المحتوى متاح باللغة الإنجليزية

EU-funded project YEP MED: Digital Literacy key in training the new working generation

There is no doubt that the year 2020 has cemented itself in the history books. With social upheaval, extreme weather patterns and a global pandemic, the effects of the year will continue to be felt throughout the second decade of the 21^st century. But what kind of consequences will be felt in the labour market, especially in the Mediterranean where the connections between the northern and southern shores have historically been not without challenges?

This is an interesting concept to consider. The drastic changes from last year can be felt in the way transport operations take place, communication is carried out, and in particular in the labour market in general – and this is where the YEP MED project will prove influential. The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically shifted the way people work and learn – and this can be seen among the younger working population, people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) and women. The labour market has shifted into a digital stratosphere, and with that opened up a new world of professional opportunities.

Following the YEP MED kick-off meeting during an interview with YEP MED project representatives, Mr Fabrizio Paloni, the coordinator of the Joint Technical Secretariat of the ENI CBC Med Programme, predicted that “NEETs - usually have a profile of people with education, but who cannot easily access the labour market and find a job - now, with more digitised and distance positions on the horizon have the basic skills they can use for working.” The digitisation of the labour market, though not without significant losses in traditional manual labour positions, has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for the incoming working generation.

YEP MED, as part of the training to prepare the students for transport and logistic professions, will use a digital twin of a port community that will help simulate near-real-life operations. This kind of digital and practical experience will help prepare the students for any challenges that they may face in real working environments.

At the YEP MED project headquarters we believe that, with the 4^th industrial revolution upon us, digital literacy is key to success. The courses will begin in February 2021, with an (online) pilot course taking place for the Barcelona community. Its successful completion will be followed by the courses in the other participating communities of Rome (Italy), Valencia (Spain), Marseille (France), Beirut (Lebanon), Aqaba (Egypt), Damietta (Egypt) and Tunis (Tunisia).

For a full list of partners of the YEP MED project, you can go to the project's website. As associated entities, MEDPorts association and Consell Valencià de la Joventut will also join the project.

For more information on the project you can contact Concha Palacios from the project office at concha.palacios@portdebarcelona.cat.