Skills and Training Requirements for the Future Transportation Sector of Europe

Bekiaris, E.; Loukea, M. · 2019 · Crossref

DOI: 10.21122/2227-1031-2019-18-6-476-481

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Summary

The European transportation sector, which employs over 10 million people and contributes 4.6% to the EU’s GDP, faces significant workforce challenges due to rapid technological advancements, automation, and demographic shifts. The paper addresses the critical need to identify future skill requirements and develop appropriate training frameworks to ensure the sector can attract, retain, and upskill its workforce. This work is part of the European Research project SKILLFUL, which aims to create a structured foresight into vocational and academic qualifications to enhance employability and support sustainable industrial development across Europe. The SKILLFUL project employed a three-step methodology: identifying future trends and needs, developing training schemes and competence profiles, and verifying these schemes through pilot implementations. The analysis covered short-term (2020), medium-term (2030), and long-term (2050) horizons, assessing impacts across all transport modes and professional levels, from blue-collar workers to researchers. Key drivers identified include digitalization, automation, electrification, smart transport systems, and the rise of mobility-as-a-service. Through stakeholder consultations and literature reviews, the project identified 28 specific occupational fields affected by these trends, comprising 13 roles expected to change or disappear and 12 new roles expected to emerge. Based on these findings, the project proposed 34 training courses, 17 of which were fully developed and piloted. These curricula emphasize lifelong learning for middle-skilled professionals and interdisciplinary skills in safety, IT, logistics, and behavioral sciences. The training methodologies incorporate modern approaches such as e-learning, virtual and augmented reality, gamification, blended learning, and smart learning technologies driven by AI and big data. Additionally, the project outlined trainer competences and learning outcomes to ensure flexibility and relevance to future practice. A significant outcome of the SKILLFUL project is the introduction of six novel business roles designed to facilitate the transport-education chain and enhance sustainability. These roles include Transport Knowledge Aggregators, Lifelong Training Promoters, Training Certifiers, Training Infrastructure Providers, Collaborative Passion Arenas, and In Vivo Altschool Social Networks. These actors are intended to bridge gaps between industry needs and educational provision, promoting European-wide competence development. The project also contributed to the design of a Pan-European master curriculum in transport engineering. Ultimately, the paper concludes that addressing these skill gaps through structured training and new business models is imperative for the future viability and competitiveness of the European transportation sector.

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• simulator training transfer