BeWell: Shaping the future health workforce with innovative digital and green skills training

Abstract EU countries have increasingly focused on embracing digital and green solutions in health. The BeWell project offers a training framework for upskilling and reskilling the health and care workforce in digital and green skills. This initiative addresses public health needs, equipping professionals with the needed competencies to adapt to a rapidly changing health landscape. The project aims to be adaptable and scalable. The BeWell trainings prepare health professionals for evolving societal expectations while enhancing their competitiveness. The programmes were developed based on scoping literature reviews, focus groups and 628 questionnaires. Collaborations with universities, VET providers and social partners have been essential in developing the curricula. Key questions include: How to effectively upskill and reskill in digital and green competencies? How can training align with national and EU qualification frameworks while ensuring flexibility? What impact does the BeWell programme have on performance and inter-professional collaboration? Competence matrices were developed for the training programmes, covering EQF levels 4, 5 & 6. These matrices define learning outcomes aligned with EQF and ESCO. The digital competence matrices cover areas like cybersecurity, data literacy and problem-solving, while the green skills ones focus on sustainability competencies. A third matrix introduces emerging roles. The training is designed for flexible validation, supporting non-formal and informal learning and recognition of prior learning. As of April 2025, 12 digital and 4 green skills programmes are being piloted, with a third batch of NEOP programmes launching in May. The programmes are hosted on an online platform, offering modular learning and micro-credentials. BeWell emphasises a participatory development process and lifelong learning support. The programmes promote stronger collaboration and smoother transitions across health disciplines, with a significant public health impact. Key messages • BeWell empowers health professionals with digital and green skills, fostering a resilient workforce ready to tackle evolving public health challenges across Europe and beyond. • BeWell’s innovative training enhances collaboration and supports lifelong learning, bridging skill gaps in health professionals to improve care quality and workforce adaptability.