Industry Transformation and the Need for Specialized Training
The automotive industry is undergoing significant digital and sustainable transformation, which results in the need for specialized training to keep pace with these changes. In response to this need, ACCIÓ and the Directorate General of Industry hosted an informative session with universities, companies, and business associations to identify key training requirements in the semiconductors, automotive, decarbonization, and green hydrogen areas.
The session began with a welcome and contextual overview by Oriol Alcoba, the Director General of Industry, who emphasized the importance of specialized training in adapting to industry transformations. Cristina Escobar Asensio, from the Directorate General of Knowledge Transfer and Society, Department of Research and Universities, then introduced the Microcredentials Plan, the main topic of the event. She detailed the EU-funded initiative aimed at developing university-level microcredentials to address the evolving needs of the workforce.
During the session, representatives from Catalan universities, including Joan Gispets, Vice-Rector for University Policy at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), presented their current training offerings within the framework of the Microcredentials Plan, showcasing a variety of short-duration, specialized academic programs designed to meet the specific needs of companies and enhance workforce skills. Universitat de Barcelona and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona were also present in the discussion. An open colloquium facilitated a conversation between universities, businesses, and business associations, including the participation from CARNET. Invited to the event, and represented by Cristina Juárez, Chief Innovation Officer at CARNET, they highlighted their contributions to the automotive sector through the short-duration courses designed during the past years, highlighting the relevance of continuous adaptation and innovation in workforce training to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry.
The session successfully identified key training areas and competency needs, providing insights into the European Union-funded initiative to develop microcredentials. This marks an important step towards defining and creating specialized academic offerings that align with industry needs, ensuring a well-prepared workforce ready to tackle existing challenges.
To address the existing challenges, CARNET, in collaboration with the CFPA, CIT-UPC Foundation, ACCIÓ, and the support from the Generalitat de Catalunya, is developing a series of short-duration training programs in 2024. These are aimed at upskilling and reskilling professionals to meet industry needs. The programmes, designed with input from over 30 sector experts, have been developed thanks to a collaborative effort between industry leaders and academic institutions to foster a competitive and skilled workforce, highlighting the importance of cooperation to move forward key initiative such as this one.