King Philippe Visits New Green Transition Training Center in Jemappes
King Philippe visited a new training center in Jemappes, Hainaut, on Tuesday, focusing on skills needed for the green transition.
The 66 year old king visited the new training facility operated by Forem, Wallonia’s employment and vocational training agency and the French-speaking counterpart of VDAB in Flanders.
King Philippe was accompanied by Walloon Minister-President Adrien Dolimont, Walloon Economy Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet, and Forem Director General Raymonde Yerna.
The 6,000-square-meter center officially opened on August 10. The king was welcomed at the entrance by a large group of children who had gathered outside the building.
The new center is designed for job seekers, employees, students, and businesses looking to develop skills related to the ecological transition.
Training programs focus on areas including climate technology, energy-efficient renovations, the circular economy, and the reuse of materials, according to Forem.
The center was built on a former industrial site. It brings together training programs that were previously spread across locations in Mons and Froyennes.
The project is a partnership between the city of Mons and the University of Mons. The center currently offers 11 diploma programs, seven certificate courses, and six short training modules.
Forem says the center aims to train 1,000 job seekers by 2028, helping workers and companies develop skills needed for a changing economy and the transition toward more sustainable industries.
