While the VET system has already been fully developed in some eco-efficient technologies, such as wind or photovoltaic power,Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is an emerging technology where “Solar Field” operation present deep skill gaps ofVET tools.Spain is the first European country in installed CSP power, with a fully developed labour market, while Italy and Greece, starting plants construction in 2014, will be requiring solar-field operators in 2 years coming and they have neither formal nor in-formal training at this moment.A Sector Skill Alliance has been established among the key representative of the CSP sector of each country, in order to cover the coming labour market needs. The alliance includes energy VET experts, national sectorial associations,energy agencies, government representatives in the field of qualification, and 2 EU umbrella institutions.SolarCV objectives are:-To increase the response of VET systems by anticipating the CSP labour demand-To integrate work-based learning (WBL) in the design of CSP VET.-To increase mobility of EU CSP learners, by the recognition of learning outcomes and by achieving qualificationsThree main project results can be underlined as objective-achievers:-The definition of EU CSP CV for solar-field operators-The creation of an ICT e-learning platform (e-simulator) for formal training following EU CV structure-The delivery of a methodology for recognition of learning outcomes.-The promotion of a National Qualification for CSP Plant Operator in each country.-The creation of EU recognition for CSP Plant OperatorsSolarCV tools are designed considering ECVET and EQAVET European references, so the resulting products ensure a better understanding and comparability of qualifications across countries.
The project SolarCV is addressing the skills needs for an emerging technology of solar energy sector, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), which has high levels of skill gaps. SolarCV aims to develop common frameworks of solar field operators with recognition at the European level. The general objectives are to make VET training more responsive to changing CSP skills needs in the labour market by preparing training programme for acquiring missing skills. The training includes strong component of work-based learning (WBL). Finally the project enables the mobility of learners, through the recognition of learning outcomes and by achieving qualifications.The project gathers 16 organisations from 5 countries which include solar energy VET experts, national sectoral associations, energy agencies, government representatives in the field of qualification, and 2 EU umbrella institutions.There are some main project results which can be underlined as objective-achievers (available on http://www.solar-cv.eu/results/) :•*(R1) Labour Market Network of CSP and VET experts that allowed to involve experts and entities beyond the partnership with the aim to increase the potential of project outcomes to be transferred/adapted and used beyond the partnership•(R2) Report on Skills and training provision needs per country and EU level that allowed to identify exactly the skill gaps•(R4) Report on current situation of non-formal, informal and formal training in the CSP sector and methodology for validation of non-formal and informal training.Both documents (R2 & R4) set not only the state-of-art and the analysis of training needs (i. on CSP – Plant Operators, but also allowed to pool of experience and knowledge from different partners in order to facilitate and improve the following tasks and products. (i.e. in Result n. 3) and to unify criteria and to clarify concepts.•(R3) Report on innovative tools from LLP projects designing EU competence profiles and EU CVs which gathers the best practices and tools for the definition of Competence Profiles, Curricula and learning units. •(R7, R8, R9 & R10) CSP solar field e-Simulator and Training platform including training materials that have been developed by European experts on CSP and training and have been tested on several pilot courses (R12) in different countries as Spain, Italy and Greece.•(R5 & R11) EU Competence Profile and EU CSP CV that standardise the skill set for the CSP sector at European level and have been developed European Qualification Structures (EQF and ECVET), quality principles (EQAVET) and following the classification of European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO).•(R13) National proposals of European Qualification in order to scale the recognition of the EU CSP CV by promoting the adoption of this formal training structure in Spain, Italy and Greece.The results of the project have enabled organisations independent of their geographic location to acquire new qualifications. Regarding the impact, the project strengthens the contribution of education and training to the realisation of the objectives of EU 2020, in both priorities employment and sustainability. It contributes to the “ANTICIPATION and matching of labour market and skills needs” (Agenda for new skills and jobs) and creation of a European permanent learning space and mobility of workers. It is necessary to point out some results that will have a great importance beyond the project life such as the e-Simulator and training platform that will allow to train new professionals by using free training materials and tools made by the main associations of CSP sector in Europe. The SolarCV consortium has ensured the future viability of these tools (results) by the review activities set on the After-Project Impact Monitoring Plan (R17).