About

The Southern European Community for Offshore Wind Energy (SHOREWINNER) project aims to set up and develop a Community of Practice (CoP) based on the cooperation among five Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) committed to the development of skills, upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, sharing of resources, and achievement of major European goals and priorities. The CoVEs will be created in southern European countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus) with a promising offshore energy sector.

Each CoVE will engage national stakeholders to collaboratively provide vocational training aligned with the needs of the local industry. SHOREWINNER will establish a Community of Practice (CoP) to foster collaboration and partnerships among vocational education and training (VET) institutions, higher education institutions, enterprises, research groups, and industry representatives.

Project duration: 4 years (2024 – 2028)

Main Objectives

To provide relevant and excellent VET Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE), building on the synergies, common goals and potential for upward convergence among five southern European CoVEs (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Cyprus).

To promote exchanges among offshore energy industry stakeholders, training providers, learners and other relevant sectoral stakeholders by offering relevant VET at regional, national and transnational levels and by fostering the sharing of knowledge, multistakeholder collaboration, skills development and alignment with industry needs, decisively contributing to the twin green and digital transition with a better-prepared workforce.

Specific Objectives

SHOREWINNER will establish and gradually develop an international collaborative network (the SHOREWINNER CoP), that will operate at two levels:

At the national level: involving, in each of the five participating countries, a diversity of stakeholders able to create skills ecosystems in the offshore renewable energy sector;

At the international level: bringing together 5 CoVEs that:
i. Share a common interest in the offshore wind energy sector and offshore renewable energy sector.
ii. Will work together to adopt innovative approaches to tackle economic and social challenges, especially by contributing to: more efficient and relevant production of offshore wind energy thus meeting the EU sustainability goals; skilling, upskilling and reskilling diverse groups (students, workers, trainers, SMEs) leading to better jobs; fostering the participation and inclusion of disadvantaged and under-represented groups.
iii. Will adopt innovative approaches to increase the outreach, quality and effectiveness of VET.

Main Deliverables

A Community of Practice (CoP) to strengthen cooperation and partnerships between VET institutions, research groups, higher education institutions and industry representatives, in a virtuous knowledge triangle in the field of offshore renewable energy and co-design a strategic vision firmly anchored into the framework of regional development, innovation, and smart specialisation.

Upward convergence between the five countries and partners’ diverse expertise, thus contributing to the offshore energy skills ecosystem, facilitating applied research and innovation, entrepreneurial initiatives of trainees, and knowledge development.

Cooperation across the network of Southern Europe participant countries which have common interests in acquiring and using innovative, quality approaches to tackle the challenges of the offshore wind energy industry.

Transnational joint curricula and continuous VET courses for re-skilling the workforce

Methodology

The methodology behind the SHOREWINNER project takes a holistic approach that encompasses a mix of research and analysis methods, collaboration and knowledge sharing, paving the way for the (co)development of targeted interventions aimed at addressing the gaps and maximizing the opportunities identified while taking stock of the strengths of each CoVE in a logic of upward convergence.

The project’s activities and methods aim to produce comprehensive, up-to-date, and accurate outputs oriented by principles of continuous improvement and long-term sustainability. By addressing the sector’s needs, enhancing VET, fostering collaboration, and supporting a Community.

Based on the contribution and interaction among the 5 participating CoVEs, the methodology provides a robust framework to achieve the project’s objectives and drive positive change in the offshore wind energy sector, both at CoVE and at EU level.