How prepared are future software engineers to contribute to Europe’s green and digital transition?
The GREENByte partnership has completed a consolidated research report bringing together findings from the Czech Republic, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, and Türkiye. Using a common research methodology, the project gathered perspectives from students, academics, and industry professionals to better understand the current level of awareness, the most important skills gaps, and the competencies needed to make software development more environmentally sustainable.The research also explored how Green Software Engineering is currently addressed in higher education and professional practice, as well as the challenges that may prevent its wider adoption.
The results reveal a strong consensus across all participating countries:
- Students are highly motivated to develop practical Green Software skills and are particularly interested in learning how software design and programming decisions can reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
- Academics are ready to integrate sustainability into computer science and software engineering courses but need modern teaching materials, practical laboratory activities, case studies, assessment tools, and curriculum support.
- Industry professionals increasingly recognise that sustainable software development can improve not only environmental performance, but also software quality, resource efficiency, infrastructure management, and operational costs. At the same time, they highlighted the need for wider adoption of energy-aware engineering practices and reliable software energy measurement.
Across the six countries, five common priorities clearly emerged:
- Energy-efficient programming
- Lean coding and sustainable software design
- Software energy measurement and sustainability assessment
- Green DevOps and sustainable digital infrastructure
- Stronger collaboration between universities and industry
The report also underlines the importance of connecting theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Future software engineers need opportunities to work with real tools, analyse the energy performance of software applications, evaluate different design choices, and understand the environmental consequences of the entire software lifecycle.
These findings will directly guide the development of the GREENByte educational modules, practical learning activities, and supporting resources. By responding to the needs of learners, educators, and employers, the project aims to ensure that its training materials are relevant, applicable, and closely connected to current and emerging labour-market demands.
By equipping future software engineers with practical sustainability competencies, GREENByte is helping lay the foundations for more efficient, responsible, and environmentally conscious digital technologies.
Together, we can support a new generation of software professionals who are not only skilled in building digital solutions, but also aware of their environmental impact.
