A seminar was held in Casa da Portela, Amarante, Portugal from 24-27 October 2024 on “European Year of skills: How to obtain more skills to cope with the digitalisation of the economy, work and society in order to promote new quality jobs. The role of workers' organisations in education reform and lifelong learning”, organised by FIDESTRA (Associação para a Formação, Investigação e Desenvolvimento Social dos Trabalhadores (Association for the Social Training, Research and Development of Workers)), in cooperation with EZA and funded by the European Union. 52 representatives of workers' organisations from Portugal, Spain, Poland, Serbia and Germany took part in the seminar.
The following topics were discussed:
- Challenges of digitalisation in the future. AI is just one route.
- The future of digitalisation in the economy, work and society
- Tools for developing digital skills and the role of workers' organisations to train for the best skills on the labour market
- Professional skills for the future
- Life-long learning – challenges and opportunities and good practices of companies and organisations to promote qualifications
- The future of general education and vocational training
Various specialist presentations described experiences in the business world with new technologies and entrepreneurship and outlined the challenges of digitalisation now and in the future.
Moreover, examples of dynamic companies were presented that promote the training of workers in new technologies and prepare them for the future of work and the robustness of production units and the modern era.
The development of digital skills is fundamental and ongoing and will shape the future of companies and workers alike
Speakers from Poland, Serbia, Spain and Portugal presented different national visions and challenges for the world of work that have arisen with respect to digitalisation.
The attendees worked in groups to explore ideas for planning training programmes in companies for human resources and the implementation of the relevant strategies and concrete measures.
The participants also analysed the diverse and rapid changes in all areas of work and business models.
The attendees also discussed the importance of education as a foundation in terms of general education and vocational training, and how this was considered as crucial in the past, while today people must also learn to educate themselves and pursue their own personal and professional development.
Schools of the future will therefore be forced to adapt their methodology and redesign their spaces to ensure the education they aim to provide is delivered. The relationship between educators and students will have to change.
KEY CONCLUSIONS
- Artificial intelligence is important, but as a complement to our human development and not as a replacement for humans.
- We must prepare for this change which has already been imposed on us by AI.
- This reality does not belong to the past; it is the present, and it is happening at high speed. It is therefore vital that young people – future workers – and currently active workers, acquire skills. No one should be left behind in this ongoing revolution.
- It is therefore also important and necessary for workers' organisations to join forces to find ways of achieving inclusion and equal opportunities in the digital world.