Birmingham Leads in European Hydrogen Education: The Hydrogen Academy

The Hydrogen Academy is a Horizon Europe Project with 17 partners across Europe and a view to increase awareness and training in the Green Hydrogen Industry, which is estimated to need an additional 180,000 skilled workers at all levels by 2030 in order for net-zero carbon targets to be met. EU Horizon Projects are highly renowned, with the aim of encouraging research and innovation to tackle climate change and help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The project will run until June 2028 and aims to map and improve the current educational offers in primary, secondary, higher and further education covering hydrogen, and introduce the topic of hydrogen into schools and colleges at all levels. To achieve this, the Hydrogen Academy are building a network of universities and schools across Europe and developing study materials and learning resources. Bertz Associates is part of the group building school networks and supporting the development of creative learning and teaching material. 

The University of Birmingham is the leading partner in this project, with their major contribution reflected by the plethora of schools across Birmingham that have already joined the network. Birmingham’s sister cities in Europe (Milan, Frankfurt, Lyon, Leipzig) are also involved with the project, and they have been key connections for expanding the network and providing valuable insight into how engagement can be maximised.

Over the 4 year span of the project, schools will play a part in shaping the learning resources. Through a newsletter, ideas and useful learning resources, or projects/opportunities connected to hydrogen will be shared, and as resources develop, schools can test them, and also give feedback. Schools will also be able to connect with the other schools in the network to make connections across Europe. Young people are often passionate about climate issues, and this network will give them a great opportunity to become part of the drive towards net zero.

The Hydrogen Academy invite schools and teachers to become part of the network and support the development of learning materials on green hydrogen and their implementation into the curriculum. They also invite anyone with contacts in schools and colleges across Europe to get in touch, so their network can be as large and diverse as possible, as well as anyone who works in a hydrogen-related field and would be interested in contributing content towards our project.