The collaborative project "SustainableH2" was launched at the beginning of June. Its aim is to make the vocational training of plant mechanics future-oriented and sustainable. The project is designed to empower trainers to create holistic and sustainable training and continuing education programs in this profession – taking into account all existing fields of activity. The development of hydrogen technology is a key lever for future CO₂ reduction and thus an important component of societal sustainability strategies. This will create diverse new career opportunities for plant mechanics, which will form a further focus of future training.

The project investigates how sustainability and new requirements can be better integrated into vocational training. To this end, a concept is being developed to support trainers in effectively conveying this content to their trainees. The core of the project is therefore the "Train the Trainer" work package .

The project is being carried out by an interdisciplinary team from various scientific disciplines and vocational education professionals. The central project site for development, testing, and transfer of results is GSI – Gesellschaft für Schweißtechnik International mbH in Oberhausen. Applicant partners are the engineering department of the University of Duisburg-Essen, the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences in Gelsenkirchen, and the Rhine-Ruhr Institute for Social Research and Policy Consulting (RISP) in Duisburg.

The two-year project is funded with over 1 million euros by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and the EU as part of the "Sustainable in Business (NIB)" program.