The 30th of September marked the end of the European Project ECVET-LAB, after two years of duration. ECVET-LAB Project (Erasmus+) aims to contribute to the implementation and validation of non-formal training on environmental best practices for environmental testing laboratory technicians. By applying methodologies and practices that conserve natural resources, it improves the resources’ efficiency and protects those working in laboratories from chemical or biological risks.
From this project, a consortium of 7 partners representing 25 European countries was born: NOVOTEC Consultores (Spain), Fundación Equipo Humano (Spain), M.M.C Management Center Limited (Cyprus), INSTYTUT TECHNOLOGII EKSPLOATACJI-PANSTWOWY INSTYTUT BADAWCZY (Polonia), University of Cyprus (Cyprus), 3S RESEARCH LABORATORY-FORSCHUNGSVEREIN y EUROLAB – European Federation of National Associations of Measurement, Testing and Analytical Laboratories (Belgium).
Main results
As we have already reached the end of the European project ECVET-Lab, it’s time to review the main results of the project that have been fulfilled: the Guide of Best Practices on Environmental Management in Labs, the E.CO LAB TECHNICIAN Course, and the Qualification Standard, Competence Profile and training modules for Environmental Testing and Sciences Laboratory Technicians.
On one hand we have the publication of the Guide of Best Practices on Environmental Management in Labs. This guide contains the 42 best practices proposed by the partners and covers 9 areas: the use of chemicals, waste management, energy management, water management, other resources, noise, air emissions, wastewater and environmental management systems. The selection of the 42 Best Practices has been published on the website in English, Spanish, Polish, and Greek.
On the other hand, our E.CO LAB TECHNICIAN Course has been officially released, after an internal validation from the partners, followed by an external validation with students, private laboratories, universities, and VET centres. The course is aimed mainly at laboratory technicians, although it is also important that it reaches universities, VET centres, and both public and private laboratories.
In order to develop the course, the project developed and established a Competence Profile and training modules for Environmental Testing and Sciences Laboratory Technicians. The Qualification Standard thoroughly describes the minimum knowledge, skills, and competences that are necessary for a person to be able to work in the field of European Environmental Sciences’ Laboratories , fulfilling the established criteria of sustainable management of the sector.
ECVET-Lab final conference
On the 20th of September, the European Conference on Environmental Management in Laboratories took place. This Final Conference was hosted by EUROLAB. It is remarkable that most of the international attendants were representing National Associations, Networks of laboratories and Head of Universities in several EU countries such as Austria, Turkey, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherland, Germany, Spain, France, Cyprus and Czech Republic. Several laboratories contributed to the conference with their practices and experiences in the field. IPROMA(Spain), Nireas (Cyprus), and Çevre(Turkey), shared their daily environmental management systems. They all agreed that the project will be a useful tool both for the educational system and the private sector.
Special attention should be paid to some of the claims that the panellists made. Álvaro Ribeiro, ERUOLAB’s president, assured that “This project adapts the expectations of the new generations along with the new upcoming approaches. It should not be the end of a project, but the beginning” highlighting the opportunities that ECVET-Lab can give. Nuria Font also added that “This best practices guide will make our work easier although a deeper and further approach could even improve environmental issues at workplace”. Some of the attendants and panellists believed this project should not stop here