In all Baltic Sea Region (BSR) countries there is a great shortage of entrepreneurs and managers that substantially limits the growth of SMEs and the innovation capacity. Here, the demographic challenges play a crucial role but also the existing education systems. You can observe this link especially in countries with predominantly school-based vocational training and a lack of further training, where entrepreneurs are particularly lacking.
25% less young labour force in BSR countries by 2030!
In addition to the high demand for entrepreneurs, and at least equally high demand is for managers who, in addition to sound professional and technical qualifications, can offer leadership and managerial skills. Given this strong decline on the one hand and the high obsolescence of the present company owners on the other, it is getting increasingly difficult to satisfy the high replacement demand for new entrepreneurs.
85% of all new jobs in the EU are to be created in SMEs!
However, the number of companies may rise by at least 1% per year, implying a high additional demand for entrepreneurs in addition to the replacement demand.
Now, how did we meet the challenges?
The project aimed to train company successors, entrepreneurs and managers in the Baltic Sea Region.
How? We developed and tested an uniform Master craftsman training for BSR (for the occupation electricical engineering) that bases on a comparable high-level master qualification program. Here, we have drawn on the experience of the German master craftsman training. The training can be finished with a master craftsman exam, for that we drafted examination regulations. Furthemore, the qualification program is classified in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and evaluated in accordance with ECVET-based credit points. So we can guarantee a cross-border transfer of acquired skills and the international recognition of the qualification.
To continuously attract qualified lecturers for the implementation of the master craftsman training, a training program for trainers is ready and already tested. The target groups are teachers at chambers, other educational institutions, colleges / universities / universities of applied sciences, who are specifically trained as instructors. We are sure, all stakeholders involved will benefit from the master craftsman training.
Who were involved in the project?
The project coordinated by the Hanse Parlament consisted of further 7 partners: chambers, associations, educational institutions (vocational schools and universities) from Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Norway. The eight project partners developed, tested, evaluated and implemented the training measures. Also, 67 chambers of commerce, industry and crafts with their educational institutions, other funding agencies, colleges and universities from 50 regions of 13 countries are involved as associated partners. All project results were published in a handbook and forwarded to the 67 associated partners, who in their turn, will be assisted with demand-oriented implementation counselling. The results were presented and discussed in person at five workshops and three international conferences on consulting and knowledge transfer, thus attracting and including other stakeholders, from politics or from the management area. In turn, this may lead to integration of the craftsman master training in educational and economic policy, at local, regional and national level and may secure a very high sustainability level and sustainable use of the project results on a large scale.
