Mastering "Green" Competences in Non-formal Education: European Green Deal

Abstract

The article proposes approaches to the integration of a non-formal format of mastering "green"
competences in higher education institutions into the educational process. The concept of non-formal
education for the acquisition of sustainable development competences (GreenComp), which was developed
by the European Commission (EC) to ensure the European Green Deal, is based on the principles proposed
by the Council of Europe jointly with the EC. The paper substantiates the importance of non-formal
education as a component of educational processes and the expanding opportunities for higher education
students and vocational pre-higher education students with the integration of non-formal activities. The
problems and difficulties that arise on the way to integrating the components of non-formal education are identified, namely: ensuring the quality of non-formal education and recognising "green" competences
obtained through non-formal education. Based on the analysis, the authors suggest ways to integrate and
implement non-formal education into various types of activities of a higher education institution: educational
activities outside formal education (beyond the scope of formal educational programmes), research activities
(outside and within the framework of the scientific activities of an education institution), and educational
activities (within the framework of the activities of an education institution). Examples of informal events for
each type of activity and the opportunities provided for learning GreenComp within such events are offered.
As an incentive and motivation for the acquisition of "green" competences through non-formal education, the
authors propose ways to recognise the results obtained through participation in non-formal activities and
encourage students of higher and vocational pre-higher education. This approach is an effective mechanism
for the efficient and high-quality acquisition of green competences, which includes training and skills that
are not provided for in formal educational programmes but are important for the development of individuals
and society as a whole, from the point of view of sustainable development. Non-formal education contributes
to the development of environmental awareness and sustainable thinking, taking into account professional
and scientific activities. At the same time, the proposed approaches to the integration of non-formal
education into higher education institutions foster flexibility and adaptability at present, which contributes to
the formation of everyday sustainable thinking and environmental responsibility of students at all levels of
higher and vocational pre-higher education.