Press Release: European rail alliance discusses long-term strategy to address skill shortages in the sector
Brussels, 26 October 2023 - The Skill Training Alliance For the Future European Rail System (STAFFER), a strategic partnership comprising 31 full partners and 17 associated partners from the European rail community, came together in Brussels to assess the project’s progress on the preparation of a long-term action plan to address skill gaps and shortages in the sector. The focus of the meeting was to assess the development of a comprehensive, long-term action plan aimed at mitigating skill gaps and shortages within the sector.
This meeting, as one of the events during the European Vocational Skills Week, brought together over 50 stakeholders representing various sectors, including business, education, and training institutions, along with professional associations and European institutions. The event emphasised the urgency of addressing the escalating demand for skills crucial for the green and digital transition of railways.
STAFFER, initiated in November 2020 with support from the EU Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), aims to respond to the increasing need for technological expertise in the evolving rail industry. The project's partners collaborated to discuss the implementation of educational and training programmes tailored to the specific skills required in the sector. Notably, the meeting marked a crucial milestone in the realisation of STAFFER's objectives.
Angela Di Febbraro, the Coordinator of STAFFER and Professor of Transport Engineering at the University of Genoa, expressed her enthusiasm about the project's progress, stating, "Today, all together and thanks to the effort of all the partners we are facing a crucial phase of the project: the implementation phase. The identified educational needs of the sector and the needed response are becoming concrete actions and programmes. In addition, a skills strategy for the overall sector is under finalization. I am sure that the high level of commitment of all the partners perceived today will continue to produce the good results the rail sector deserves."
For further information about the STAFFER project, please visit railstaffer.eu.
Media Contact:
Estere Upmace, UNIFE Communication Manager
Cliona Cunningham, CER Head of Communications
About STAFFER
The Skill Training Alliance For the Future European Rail System (STAFFER) Blueprint is an EU-funded framework for strategic cooperation between key businesses, trade unions, education and vocational training stakeholders and public authorities comprising 31 full partners and 17 associated partners from across the European rail community. Launched in November 2020 with support from the EU Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), STAFFER aims to address the growing demand for skills necessary for the technological advancements in the green and digital transition of railways. The consortium is dedicated to bridging skill gaps and shortages within the sector through targeted educational and training programmes.
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