Tag Archive for: occupational training

YEP MED by the Escola Europea wins the WestMED Best Project 2025 Award in Tunis

/in , , , ,

On the 28th of November, the YEP MED – Young Employment in Ports of the Mediterranean project, led by the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, received the prestigious WestMED Best Project 2025 Award in the category of Blue Skills & Ocean Literacy during the ceremony held in Tunis. This award recognises Mediterranean initiatives that significantly contribute to the development of blue skills and ocean literacy.

Alessia Mastromattei, Country Manager for Italy, and Marta Miquel, Deputy Director General, accepted the award on behalf of the Escola Europea.

The ceremony took place within the framework of the 5th WestMED Stakeholder Conference (WestMED Conference 2025), organised by the WestMED Blue Economy Initiative and supported by the European Commission through the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) on behalf of DG MARE. The event gathered key regional actors to advance cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development across the Mediterranean.

Funded by the ENI CBC MED programme of the European Union, YEP MED has transformed the way young people, teachers, and professionals access maritime and port training. The project was particularly recognised for democratizing education through innovative tools such as the Port Virtual Lab, an immersive platform that allows users to simulate real port logistics chain operations. This hands-on methodology has helped develop essential skills related to digitalisation, sustainability, environmental management, international trade, and teamwork.

YEP MED connected eight Mediterranean ports – including Barcelona, Valencia, Marseille, Rome, Tunis, Beirut, Damietta, and Aqaba – creating an active collaborative network that has boosted youth talent in the port and logistics sectors. Thanks to this joint effort, the project achieved remarkable impact: 3,683 trained students, 161 courses delivered, 72 trainers trained, and over 1,093 internships and job placements across 514 companies, ensuring gender-balanced participation throughout.

Although the project officially concluded in 2023, YEP MED remains alive through the work of PLIKA – Port Logistics International Knowledge Academy, which continues to strengthen and expand the community created by the initiative. A recent example is PLIKA’s participation in the Mediterranean Day event on 27 November, where regional stakeholders exchanged experiences and reaffirmed their commitment to blue education and sustainable maritime economies.

Receiving the WestMED award reinforces YEP MED’s position as a regional benchmark in training, port cooperation, and blue talent development, demonstrating that transnational collaboration can generate long-lasting and replicable results across the Mediterranean basin.

The WestMED Stakeholder Conference 2025, where the recognition was presented, brought together government representatives, academic institutions, ports, companies, and international organisations from across the region. The event focused on strategic areas of the blue economy – including energy transition, sustainable aquaculture, maritime spatial planning, and especially training and blue skills – and served as a key platform to foster new synergies and projects that support the sustainable development of the Mediterranean.

Innovative AI Training for Port Logistics by Escola Europea

/in , , , ,

The Escola Europea has recently launched a pioneering series of courses dedicated to exploring the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) specifically within port logistics communities. This initiative underscores the institution’s commitment to integrating contemporary technological advancements into their educational repertoire.

Since its inception, the Escola Europea has been renowned for its experiential teaching approaches, ensuring that students gain practical, hands-on experience in addition to theoretical knowledge. The decision to introduce a series focused on AI applications within port logistics communities stems from the institution’s desire to keep pace with the rapidly evolving technological landscape. With AI increasingly permeating nearly all aspects of employment fields, it is essential to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to navigate these changes effectively.

Courses Overview

The AI course series has already seen the successful organization of three insightful sessions, all focusing on port logistics communities. With each session taught by a seasoned professional, the courses offer specialized and valuable insights. The first course delved into AI applications in people management within ports, offering participants a comprehensive understanding of how AI can enhance workforce management and development in this specialized field. The second course focused on marketing and sales, demonstrating how AI tools can be leveraged to optimize marketing strategies and sales operations specific to port environments. The third session addressed AI’s role in finance and administrations in port logistics, highlighting its potential to streamline administrative processes and improve financial management within these communities.

The final course in this series, scheduled for July, will concentrate on operations within port logistics communities. This session aims to provide participants with a deep dive into the operational efficiencies that AI can bring to port logistics, from automation to predictive analytics.

The logistics sector, particularly within port communities, stands to benefit significantly from AI integration. AI technologies can enhance various aspects of logistics operations, including inventory management, shipment tracking, and predictive maintenance. By offering these specialized courses, Escola Europea is ensuring that professionals in the field are well-prepared to harness the power of AI, driving innovation and efficiency in their respective roles.

The Escola’s dedication to staying ahead of technological trends is evident in their proactive approach to education. By continuously updating and expanding their course offerings to include cutting-edge topics like AI, the organisation demonstrates its commitment to providing relevant and impactful education. This innovative course series is set to become a staple in their educational offerings, reflecting the institution’s forward-thinking ethos.

Final thoughts

“In an era where AI is not just an emerging technology but a critical component of various industries, staying informed and adept is not just beneficial—it’s imperative,” said Marta Miquel – the Chief Business Officer from the Escola Europea. As AI continues to transform various sectors, the Escola initiative to introduce AI-focused courses within port logistics communities is both timely and essential, fostering a generation of leaders ready to embrace and drive technological innovation.

John Dewey, an influential philosopher and educator, once said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” This new series of courses is a testament to Escola Europea’s enduring commitment to excellence and innovation in education, ensuring that the logistics community is well-prepared for the future.

YEP MED meeting - October - Civitavecchia

YEP MED to launch second round of occupational training courses for the Italian youth

/in ,

“Occupational training”. A new course of the EU-funded project YEP MED for future professionals in the transport and logistics sector has been launched in Civitavecchia

 

On the 26th of October, representatives of the Italian partners of the European YEP MED project met in Civitavecchia to finalise the planning and scheduling of new courses for the training of future professionals in the field of port management and logistics. The project is funded under the ENI CBC Med Programme of the European Union.

This meeting, previously announced in the summer months, brought together the local partners of the Civitavecchia port community and representatives from the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport – the project leader. The partners discussed the new calendar of “occupational training” courses.

This will be the second cycle of highly specialised vocational training courses, which gives the students the opportunity to develop skills in the logistics and intermodal sectors in the participating countries to facilitate the development and promotion of new Motorways of the Sea that connect the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean. The courses will start mid-November. The coordination committee, which met at the headquarters of the Port System Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (AdSP), is proceeding with the evaluation of the teachers and the development of the selection procedures for participants. In the next few weeks the publication of the call for applications will take place, which will be advertised on the AdSP website and on the social media channels of the port authority.

About YEP MED   

The YEP MED project, led by the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport, aims to develop port-logistics training and vocational (TVET) resources adapted to sector needs to strengthen youth employability; increase and upgrade local employment opportunities through the creation of real dual-learning programmes with job placements, strengthening the role of SME’s operating in the port ecosystems for future employment creation; and set up collaborative national and transnational partnerships between port-logistics associations, operators, SMEs, training centres and VET providers, whilst introducing a PPP co-management process.

The project counts on the participation of partners from Spain, Italy, France, Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan. Throughout 30 months, the partners and associates of the project will implement tools to achieve the main objectives of this initiatives, in the short, medium and long terms. 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. The project will receive 2.9 M€ (90% EU Contribution) in funding over its lifetime.

For more information on the project you can contact Concha Palacios from the project office at [email protected].

Port Logistics Community Training

October and November will see the return of the Escola’s YEP MED courses

/in , , ,

With the colder months of autumn on their way, the Escola has opened up registrations for the new series of occupational training courses – as part of the European YEP MED project – in port logistics and administrative processes.

The Escola Europea Intermodal Transport, lead partner of the EU-Funded YEP MED (Youth Employment in the Ports of the MEDiterranean) project, jointly with the Council of the Prat de Llobregat (Ajuntament del Prat del Llobregat) and Barcelona Activa, has opened up the registrations for the second semester of courses in the Barcelona region.

The courses, which will be carried out online – with an inclusion of some in-person visits to the local port terminals – will provide an all-encompassing overview of the port logistics community and the administrative processes that surround transport operations within a port environment. Thanks to the funding from the European Union – these courses will be free for the students.

The first course – Introduction to International Trade Operations – will take place online between the 6th and the 15th of October 2021. During the training, the students will receive a general introduction to the administrative processes related to international trade operations in Barcelona, as well as become familiarised with the key aspects related to import and export operations. Registrations are now open for young students and women who have an administration background and are currently looking for employment opportunities. For more information, you can consult the event on our website.

The second course – Port Logistics Community Training – will take place both in Barcelona and online between the 18th and the 22nd of October 2021. This course will give the participants a more in depth view of the Port of Barcelona, its infrastructures, logistics equipment and operations, and it will give the local companies offering the workshops the opportunity to showcase their operations and present the professional profiles that they are currently searching for. Like before, this course will be open to young students and women who have an administration background. The completion of the previous course will be a pre-requirement before enrolling in this edition. For more information, you can consult the event on our website.

The final course of this series – Administrative Processes in International Trade- will take place at the end of October over a period of 10 half-days. This course will be taught online and it will incorporate the new innovative approach developed for the YEP MED project which involves the Simulated Practice Enterprises Methodology. The students will have the opportunity to practice all that they have learned in a digital twin of a port community – the Port Virtual Lab – that imitates all transport operations that take place in the real world. This course will ensure that the students finish the 3 course training programme with a complete knowledge and practical experience that will prepare them for the work force. For more information, you can consult the event on our website.

For more information about the YEP MED project you can contact Concha Palacios from the project office at [email protected] or head to the website.