Strengthening maritime expertise and competitiveness through Erasmus

Together with 18 partners from eight European countries, Norway’s MAFOSS will contribute to maintaining and developing Europe’s competitiveness in the maritime industry.

‘It is very useful for us to be part of this Erasmus+ project,’ says Jan Thormodsæter, general manager of the Maritime Association for Southern Sunnmøre (MAFOSS).

The project, called LeaderSHIP (Learning European Alliance for Digital, Environmental and Resilient Shipbuilding), has received EUR 4 million from Erasmus+ to help meet the future green and digital skills needs of Europe’s maritime industry.

Together with universities, industry organisations, educational institutions and business stakeholders, MAFOSS will develop common models and systems for continuing and further education.

Watch a video about the project (you can choose between Norwegian and English subtitles by clicking on the cogwheel icon):

– Green and digital skills are key

Jan Thormodsæter, CEO of MAFOSS, believes that it is extremely useful for industry in southern Sunnmøre to be involved in shaping and developing training programmes for the maritime professions of the future and to help tell a new story about the “old” professions.

‘We must provide young people with training that enables them to meet the future skills needs of the maritime industry – and green and digital skills are key to this. Young people are concerned about sustainability, and incorporating more sustainability into training makes it more interesting for young people to apply for maritime subjects,’ he says.

Read more about the project on the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform.

Gaining valuable experience, knowledge and networks

The project partners also include Møre og Romsdal County Council. International advisor Kristian Severeide believes it is important for the county council to participate in the project, among other things to be able to adapt and test new elements in the education programme.

“The maritime industry is a mainstay in our region. When skills requirements change, it is crucial that we, as a regional developer and provider of upper secondary education, keep up with developments and adapt our programmes. LeaderSHIP gives us valuable experience, knowledge and networks in Europe, as well as the opportunity to test new elements in our educational programmes,” says Severeide.

The Draghi report: A major skills gap must be closed

In autumn 2024, the renowned economist Mario Draghi delivered a high-level report pointing out that there is a significant gap between supply and demand when it comes to the skills needed by the European labour market.

This skills gap must be closed in order to secure and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in a more uncertain world. Europe must stand together and work together to compete with, for example, the United States and China as powerhouses of innovation and development.

Erasmus+ is a tool for meeting the challenges

Thormodsæter recognises the situation described by Draghi and points out that Erasmus+ is a tool that can be used to meet these challenges.

‘The project gives us a unique opportunity to see what our competitors in other European countries are doing, while at the same time we can jointly stem Asian competition in the maritime industry,’ he says.

The project is funded through the Innovation Alliances initiative, Lot 2: Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills.

Watch the video here : Styrker maritim kompetanse og konkurransekraft gjennom Erasmus+ | HK-dir