The energy transition in the built environment is one of the biggest social tasks of our time. Municipalities play a directing role in this: they must translate national climate goals into concrete, local implementation.
But in practice, it is proving difficult to attract enough well-trained staff for this task. Especially novice civil servants, lateral entrants and internal transitions in energy transition teams need specialised knowledge to make this complex task a success.
To meet this challenge, a consortium consisting of four knowledge institutions, namely the three Leiden-Delft-Erasmus universities and The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and the VNG, Municipality of Delft and Platform 31, submitted a project proposal under the National Growth Fund program LLO Katalysator.
The project provides innovative learning solutions that allow municipal employees to increase their knowledge on the themes that are important in the energy transition. In this way they strengthen their implementation power as well as their ability to effectively include all those involved in the transition: residents, grid managers and housing corporations.
It is important for municipal employees to continue to learn from science as well as from each other."
"The energy transition is constantly evolving," says Albert Vermue, director of physical living environment at the Association of Netherlands Municipalities. "That is why it is very important for municipal employees to keep learning from science as well as from each other. With this cooperation, supported by the contribution of the LLO Catalyst, we can make great strides towards better equipped governments."
For the energy transition, we will need new knowledge and skills for a long time to come."
"For the energy transition, we will need new knowledge and skills for a long time to come. For a municipality, it is a huge opportunity to bring research, education and practice together. I am therefore very happy with the consortium we have formed and look forward to working together," affirms Maaike Zwart, councillor of the municipality of Delft.’
The project has a total value of 1.1 million euros including a grant awarded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
Together with our partners, we look forward to contributing to closing existing competence gaps."
Willem van Valkenburg, director of the TU Delft Extension School for Continuing Education: "Together with our partners, we look forward to contributing to closing existing competence gaps and creating a sustainable and inclusive learning ecosystem. This ecosystem continues to evolve and allows for an active role of all stakeholders, so that municipalities are well prepared to drive the energy transition even after the project ends."
The consortium comprises TU Delft, Leiden University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, Municipality of Delft and Platform 31. The municipalities of The Hague, Leiden, Alphen aan den Rijn, Goeree-Overflakkee and Leiderdorp and the Economic Board Zuid-Holland support the initiative.
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