Current Events in International Projects

KICK-OFF MEETING, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

The first day of the project meeting of the grant scheme ERASMUS - Lump Sum Grants (LS), of which FM UK is a part, is successfully over.

The ChemSkills project: enabling the green and digital skills transformation of the chemical industry is one of 14 projects approved in the area.

This is the largest project consortium out of 49 projects in which I have participated so far. The consortium is made up of 33 partners and 2 associate partners.

The main aim of the project is the development of skills, educational trainings for all levels of education (re-skilling, up-skilling of the current workforce, including highly qualified ones). Coincidentally, the year of the start of the project is the European Year of Skills, which is focused on professional training, education and improving the qualifications of employees. The project officially started on September 1, 2023 and will last 4 years.

Emma Argutyan, CEO of the European Chemical Employers Group (ECEG), welcomed the members of the consortium at the opening meeting.
The perception of the project from the perspective of the European Union was presented by Emilia Venot, ChemSkills' Project Officer from the European Commission (EC). She presented the main EU skills initiative, the Skills Pact. She encouraged all participants to register and engage in the provision of retraining and upskilling training.

Emilie Venot statement “ChemSkills represents a pioneering project that will be monitored under the scrutiny of the EC”. We realize how much responsibility is on our shoulders. On the other hand, one will appreciate the encouragement that all partners received in the form of her quote "Don't be afraid to fail. That will also say a lot."

The project was then comprehensively summarized by Anni Siltanen, ChemSkills', its project manager, and then all members of the consortium introduced themselves. The administrative and financial overview of the project was presented by Chiara Foglio& Eleonora Isopo ECEG Secretariat.

2nd and 3rd day
KICK-OFF MEETING, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
-    WP 1-4 leaders presentations.
-    WP 5-10 brainstorming in parallel session.
-    Presentation of the results of sub-WP 5-10.
-    Discussion.
-    Wrap up the kick off meeting and future steps.
-    Closing remarks.

Once more, I would like to expres my thanks to the organizers and to the whole consortium for an excellent collaboration as well as creative and friendly atmosphere. So far, we are proud to be a part of such great team of people.