Background 

Rail transport is a major driver in pursuing the strategic European objective of smart, green and sustainable growth. Rail transport already plays a key role for Europe’s economy and society, but has the potential to contribute much more. The sector is experiencing a severe skills shortage and a need for re/upskilling. Additionally, a large share of the current workforce is expected to retire within the next 10 years. There is also currently a major transformation process driven by research and innovation, which requires suitable skills and competencies. The European rail sector is moreover affected by fragmentation among its stakeholders (operators, infrastructure managers, suppliers, etc.). 

Project content 

STAFFER develops training and education paths as well as curricula based on current and future skills and competence needs for the whole rail sector. These are then validated for effectively increasing employability and career opportunities. Cross-European mobility programmes and work-based internships for students, apprentices and staff will be implemented. STAFFER delivers human capital solutions for all levels of rail value chain to unify the entire European rail system.

Project results 

The result of STAFFER is the establishment of a rail stakeholder partnership, the Sector Skill Alliance. The Alliance develops a holistic Blueprint strategy to recognise present and new skill needs adequately and timely, and substantially contributes to the Single European Rail Area. The strategy will allow to overcome the fragmentation of the rail sector, and help rail industry as well as vocational education and training (VET) institutions to design and realise concrete actions to satisfy skills needs, beyond the project's lifetime and beyond the organisations involved in the Alliance.

More information on the project can be found on the STAFFER webpage.