We recently went on an enlightening trip to Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, to participate in the kickoff meeting of the NESSIE project on January 16th and 17th. This meeting marked the first time all the partners of the project meet, sharing a collective goal to establish a unified understanding of the project’s objectives, and exploring ways to complement and collaborate with each other effectively. The consortium includes partners from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, and Denmark, with us from Samsø Energy Academy and Aalborg University representing Denmark.

The first day was a perfect blend of introductions and cultural experiences. After getting familiar, we were treated with some insightful presentations by Marc Mulder, Dirk Jan de Rouwe, and Tjebbe De Jong at the De Elfstedenhal. The day culminated in an impressive tour of the ice hall, followed by a hands-on workshop at Firda on “How to make your home sustainable,” which was a unique combination of team-building and cultural exploration.

On the second day, we were warmly welcomed by the Provincie Fryslân, diving into productive discussions about the project’s aim to enhance workforce capacity and develop new skills for the energy transition sector. The commitment to fostering talent for a sustainable future was truly inspiring.

We’re excited about the collaborative journey ahead in driving meaningful change in the energy transition landscape.

As part of an impressive consortium featuring the New Energy Coalition, Provincie Fryslân, Firda, Learning Hub Friesland, Gemeente Ameland, and many others, we are thrilled to be contributing to the NESSIE project’s goals.

As we reflect on the initial strides of the NESSIE project, we are inspired by the wealth of knowledge and the collective experience of all partners. To steer our efforts towards a cohesive goal, we encourage task leaders to employ the IDOARRT method to foster a common understanding. This approach ensures that intentions, desired outcomes, agendas, roles, and responsibilities are clearly outlined and agreed upon from the start.

We also urge the consortium to view the project through the lens of the 3-horizons model, which allows us to envision the immediate challenges, the transitional processes, and the long-term transformative vision for NESSIE.

In this light, we pose some reflective questions that we asked all the partners, aiming to stimulate thought and guide our joint endeavor:

• What should be different from what currently exists in the realm of energy education and transition?
• What could e-campuses evolve into? Is there a need for a uniform structure, or can we embrace a diversity of forms?
• How might e-campuses and ‘pilot projects’ interact? What synergies can we anticipate between them?
• Are we aware of any exemplary practices in this domain, such as the use of platforms like Moodle?
• Who should be actively involved in this process, and at what stages? Specifically, what role do local installers and VET schools play?
• Can we involve potential students in the design process? If so, at what stage would their input be most valuable and impactful?