Resources

3.1 Comparative report on labour market needs of specialised ICT skills and the use of microcredentials

In order to form a basis for the rest of the core activities, the consortium investigated the current state of the art in regards to ICT skills in demand, unfilled vacancies, skills-based hiring, short-term trainings and accreditations.

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In order to do so, the partners carried out:

Desk research: All partners performed desk research identifying specialised ICT skills in demand by SMEs, businesses and the public sector at national and EU level and create a comprehensive set of emerging ICT skills needed by the labour market across sectors.

Field research: Each partner conducted a focus group with at least 6 representatives of SMEs and businesses to collect insights on the skills and competences required by SMEs and other businesses to achieve their digital transformation. The aim of the focus groups was to cross-validate the results of the desk research and identify the most in demand digital skills needed by SMEs in the participating countries and also assess the reskilling and upskilling opportunities that SMEs provide to their employees.

Surveys: A survey was designed and disseminated to a large number of SMEs and businesses across all partner countries to identify and prioritise the ICT skills in demand in different industrial sectors. Survey data was analysed and the results was incorporated in the National Reports and the final comparative report.

Round-tables: Round-tables with representatives from companies, VET providers, business associations and local authorities was implemented each involving 4 stakeholders per partner, composed by:

  • 1 SME or business manager
  • 1 HEI representative
  • 1 career counsellor
  • 1 local authority representative

At the round-tables partner representatives and stakeholders discussed common practices to assess, validate and certify skills acquired through nonformal and informal education as well as best practices of skills-based hiring. The necessity to adopt and incorporate micro-credentials in national frameworks was discussed to explore ways in which local authorities and employers can support the adoption and use of micro-credentials and support upskilling and reskilling initiatives that have the potential to close the skills shortage.

All findings at national level were described in the National Reports developed by each project partner after the completion of the focus groups, which was then compiled into the Comparative report and labour market needs of specialised ICT skills and the use of microcredentials.

3.2 Skills Catalogue

All partners developed a Catalogue with a set of specialised ICT skills that need to be acquired by employees and university graduates seeking for a job in different industrial sectors, based on the findings gathered in the Comparative report and labour market needs of specialised ICT skills and the use of microcredentials.

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The catalogue includes the following:

  • Definition and description of 20 identified skills needed by companies to facilitate their digital transition.
  • Potential job titles connected to each skill
  • Learning outcomes, assessment and validation methods for each identified skill

This catalogue is the cornerstone of the training programme that is developed by CONVERT and will support companies in guiding their employees to gain new skills and undertake new tasks and responsibilities, as well as universities in guiding their students and graduates to new career paths.