The activation of a wide range of services due to the shift from hardware to software is accompanied by emerging technologies such as Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. The spread of these new processes largely impacts the fast-growing demand for professionals with highly specialised software skillsets.
Shorter and targeted training cycles are needed to keep up with this rapid transformation. VET (Vocational Education and Training) is a training that allows a better alignment with the needs of employers, thanks to more flexible learning paths.
The European Software Skills Alliance wants to meet the short, medium, and long-term demand for software skills, enabling continuous development, innovation, and competitiveness in the sector.
For these reasons, four of the ESSA partners organised the first Italian ESSA webinar on 19 May 2021 to support the co-creation of a national strategy for Software Skills.
The main scope of the webinar was to engage the local and national stakeholders in the current actions carried out by the project and expand the Software Skills Alliance by engaging new relevant sector representatives.
In particular, the webinar focused on presenting the ESSA objectives, methodology and instruments adopted, such as the Need Analysis, the market demand and supply study, and the National Focus Group. Local and national stakeholders are crucial to support the definition of a national and EU strategy in line with the current and emerging market needs.