About the project
From April 2009 untill October 2011 the SIEU project was implemented in 9 European countries. The overall objective is to increase the involvement and responsibility of a large group of intermediate vocational school students (between the ages of 15-21 years old), teachers, businesses, local governments/municipalities in the field of energy saving and renewable energy technology. 
This project, “Schools for Intelligent Energy Use” (SIEU), builds a bridge between 114 intermediate vocational schools and civil societies across 9 countries. The methodology for the SIEU projects builds upon the successful Dutch “Schools for Sustainability” (SfS) programme and also relevant programmes in partner countries. Students from vocational schools act as “consultants” and as such advise businesses, NGOs and local governments/municipalities about sustainability and energy issues. By doing so, the students learn in a creative and interactive way how to find sustainable answers. Through internet, literature and by contact with real experts, students develop a searching attitude towards sustainability issues. The aim of SIEU is to focus and strengthen the SfS approach to “Energy”, i.e. energy saving and renewable energy technologies.
Using the project partners' energy education expertise with SfS, these teaching methods will be developed into the SIEU project. Through SIEU this methodology will be shared and widened throughout the UK, France, Belgium, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. At the end of the project a validated and optimised SIEU methodology will be available to all other European Member states. Participating groups for the project are students and teachers of intermediate vocational schools. They will have ownership of their own student groups as well as building good links with the co-operating businesses; local government and civil organisation assisting with the future dissemination of the SIEU project.
Key factors in the project are Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) organisations. ESD’s which are actively involved in this project as they are jointly developing and shaping the definitive SIEU concept (which is based on the original SfS concept). Businesses, local governments, civil organisations are providing input for the programme.
Project deliverables