IMAT and partners aimed to introduce a holistic methodology to match VET Education and Maritime/Shipping Industry needs and to respond directly to the existing gap in green skills in the maritime/shipping sector aspiring to define innovative training programs and promoting the adoption of sustainable practices for shipowners. To this aim innovative Curriculum’s ultimate goal aimed to reverse the mindsets of the whole industry on green skills by providing upskilling/reskilling opportunities for the identified target groups. In detail, we wanted to provide training materials responding to the different learning needs; encourage the introduction of a Curriculum on green skills; support maritime VET actors to update their skillset and transfer their knowledge; offer upskilling/reskilling opportunities; support shipowners/companies by addressing the lack of required green skillset; offer a practical tools to shipping companies towards green transition; introduce a bottom-up approach in decision-making to foster policy dialogue on green transition; by engaging key stakeholders of the sector.
Maritime sector is a vital sector for the EU economy. It directly employs over 640,000 workers and indirectly supports over 1.4 million workers for a total share of €147 billion in the EU's GDP. Despite being world’s largest maritime territory and the fact that shipping is the most efficient and greenest way of transport, the EU industry has still room for improvement. Despite making progress in lowering emissions by 19% between 2008-2018, the maritime industry needs to invest in alternative green technologies and fuels for an efficient response to the EU Green Deal. Upsaling project appeared to be crucial to operate this transition for a greener shipping sector. Accordingly, IMAT and partners decided to address the following needs: fragmented know-how among different VET Providers on green skills in the sector; high segregation between VET education and market; need of transnational collaboration among partners from different sectors and countries for capacity-building, to be aligned on green skills; replacement of outdated curricula; necessity of innovative learning methodologies need of adopting sustainable practices to invest even more in environmentally friendly practices in the shipping sector.