The outcomes report of the Pre-COP31 Workshop, held under the GreenSTEM project coordinated by Sakarya University, has been completed. The report brings together findings and recommendations to strengthen the alignment between STEM education and the skills required for the green transition.
Hosted by the MÜSİAD Sakarya Branch on 17 September 2026, the workshop brought together representatives from universities, industry and business, public institutions, vocational and technical education institutions, and civil society organisations. Participants examined the capacity of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to address emerging skills needs associated with the green transition and explored opportunities for collaboration.
Discussions were organised around seven thematic roundtables: green skills and STEM competencies; translating research into practice; the circular bioeconomy and agricultural waste valorisation; sustainability reporting; sustainable food systems and biotechnology; interdisciplinary problem-based learning; and women’s entrepreneurship in the green economy.
Drawing on a thematic analysis of transcripts from the roundtable discussions, the report identifies 10 common themes, 19 challenges and 15 development needs. Participants highlighted insufficiently defined employer demand for green skills, difficulties in translating educational content into practical competencies, limited access to workplace learning opportunities, and the need for stronger coordination between universities and the business community.
The report recommends integrating green transition topics into existing courses through measurable learning outcomes, enabling students to develop projects using real business data, and strengthening support for turning business ideas into products. Other identified needs include establishing accessible contact mechanisms between universities and businesses, expanding internships with clearly defined learning objectives, and improving access to shared laboratory facilities.
Two cross-cutting principles were identified to guide all education and support activities: strengthening women’s access to opportunities in green STEM and entrepreneurship; and improving access for rural and small-scale producers while reducing the financial barriers faced by students.
Funded by the European Union and supported through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s Higher Education Initiative (EIT HEI), GreenSTEM aims to develop STEM students’ entrepreneurial competencies in the green and circular economy. The workshop findings will inform the design of the project’s education programmes and future collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Please find the full report attached below.
