Fostering growth in the Blue Economy by developing an action plan for Innovative European Aquaculture VET and harmonized qualifications

Growth has stalled in the European aquaculture industry, due to a shortage of staff with the right knowledge, skills and qualifications. If unaddressed, despite a growing demand for fish products globally, Europe could become uncompetitive.BlueEDU will determine how receptive the education system and aquaculture industry are to aquaculture vocational education and training (VET) innovation and the harmonisation of qualifications. With a high dependency on cage based rearing systems and technology, the 12 partner countries face many of the same skills development challenges, irrespective of the differences between northern and southern Europe in the fish species farmed.Through a combination of intensive engagement, demonstration and dissemination activities, influential industry members and VET providers, will be informed and enthused, motivating them to respond to subsequent questionnaire surveys, overcoming the common problem of poor response rates. BlueEDU will complete the evidence base upon which future strategies for aquaculture VET innovation and collaboration can be based.European level occupational definitions will be developed for high priority occupations, to produce a competence map that can complement EQF qualifications levelling, making VET more transparent and enhancing mobility, anchored to shared occupational definitions.The current VET supply will be evaluated, including formal and informal/non formal VET, to identify good practice for demonstration and sharing. The most successful VET practices, including ICT enabled learning, will be demonstrated to industry, raising awareness the potential impact VET innovation could have on work based learning and qualifications in particular.The outcomes will be disseminated to stakeholders, supported by a proposed action plan for future VET innovation and the harmonisation of qualifications, catalysing a new partnership between northern and southern European aquaculture interests and their VET sector