DESCRIPTION
The recent changes in international, European and French environmental regulations have led to the development of the scientific discipline of ecological engineering. This discipline aims to preserve and enhance biodiversity through appropriate long-term actions (studies, works, management) on targeted ecosystems while considering their functionality, the diversity of natural habitats, the question of ecotypes and all interactions. The discipline allows the maintenance or reconstitution of natural environments, the restoration of degraded environments, the optimization of natural resource management, and the rehabilitation of the functions and services provided by ecosystems.
Beyond technical interventions, the purpose of ecological engineering is to preserve the ecosystem in which we live and the biodiversity that is part of it. The field of ecological engineering is therefore embedded with a strong social dimension.
In order to support companies and stakeholders involved in the sector, Afpa designed a training course dedicated to the emerging profession of Ecological Engineering Worker (EEW) and conducted an experimentation between 2019 and 2020, on 3 French sites: Lorient, Marseille and Perpignan-Rivesaltes. This action is part of the French Ministry of Labor’s “Incubator” scheme and intends to respond to a growing need of qualified personnel, estimated at 8,000 jobs all over France. In order to carry out this experimentation, Afpa has worked closely with the private sector and professional organizations partners to confirm the relevance of creating a level 3 certification attesting required skills for workers collaborating within an ecological engineering work team.
Due to positive assessment, the experimentation has continued in 2021, through the Innov’Emploi scheme implemented by the Occitanie region. At the same time, the professional title of Ecological Engineering Worker has been officially recognized and is now effective since September 1, 2021.
The Venhans Peer Learning Review is an opportunity to review the different stages of the experimentation conducted by Afpa, and to present the incubator system supported by the French Ministry of Labor.
AGENDA
- 09h00 – 09h20: Introduction and round-table talks
- 09h20 – 09h35: General presentation of the professional incubator framework and link to the French professional certification system (By T. Jourdain) Presentation 10 min + Q&A 5/10 min
- 09h35 – 09h40 : Post-it Session « What Ecological Engineering Worker »
- 09h40 – 09h55 : General presentation of ecological engineering sector
- 09h55 – 10h25: General presentation of EEW experimentation and evaluation (By R. Abd El Kader and F. Gaudin) Presentation 20 min + Q&A 10 min
- 10h25-10h45: Video – Ecological engineering Companies’ managers interviews on site: Vinci construction, Génie Ecologique Occitanie, River planning association RIVAGE
- 10h45-11h00: Coffee break
- 11h00 – 11h40: General presentation of the French professional title « Ouvrier du génie écologique » (Ecological engineering worker – EEW) (By R. Abd El Kader) Presentation 30 min + Q&A 10 min
- 11h40 – 12h00: Debriefing (set up job/ EE sector analysis tasks for the participants to prepare for the follow up session) and closing
TARGET AUDIENCE
Directors of VET centres, training coordinators and trainers
