The Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage, the European Heritage Strategy for the 21st Century, the Faro Convention and Towards an Integrated Approach to Cultural Heritage for Europe agree that cultural heritage is intrinsically related to personal wellbeing and human identity and a rich but underrated and under-resourced social and economic good.The CHARTER project will create a lasting, comprehensive sectoral skills strategy to ensure Europe has the necessary cultural heritage skills to support sustainable societies and economies. The project will use strategic collaboration and innovative methodologies to bridge the gaps between educational and occupational systems and employer needs, to reduce skills shortages, gaps and mismatches, and overcome the paucity of cultural heritage statistical data. The project’s 21 full members -plus its 7 affiliate partners- from 14 EU states are leading academic/training, employer and policy stakeholders in the European cultural heritage sector.The project will collect strategic data on the five knowledge areas of the call to identify core and transversal competences, including digital, technological and green adaptation skills. It will research existing programmes, identify gaps and propose capacity-building models and mechanisms for formal education and training (using the EQF and EQAVET frameworks), non-formal and informal learning, and professional mobility. It will carry out regional pilots to test and validate these approaches. It will analyse sectoral dynamics and map stakeholders. It will propose occupational task descriptors for occupational and economic frameworks.CHARTER will build a durable cultural heritage skills alliance in Europe by mainstreaming the project’s methodologies, outputs and outcomes, maximising their impact and creating multiplier effects at the European, national and regional levels, to enable Europe to sustainably protect, promote and enhance its tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
CHARTER aimed to create a sustainable skills strategy for cultural heritage. It bridged gaps between education, occupations, and employer needs by mapping trends and proposing training to equip professionals with new skills. The project developed a framework to standardize competencies, fostering mobility and capacity building. Additionally, CHARTER advocated for EU-level policy recommendations to support current and future heritage professionals.
The CHARTER project (Cultural Heritage Actions to Refine Training, Education, and Roles) tackled skills gaps in Europe’s cultural heritage sector. It aimed to develop a strategic, evidence-based approach to skills recognition, transferability, and sustainability. By analyzing workforce trends, education frameworks, and sectoral governance, CHARTER supported informed decision-making and policy alignment at national and EU levels.
<< Background >> The CHARTER project (Cultural Heritage Actions to Refine Training, Education, and Roles) tackled skills gaps in Europe’s cultural heritage sector. It aimed to develop a strategic, evidence-based approach to skills recognition, transferability, and sustainability. By analyzing workforce trends, education frameworks, and sectoral governance, CHARTER supported informed decision-making and policy alignment at national and EU levels. << Objectives >> CHARTER aimed to create a sustainable skills strategy for cultural heritage. It bridged gaps between education, occupations, and employer needs by mapping trends and proposing training to equip professionals with new skills. The project developed a framework to standardize competencies, fostering mobility and capacity building. Additionally, CHARTER advocated for EU-level policy recommendations to support current and future heritage professionals. << Implementation >> CHARTER combined research, policy engagement, and collaboration. It analyzed job vacancies, taxonomies (ESCO, ISCO), and education systems to assess skills gaps. The Circular Value Chain Model redefined heritage professions. By engaging policymakers, educators, and industry, CHARTER promoted skills intelligence, lifelong learning, and training pathways to ensure the long-term sustainability of cultural heritage professions. << Results >> CHARTER delivered a sector-wide skills strategy, highlighting the need for improved recognition of heritage occupations in European frameworks. Its Circular Value Chain Model provided a new methodology for understanding the sector, influencing policies, curricula, and statistical classifications. The project strengthened collaboration among institutions, leading to continued policy discussions with the European Commission and sectoral networks, ensuring long-term impact beyond its duration.