energy efficiency of buildings creates a strong growth in the demand for "green" water technologies. "Green" skills are in shortage among water technicians, requiring digital competences, literacy on device embedded software and technical skills combined with environmental knowledge. Modern water technicians should possess customer consultation "soft" skills promoting environmental sustainability and cost effectiveness. Training in new water efficiency technologies skills is necessary to enable water companies, construction companies, employers and employees in the water industry to respond to the modern sector challenges, improving employability and mobility within the EU. PROJECT OBJECTIVES The AQUAVET project forms a Strategic Partnership to promote long term cooperation of sectoral stakeholders connecting the world of employment and the world of VET providers with main objectives to: Obj1: Provide a validated curriculum on the mastery of water efficiency technologies for water technicians. Obj2: Re-skill and up-skill water technicians on "green" skills with open access innovative instructional resources and model on-line training. Obj3: Develop pedagogical resources and guidelines for VET providers to address current and emerging water efficiency technologies training needs. Obj4: Contribute to the implementation of EU policies on mobility and transparency in qualifications within the water technicians sector. PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS The Strategic Partnership consists of 5 partners from 4 countries (GR, UK, ES, NL): P1. Hellenic Society for the Promotion of Research & Development Methodologies (PROMEA, GR) is an entity with experience in the development of new technologies for pedagogical purposes and in the coordination of EU co-funded research and cooperation. P2. The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies (NSAET, UK) coordinates a wide national network of training providers that deliver accredited training and qualifications in low carbon & renewable energy within the built environment. P3. The Spanish Association of Plumbing, Gas, Heating and Air Conditioning Constructors (CONAIF, ES) is a non-profit association that represents 90% of the Spanish Plumbing Enterprises. P4. Wateropleidingen (WWA, NL) is the leading VET institution in the Netherlands specialised in water technicians' training needs. P5. The National Institute of Labour and Human Resources (NILHR, GR) is the main public body advising the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Welfare on national human resources' policies and actions. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS The project consists of 5 intellectual outputs, 7 multiplier events (3 training pilots, 4 infodays) and 2 train-the-trainer seminars-L/T/T activities). The main project's results will be: 1. Recommendations and specifications on how to respond to the modern training needs of water technicians on water efficiency technologies. 2. A validated vocational training course on the 'mastery of new water efficiency technologies compiling learning outcomes and learning units regarding "hard" and "soft" skills. 3. Instructional/pedagogical resources and assessment tools for water efficiency technologies VET. 4. Validated open educational resources (AQUAVET MOOC) on "green" water efficiency technologies. 5. Memorandum of Understanding, endorsed by key sector representatives and national authorities, on the mutual recognition of the AQUAVET training materials within the EU. 6. Two “train-the-trainer” learning activities. 7. Three training pilots to promote AQUAVET results and validate training materials. 8. Four infodays in partners' countries to share and disseminate AQUAVET results. IMPACT ENVISASED AND LONGER TERM BENEFITS The project improves the skills of water technicians in Europe within the water and building installation sector, by meeting current and emerging workplace demands as regards water efficiency new "green" skills. Older and under-skilled water technicians reduce skill deficiencies to respond to new technological developments by adding modern digital skills to their portfolio. Longer term benefits are envisaged among VET providers, water and construction employers, employment-related public and private authorities and water industry stakeholders through the: a) integration of the AQUAVET learning units in existing and new training provisions, b) adaptation of the project's learning units and training methodologies, c) facilitation of the mutual recognition of water efficiency technologies qualification within EU on the basis of pedagogical resources harmonised with EU frameworks and tools (EQF, ECVET). It is expected that the 60 trainers trained in the context of the project's training activities have a potential to defuse the project's pedagogical resources to up to 60.000 trainees, in the context of their own full-time vocational training activities.