Blue Circle - Mapeamento de Oportunidades Sustentáveis para o Ensino e Formação Profissional na Economia Azul

<< Background >>The Blue Circle project was developed to address the increasing skills gap in the Blue Economy sector, particularly in the context of the EU’s Sustainable Blue Economy strategy and the European Green Deal. The transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy is creating new job opportunities, yet a lack of appropriate training and skills continues to limit access to these roles. Vocational Education and Training (VET) is key to closing this gap. This project aimed to map existing and emerging opportunities in the sustainable Blue Economy for VET and to raise awareness among educators and learners through gamification. The project also responded to a clear need for cross-sectoral collaboration and innovation in sustainability education. All participating partners are active in coastal regions and strongly connected to the Blue Economy, ensuring relevance and impact at regional and European levels.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to identify and map sustainable Blue Economy opportunities relevant to VET, enhance awareness among teachers and learners, and equip them with tools for skills development aligned with circular and blue economic models. Our goals included creating a pilot Think Tank on the Blue Economy for VET; adapting an existing circular skills self-assessment tool to the Blue Economy; and designing an educational game to raise awareness of career opportunities in the sector. All objectives were closely aligned with EU priorities on climate action and skills development. The project not only achieved all planned objectives within the proposed timeline, but also went beyond, delivering additional dissemination events and outputs that enhanced its impact and reach.<< Implementation >>The project implemented a wide range of activities. We began with structured planning, brand development, and quality assurance. A pilot Think Tank was established with two workshops (in Valencia and Coimbra) engaging multiple stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities in the sustainable Blue Economy. We adapted a circular skills self-assessment tool for this sector, developed the Blue Sherlock educational game, and published a Guide to Professions in the Blue Economy. Three multiplier events were held in Portugal and Spain, along with numerous dissemination actions including social media campaigns, academic conference presentations, and collaboration with local institutions. All activities were completed on schedule, and additional actions—such as AI-generated video presentations and environmental awareness workshops—were undertaken to amplify impact.<< Results >>The Blue Circle project delivered all planned results and exceeded expectations. We created and tested a pilot Think Tank model for exploring vocational opportunities in the Blue Economy, involving regional clusters and professionals. A Circular Skills Self-Assessment Tool adapted to the Blue Economy was developed and disseminated. The Blue Sherlock game, designed to engage VET learners in exploring career paths in this sector, was completed and implemented. We also produced a Guide to Professions in the Circular Blue Economy. Dissemination included over 15 events, workshops, and conference presentation, engaged over 700 participants. The project reached educators, learners, policymakers, and employers, fostering cross-border collaboration. It has strengthened VET’s role in preparing future professionals for the sustainable Blue Economy, with materials and tools designed for long-term use.