Sustainability: the importance of continuous training

Continuing education proves to be essential to meet future challenges, not only in the field of new technologies but also in the management of social dynamics. This is what emerges from the Skills Outlook 2023" by the OECD, which emphasises the importance of skills to maximise the benefits of artificial-intelligence and robotics, facilitate the transition to a zero-impact economy and maintain high levels of employment and wellbeing. The OECD urges countries to increase their efforts to enhance education and provide more opportunities for further education and retraining. It is crucial, therefore, to equip people with a diverse set of skills, including information management, social-emotional and metacognitive skills, to ensure effective application in this rapidly changing scenario.

While the labour market is evolving rapidly, only 40 per cent of adults in OECD countries participate in work-related training, both formal and informal. This low participation limits opportunities for further education and retraining, closing doors to new professional opportunities in an era dominated by technological innovations. It is essential to develop advanced skills, from IT to creative skills, to keep up with the growing demand for digital, analytical and communication skills. The 'Skills Outlook 2023' highlights the urgency of improving access to learning for all - in line with the Goal 4 of the UN 2030 Agenda - emphasising the need for an education system that promotes a wide variety of skills, including language proficiency, to successfully navigate the challenges of the working future.

The OECD's 'Skills Outlook 2023' report highlights the need for education systems to step up efforts in educating the younger generation on the topics of environmental sustainability. It is crucial not only to develop the technical skills needed to promote ecological goals, but also to instil the determination to realise these goals. Currently, only one third of young people in OECD countries demonstrate a combination of basic scientific knowledge, attitudes and proactive behaviour towards the environment, a percentage too low for the ambitions of a green economy. It is therefore crucial to have the skills, but the will to act is also necessary: according to the OECD, as many as seven out of ten young people do not master the emotional, behavioural and cognitive dimensions of environmental sustainability. Therefore, it is more difficult for them to implement behaviour to promote environmental sustainability.

This picture conveys the urgent need for an education that goes beyond technical knowledge to embrace also knowing how to be and do in harmony with the environment. In fact, OECD researchers emphasise that the development of skills in the area of environmental sustainability and digital technologies is crucial for building a resilient economy, society and future. The Report also highlights the issue of fake news: in OECD countries, six out of ten adults are afraid of receiving false information from the web, while about seven out of ten adults perceive climate change as a threat. Thus, environmental degradation and unreliable information environments are challenging economies and societies around the world and represent a source of fear and disquiet that should not be overlooked.

3Bee has always been committed to dissemination in the field of biodiversity alongside organisations, companies and schools, with the aim of creating a network of ambassadors of change, aware of the importance of biodiversity for our planet. This is the context for the Academy 3Bee, which includes sustainability theory and interactive experiences for a new training proposal engaging in ESG. The training is aimed at strengthening the engagement programmes of HR, Marketing, Sustainability departments and enables companies to provide employees with the tools they need to actively contribute to positive change and to the corporate culture of sustainability, combining professional development and social and environmental responsibility. An opportunity for continuous updating in the field of sustainability, based on a Blended Learning approach combining in-person and online training (hybrid mode), according to business needs. Want to know more?