Empowering young people to undertake a ‘Railway Erasmus’ in other European countries and organising dedicated national rail curriculums across Europe, are some of the many recommendations outlined by the Skill Training Alliance For the Future European Rail System (STAFFER) project in its landmark report into preparing for future sector staffing needs whilst ending rail skills shortages.
After four years of intense and fruitful collaboration, STAFFER delivered during its final conference in Brussels its findings, including a long-term Strategy and Action Plan and policy recommendations to decision-makers. The Rail Sector’s Blueprint for Skills funded by the ERASMUS+ Programme of the European Union, and led by the University of Genoa brought together 31 partners and 17 associate partners from academics, trainers, railway undertakings and suppliers to end skill shortages in rail.
Creating and funding a ‘Railway Erasmus’ to give students undertaking railway-related studies, apprenticeships or internships in companies an experience to develop both as employees and people is one of the flagship proposals. This measure has the potential, if successful, to act as a world-leading model to solve skill shortages and give young people the best possible chance to grow and succeed in their professional lives.
As many industries and education providers are encountering difficulties in teaching young people the technical and soft skills required to succeed at work, the report recommends that companies apply the ‘70-20-10 continuous learning principle’ (70% learning on the job, 20% learning from others, 10% training).
These recommendations outline the need to connect young people with on-the-job training opportunities in different environments across Europe, where their place of education or employment could transfer them to other program participants, creating a formalised network of skill transfers across the European rail sector.
Dedicated national rail curriculums in universities and technical colleges where the railway sector partners with existing education providers to assist in creating new institutions that deliver courses and degrees in the rail field – were also outlined as vital to ensure future workers for the sector.
These programmes would be targeted at job seekers who have just graduated from secondary or higher education, as well as other individuals who would like to change jobs or move into the sector. These programmes, co-run with rail sector stakeholders, could be funded through ERASMUS+ or the European Social Fund.
The recommendations also outline the challenging demographics of the rail sector – an ageing workforce (40-45% of workers are 50+ years old), with an ‘outdated’ public image impacting how the sector recruits. The report states that the sector is perceived as ‘old-fashioned and male-dominated’, which ‘could deter potential workers from choosing a career in the rail sector.’
The report further advises businesses to create policies and initiatives (like the STAFFER Mentoring Programme) that facilitate the integration of women, immigrants, and other underrepresented groups into the railway workforce in order to foster diversity and increase the number of women employed (currently only about 20%).
At the final conference, STAFFER partners called on policymakers, education providers, railway undertakings and suppliers to swiftly start implementing the changes outlined by the draft policy recommendations, which are available here.
Share on:
