Logistics VET Hub

"<< Background >>The logistics industry is one of the productive sectors with highest economic growth and trade integration. The extensive modernization of logistic services and operations (mechanization, automation) have incurred in a higher diversification of occupations and professional profiles. In particular, the rapid digital transformation of the logistic sector, aggravated by Covid19 that put the industry upside downv and therefore the need to change also the VET education provision. However, this industry encounters difficulties in Europe to fill inthese new jobs, as this technological modernization clashes with a lack of adequate skilled labor to adapt to the recruiting needs and perform the assigned tasks, leading to youth unemployment rates. Europe is considering these shortcomings an opportunity to convert into logistics-based training centers, requiring a larger and cooperation investment between logistics business and VET. For this, the Logistics VET Hub addressed the need to identify the European profiles needed in future to adapt to this industry and increase recruitment of VET graduates; prepare schools for the future labour market and make VET youngsters to open to the advantadges of a career in this wide and strategic sector<< Objectives >>The general objective we wanted to achive was the creation of a sustainable partnership between VET and logistics experts to address the VET quality and innovation needed inthe field of logistics. Project partners successfully set up thebasis of a strong and committed alliance working towards the mission of the need to adapt this education to companies, which was commonly affecting European cities in the 6 countries (Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Estonia).The specific objectives we wanted to achive was to positively persuade companies about the advantadges of VET logistics education as the key qualification path to solve the future challenges (SO1), to modify the VET curricula according to the new sector trends (SO2) and to raise attractiveness of these studies among youngsters (SO3). << Implementation >>We implemented activities that were firstly aimed at the 1) identification and discussion of the present situation of the industry nowadays (such as main characteristics of employees, professionals profiles and skills more demanded); secondly to the analysis of the future trends, professional profiles more difficult to find, how VET can fit in this adaptation and where is logistics industry heading in Europe, according to the expertise and workcarried out from all partner organizations; and thirdly we offeredv an in-person experience for staff and students to get a sense of specific logistics environments like in Sweden and Estonia to understand the emeging industry and fast-growing sectors in both countries. All in all, resulting inputs were compiled into the ""Infography on European logistic companies, professional profiles and skills of present and future"" (https://logisticsvethub.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/diptico_logistics_v9.pdf) and in the ""Report on the Present and Future Scenario for VET & Logistics in Europe"" (hereinafter,Report) (see https://logisticsvethub.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/final-report-on-the-present-and-future-w-recomms_oct2023-1.pdf). << Results >>The concrete outputs partners have achieved are the following: -Elaboration of methodological research tools for partners to undertake the desk-based activities (eg. Methodology, Fieldwork, Contextualization, Interviews, Good practices and Recommendations-Elaboration of the ""Infography on European logistic companies, professional profiles and skills of present and future"" to get to know main market characteristics, professionals profiles more demanded, future needs and skills required across Europe: https://logisticsvethub.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/diptico_logistics_v9.pdf-Elaboration of the ""Report on the Present and Future Scenario for VET & Logistics in Europe"" with the main insights of the present and future logistics industry scenarios in Europe, future challenges and trends, profesional profiles and skills more demanded and difficult to find, including good pricties and recommendations: https://logisticsvethub.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/final-report-on-the-present-and-future-scenario-for-vet-.pdfAfter the project, we have achieved/gained/experienced the following other outputs: -Deeper understanding of the project rationale through continuous collaboration in each activity, also by connecting their respective local logistic communities;-Higher visibility of their organisations in their locations as they are facing a relevant challenge in Europe that must be solved in partnership; -New methodological tools to get acurate information from target groups and that can be replicable to other sectors;-New ways of communication, information exchange and a sense of constant feedback required to make progress; -Higher visibility and internationalization of partner organisations by opening them up to other realities and contexts in Europe with same challenges as they have learnt from other territories which are the most missing profesional profiles, which will be more neede in future (eg. eg. Truck driver, warehouses or crane operators);-Good practices from each country exchanged with the rest of partners and beyond the partnership using different channels; -Created new ways of communication, information exchange (by regular email and addition follow up virtual meetings) and sharing documentation (by creating a Google Drive shared folder with access to all project information);-Made staff and student participants more knowledgeable and encouraged to work in the logistics sector and strenght the collaboration in future projects."