USWE Project – 1st Workshop – Turku

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The EU-funded project “Upskilling Shipbuilding Workforce in Europe” (USWE) organised its first Workshop in Turku, Finland on 8th May 2019.

Thirty participants from industry, trade unions, education providers and public authorities from eight countries participated in the discussions and visited the Meyer Turku Shipyard and its Shipbuilding School.

The USWE project, which was initiated by the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Shipbuilding aims to support industry and workers in adapting to Industry 4.0 technologies. The USWE project brings together industry, workers’ representatives and education providers to analyse the impact of technological change in existing occupations and to anticipate future skills needs.

In order to carry out this project the European sectoral social partners, SEA Europe (Shipyards’ & Maritime Equipment Association of Europe) and industriAll Europe (European Trade Union) have teamed up with TKNIKA (centre for innovation on VET) and Turku University of Applied Sciences.

One objective of the project is to  identify  skills gaps and anticipate the future skills needs arising from the impact of new technologies in the so-called “Industry / Shipyard 4.0”, but the project also aims to  find ways to bridge the skills gap at European level by improving workers’ mobility across Europe. The eventual aim is to aid in the creation of further joint design of educational programmes providing solutions for industry-led demand for skills and competences.