PHAETHON CoE is part of a consortium of nine leading academic institutions across the region, working in tandem to revolutionise technical education and research in green hydrogen, a crucial renewable energy source for a sustainable and carbon-neutral future.

The University of Innsbruck successfully hosted the kick-off meeting for the GREEN Project (Developing a Curriculum on Green Hydrogen Technologies and Applications in Southern Mediterranean Countries) under the Erasmus+ VET Programme. This ambitious initiative, supported by the European Union, aims to advance education and research in green hydrogen technologies by fostering collaboration among leading academic institutions across Europe and the Southern Mediterranean region.

The two-day event, held on 3-4 February 2025 at the Unit for Energy Efficient Building, University of Innsbruck, brought together renowned experts, researchers, and institutional partners to lay the foundation for the project’s implementation.

Representatives from nine universities and research institutions presented their contributions to the GREEN project. These included the University of Innsbruck (Austria), The University of Jordan, Al-Hussein Technical University (Jordan), Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (Egypt), Heliopolis University (Egypt), Pan African University (Algeria), Tlemcen University (Algeria), Hamburg University of Technology (Germany), and the PHAETHON Centre of Excellence (CoE) of the University of Cyprus (Cyprus).

PHAETHON CoE’s expertise in renewable energy education and curriculum development makes it a key contributor to the project’s mission of preparing the next generation of professionals in green hydrogen technology. In line with this, the Centre, represented by Dr Alexandros Arsalis, is leading Work Package 6 (Development of Study Plan and Curricula).

UCY is responsible for:

• Designing a comprehensive study plan to integrate green hydrogen technologies into existing educational programmes.
• Developing virtual learning tools to enhance accessibility and engagement for students.
• Creating specialised courses and training materials tailored to meet industry and academic needs.
• Coordinating pilot programmes and workshops to ensure effective implementation and refinement of curricula.
• Hosting a tuning workshop to align training modules with real-world industry applications.

Attendees discussed project objectives, deliverables, and milestones, including:

• Development of a comprehensive curriculum on green hydrogen technologies
• Establishment of specialised Green Hydrogen Labs
• Capacity-building programmes for students and professionals
• Workshops and networking events with industry stakeholders
• Integration of green hydrogen courses into existing academic programme

Collaboration and Future Planning

Participants engaged in strategic discussions to define the roadmap for the next six months, ensuring smooth execution of the project’s action plan.

A Step Toward a Sustainable Future

The GREEN (H2) project is set to revolutionise technical education and research in green hydrogen, a crucial renewable energy source for a sustainable and carbon-neutral future. The event successfully fostered international collaboration and knowledge exchange, equipping students and professionals with cutting-edge expertise and paving the way for innovative applications and technological advancements in the field.

The project officially commenced on 1 January 2025 and is scheduled to run for three years.

For more information regarding the GREEN (H2) project, you may contact Dr. Alexandros Arsalis at arsalis.alexandros@ucy.ac.cy.