DIRTT – Developing Intereuropean Resources for Trailbuilding Training

Background

As outdoor recreation grows and societies pursue greener, more sustainable lifestyles, trail networks have become essential infrastructure for health, tourism, and climate-friendly mobility. Yet the European trail building sector still lacks recognised standards, education pathways, and well-established sustainability principles.

DIRTT addresses these gaps by developing professional skills and supporting Europe’s green transition. Bringing together 13 partners across eight countries – including vocational schools, universities, NGOs, and industry partners – the project is a truly pan-European collaboration. Led by Fagskolen Viken and funded through the Erasmus+ programme, DIRTT is now entering its third three-year phase, continuing to strengthen the professional foundation of trail building across Europe.

Objectives

DIRTT aims to professionalise the European trail building sector through:

• Developing a shared European Competence Framework defining skills and work profiles for EQF levels 3–6, embedding environmental sustainability, inclusion, and safe working practices across all levels of training

• Creating syllabi, teaching resources, assessment tools, and certification systems to support consistent, high-quality education

• Promoting digital learning and cross-border collaboration between vocational schools through innovative international partnerships

• Conducted the most extensive European sector survey to date, with well over 4 000 respondents

• Developed an educational framework and trail building course syllabus for EQF level 5

• Creating the DIRTT Trail Building Knowledge Hub with open-source educational resources

• Training 28 educators across Europe in delivery of trail building training

• Piloting of Europe’s first ever formal trail building education at Fagskolen Viken

• Created extensive research and a follow-up sector survey to map industry competencies, job profiles and needs

• Created the Competence Framework (EQF levels 3–6), to benchmark and align all future teaching, training and certification across Europe

• Designed and tested the Assessment Toolbox for Europes first and only trail builder certification scheme

• Trained the first 12 national assessors across Europe

• Launched the DIRTT Certification ICT system, an online platform for effective management of the European trail builder certification program

• Develops and pilots a free-to-use digital learning system (MOOC) for EQF levels 3–5, with new and innovative resources on nature restoration and biodiversity in trail construction

• Integrates new digital learning resources and previous digital resources into the DIRTT Digital Learning Hub

• Partners with vocational schools to develop and deliver new COIL-course models (Collaborative Online International Learning), for increased accessibility of trail building training.

Impact

DIRTT elevates trail building to a recognised vocational discipline, bridging the gap between volunteer initiatives, education, and professional practice. The project supports Europe’s green and inclusive transition by promoting sustainable land use, safe workplaces, and lifelong learning for trail professionals and volunteers.

At the same time, DIRTT drives school innovation through digital transformation and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). By strengthening cross-border teaching and digital competence in vocational education, the project contributes to modernisation of Europe’s VET system.