European Social Fund Agency (P8) organised six separated meetings with different strategic regional stakeholders between December 2019 and February 2020. Specifically, representatives from Sunrise Valley - Science and Technology Park, Lithuanian Innovation Centre (LIC), EIM (Department of Economy development, Human recourse development unit), LINPRA (ambassador of Lithuanian engineering industries) and Vilnius jeruzale labour market training centre (VJLMTC) were constantly and actively involved. Every meeting had the basic purpose to present the projects objective, activities and planned results and to discuss the future cooperation possibilities. Here below are reported some interesting feedbacks came up from the meetings:
The Public Institution Lithuanian Innovation Centre (LIC) presented his expert insights on SME's skills needs:
- A lack of training for higher managers in the field of digitisation was mentioned
- Existing measure doesn't finance any kind of training for higher managers
- Digitisation training is perceived as general training
That’s why it would be crucial important to change perception of what general training is. Moreover, in order to improve existing measures was proposed to such as: Competence voucher - to include digitisation trainings; Increasing sum allowed; Facilitate administration burden for small amount projects.
EIM perspective were presented too. In particular, it was pointed out that I4.0 will impact workers with different levels of education so it was underlined the need to distinguish skills according to the different situations of people (labour, age, education etc.) In Lithuania levels of education are divided into 3 main areas: lower education (LE), medium education (ME) and higher education (HE – minimum Bachelor’s degree). I4.0 will change the need for certain skills in each of these levels of education. The contributions should reflect trends in skills needs.
The representatives from LINPRA, an independent business organisation, representing Lithuanian engineering industry, presented their insights and proposals to introduce a curriculum in the educational (vocational) institutions.
The representatives VJLMTC presented data, information they have in metal sector, that can be useful for the Project 40Ready. They also provided insights about SME needs in vocational training, how standards for educational programs can be influenced.
