The Mediating Role of Further and Higher Education in a Just Transition Social Ecosystem

The Just Transition (JT) can be understood as a combinational strategic concept (transition to net zero combined with climate justice) to support the transitioning to a more sustainable, socially just and peaceful world. While the JT is becoming increasingly prevalent in terms of policy development, both nationally and internationally, a major challenge is practical implementation at different levels of societal life. This article is intended as a conceptual think piece to explore the potential role of further and higher education (FHE) in England as a mediating force between national policy and the local and regional economic and skills terrains in support of the JT. The roles of learning and skills actors are explored via a three-stage methodology involving the synthesis of several groups of literatures. The first concerns a brief discussion of the JT, its definitions and its differing versions used by a range of social partners. The second focuses on the building of a theoretical framework -- a 'Just Transition Social Ecosystem' -- with particular emphasis on its intermediary levels. The third step sees the multi-level JT social ecosystem framework applied to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and FHE to explore the different dimensions of sectoral and institutional mediation between individuals, communities and national systems in support of the JT. The final part of the article problematises the role of the vertically organised governmental state in the development of the JT Social Ecosystem Model.