SECOVE Workshop in Ovar Showcased Opportunities in Renewable Energy Careers

On 22 February 2024, INOVA+ held a local SECOVE Workshop at the Centre for Vocational Training of Ovar, in Portugal, bringing together 28 educators, learners and job seekers, including participants aiming to re-enter the labour market, pursue requalification pathways or strengthen their professional skills in emerging sectors.

The workshop was developed to set a common framework for the future SECOVE Observatory on encouraging representation and participation of women in gender-dominated fields, including in the clean and renewable energy. Alignment of the observatory to local and systemic needs was a focus of the local workshop held in Portugal.

The event organised under and guided by the question “Renewable Energies: Is it a field for only a few?”, included explorative, reflective and interactive activities on gender representation in the sector.  A video featuring successful women working in renewable energy served as a starting point for discussion and helped challenge the perception that the sector is an exclusively male-dominated field. Several women in the audience shared their views openly, noting the limited visibility of female role models in the industry and stressing the importance of stronger representation to inspire future generations.

Following-up, education and career opportunities available in the renewable energy sector were explored jointly with participants – a situation noted by everyone involved, with many expressing surprise at the diversity of existing pathways and admitting that they had not previously considered renewable energy as a possible professional direction.

Feedback gathered at the end of the event confirmed the relevance of the workshop’s themes. Participants considered the session informative, thought-provoking and motivating, particularly in relation to career guidance and inclusion in the renewable energy sector. Overall, the event contributed to raising awareness of the opportunities offered by the green transition and the importance of role models’ visibility to shape the future resilience of the sector – both expects aimed to be covered by the project’s future Observatory on Inclusiveness of Women in Vocational Educational and Training.

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