Written by: Anželika Dautartė, VMU

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How can higher education and vocational training contribute to biodiversity protection and more sustainable societies? This question was at the centre of the national workshop “Nature-Based Solutions and Biodiversity in Higher and Vocational Education”, organised on 22 April 2026, at Vytautas Magnus University.

The workshop brought together vocational education providers, protected area specialists, local community representatives, researchers, lecturers, students, and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore practical ways of integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) into education.

During the event, participants explored the ᴇNᴀBʟS project activities and discussed the growing importance of NBS for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable education. International survey results from 11 European countries revealed a clear trend: while biodiversity is widely recognised as an important topic, the practical understanding and implementation of NBS in education remain limited.

A key part of the workshop focused on collaborative group discussions and practical reflection. Participants analysed national and regional challenges, identified barriers and opportunities, and discussed how education systems could better support sustainability transitions. Topics included strengthening educators’ competences, promoting interdisciplinary learning, encouraging hands-on engagement, and building stronger cooperation networks.

The discussions revealed several common challenges, including limited motivation, insufficient knowledge exchange, fragmented institutional cooperation, and the need for stronger leadership. At the same time, participants highlighted important opportunities – active learning approaches, project-based activities, Living Labs, community involvement, and the integration of critical thinking and sustainability topics into study programmes.

In the second part of the workshop, participants worked together to formulate recommendations for strengthening the integration of NBS and biodiversity into education systems. These recommendations addressed both strategic and practical dimensions, ranging from policy support and funding mechanisms to training activities, collaborative initiatives, and innovative teaching methods.

The workshop once again demonstrated that meaningful sustainability transitions require cooperation across science, education, practice, and society. By bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences, such initiatives help create a stronger foundation for biodiversity protection and the wider application of Nature-Based Solutions in everyday life.