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Globalisation is changing the face of the EU labour market – bringing numerous advantages, but also creating new competitive challenges for European companies. It is therefore crucial to invest in skills to improve workers’ abilities and to adapt them to the changing needs.
Businesses in Europe are currently faced with a number of questions, such as:
* How can we make better use of employees’ enhanced skills and competences?
* How can we provide better opportunities for the further development of these skills? and
* How can we ensure good co-operation with regional authorities when it comes to managing an EU-funded project?
Businesses that are not adequately prepared to tackle these issues will be forced to compete solely through low prices and labour costs.
A good education has traditionally been considered as the way to ensure young people’s smooth transition from education and training systems to the labour market or between jobs. But what can be seen more and more nowadays is a vicious circle of lack of work and training experience on the part of young people, and employers’ reluctance to recruit inexperienced young workers and invest in their training.
Vladimír Spidla, EU Commissioner for Employment said: "The future of the European Union hinges on a more productive and more competitive Europe. Europe’s future economic growth will increasingly depend on productivity gains and its capacity for innovation, and consequently on investment in training and in research and development."
A number of initiatives have tried to fill this niche, from intensive courses lasting several days to a year-long academic Master programme. Another option has recently been launched, in the form of an advanced graduate programme called ‘Managing EU Projects’. Developed by the Institute of European Studies (VUB) in cooperation with DL International, it offers participants practical training to understand the EU’s mechanisms and project management. The programme comprises academic theory, practical work and networking in Brussels, the heart of the EU.
"Many people feel that Europe is at a crossroads and are uncertain about which direction we should take to ensure the brightest future," said Günter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission. "However as far as Europe’s economic prospects are concerned, the road ahead is clear: we have to make every effort to generate higher levels of growth and create more and better jobs."
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