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Description
The European Blue Economy, currently representing around 5.4 million jobs, is set to double its employment by 2030. Its problem is, that young people are not being attracted to maritime careers and businesses cannot find the required workforce, skills and profiles (European Commission SWD (2017) 130). The project aims to attract and engage young people between 15 and 29 years and convert them to pursue a sustainable career in Blue Economy in Greece, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria and Poland.
Our target is to reach up to 39,000 young people, mainly NEETs, through promotional activities and convert at least 2,000 to employment or training in the Blue Economy. We organise info days about blue career prospects and offer free personal mentoring programs developed by mentors who become knowledgeable promoters via the Blue Career MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) Platform. Youth can gain first-hand experience in coastal tourism, aquaculture, ocean energy, marine biotechnology, shipbuilding, maritime transport and fisheries through study visits, at local or European level.
We have developed attractive digital tools, available for free i.e. the Blue Career Guide, with information about the employment prospects, remuneration offered, and skills required in each of the seven Blue Economy sectors, and the Blue Career Job Platform, where youth can find job offers from potential employers and submit their applications.
Summary of project results
The Blue Generation Project was initiated to address critical challenges faced by the European Blue Economy. Despite the sector''s potential for growth and job creation, there was a significant gap in attracting young talent. The maritime careers were struggling to entice the youth, leading to a shortage of skilled workforce. Simultaneously, there were millions of young people, categorized as NEETs, presenting an untapped pool of potential talent. The project aimed to bridge this gap by inspiring and engaging young individuals aged 15 to 29 to pursue sustainable careers in the Blue Economy.
Project Activities and Significance:
Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration: Experts from the Blue Economy and youth organizations came together to share insights into skills needs, job positions, and existing training opportunities.
Promotional Activities: The project partners coducted targeted promotional activities in high schools, adult education centers, NGOs, unemployment services, and local associations to create awareness about Blue Career opportunities among youth.
Guidance and Support: The project partners provided Personal mentoring, skills validation, and short exchanges to guide interested youth toward suitable employment and training in the Blue Economy.
The project partners developed 6 training courses with 3.199 enrollments.
Transferability and Sustainability: The creation of a BluePrint Guide and two International Conferences facilitated the transferability of project success to the Blue Generation Federation and laid the foundation for long-term sustainability.
Project results:
- 20,000,000 youth reached through social media with 1.700 posts
- 47,000 informed by 61 trained Mentors in 771 promotional visits
- 166 engaged in active job search
- 9.935 viewed 104 “blueFocus” interviews conducted with 109 Blue Economy professionals
- 4.030 watched 6 VR videos in 6 languages showcasing the environment and everyday life of people working in all Blue sectors
- 793 enrolled in training and mobility schemes
- 3.082 mentored
- 684 connected via the Blue Career Job platform with 932 organizations offered 2.474 training + employment positions.
- 10 live “blueTALKS” live roundtable panels with representatives from the government, the academia and the industry discussing the blue career prospects
- 6 Blue Career Courses that provide practical skills and knowledge and enable youth to enter the Blue Economy job market
Summary of bilateral results
The project has significantly benefited from the active involvement and expertise of the Iceland Aquaculture Association (IAA) and the Norwegian Wind Energy Association (Norwea) from Iceland and Norway, respectively. IAA, representing the aquaculture sector, has provided valuable insights, consultation, and support to the Beneficiary Partners, offering expertise in aquaculture, facilitating connections with stakeholders, and contributing to the development of the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) and the Blue Career Guide. IAA has also organized International Study Visits for NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and supported the Blue Career Platform by linking it to its members and industry employers.On the other hand, Norwea, as Norway''s leading forum for renewable energy, particularly marine renewable energy, has played a crucial role in guiding and supporting the Beneficiary Partners in the Renewable Ocean Energy sector. Similarly, Norwea participated in the exchange seminar, shared knowledge about skills needs, job positions, and existing training in the sector, and contributed to the development of educational resources. Norwea has organized International Study Visits for NEETs, supported the Blue Career Platform by connecting it to its forum members and industry employers, and leveraged its position in the sub-sector to provide valuable expertise and connections.In summary, both IAA and Norwea have been instrumental in enhancing the project''s success by leveraging their expertise, fostering connections, and providing crucial support in the aquaculture and renewable ocean energy sectors, respectively. Their contributions have extended to various aspects, including skills development, job opportunities, and training requirements, ultimately enriching the overall impact of the project.