Survey to document the current situation in aquaculture vocational education and training supply
This survey aims to document the current situation of vocational education and training supply in aquaculture from the perspective of the VET providers.
All answers will be treated anonymously.
Results will be published on the BlueEDU web site.
The aquaculture workforce development challenge
Aquaculture technology and equipment is becoming increasingly sophisticated as cages get larger and in some cases, move further off shore. Computerised systems for environmental monitoring, fish feeding, surveillance and stock monitoring, are now well established.
Unsurprisingly, these technological advances raise the level of skills required by both husbandry operatives and fish production managers. As a result, many companies are finding it difficult to recruit and develop the ‘specialists’ that they need. Production methods continue to evolve as new technology is introduced. This makes staff updating increasingly demanding for industry and education and training providers alike.
In some countries, education and training providers supply the fish farming industry with well qualified young entrants. Those entering the workforce later in life are typically unqualified. It is often difficult for them to access conventional face to face education and training. In many countries, the industry and learners would benefit from more flexible and accessible work based aquaculture courses and qualifications.
The BlueEDU partnership
The Aquaculture Sector Skills Alliance (SSA) funded under the Erasmus+ programme was established during the summer of 2016. Its mission is to help industry and education and training providers to address the workforce development challenge summarised above.
The Norwegian University for Science and Technology (NTNU) lead the project, working with partners from Scotland, Greece and the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) in Belgium. As the ‘industry umbrella organisation’, FEAP are a key partner and they will mobilise the support and assistance of their producer organisation members.
What could the BlueEDU partnership do for education and training providers?
BlueEDU will complete an investigative project, between December 2016 and the EO November 2018. This could provide you the opportunity to forge a new working relationship with your industry and other education and training providers.
Information will be provided on:
Skills needs and aquaculture education and training demand by industry
- Improved definitions of the knowledge and practical skills cage farming husbandry staff and site managers require.
- Forecasts of how technological advances will impact on cage farming knowledge and skills requirements.
- Insight to the receptiveness of work based learners to the use of ICT and learning technologies within their training programme.
The available supply of aquaculture education and training
- An overview of European fish farming qualifications relevant to the cage farming fish husbandry and site manager occupational levels.
- Revitalised partnerships between the fish producer and service companies and education and training providers, to support the development of relevant and accessible courses.
- Improved access to fish farming technical information and industry best practices, leading to up to date learning resources.
- Insight to the use of learning technologies to improve the quality and accessibility of work based training.
- Aquaculture VET practitioner discussion groups, sharing ideas, leading to work based training improvement and innovation.
- Collaborative VET practitioner groups for VET innovation, collaboration and the sharing of learning resources.
How can you help the BlueEDU partnership to help you?
We invite your active support for the BlueEDU investigations and would be very grateful if you could encourage your lecturers, teachers and instructors to get fully involved.
The investigative process will include: structured interviews with key education managers, focus groups with teaching staff, demonstrations, and questionnaire surveys.
- Quantitative data will be gathered on the education and training provision available and relevant to cage farming husbandry operatives and supervisors.
- All teaching staff will be offered the opportunity to provide their views and to answer surveys on their education and training methods, anonymously.
- Education and training providers will be asked to share their approaches to delivery at seminars and events.
- Demonstrations of innovative education and training that can benefit work based learners will be particularly encouraged.
How is the industry involved?
The industry will be consulted through:
- Structured interviews with key senior managers.
- Focus groups linked to education and training demonstrations.
- Questionnaire surveys.
- Quantitative data will be gathered on the skills and education and training needs for cage farming husbandry operatives and supervisors.
Staff at all levels of the fish producing companies will be offered the opportunity to provide their views and to answer surveys, anonymously, to reveal:
- The aquaculture knowledge and practical skills that companies require of their husbandry staff and supervisors,
- the anticipated impact of technological advances on the future knowledge and skills needs of the husbandry and supervisors,
- the current and emerging aquaculture knowledge and skills gaps at company, national and European level, and
- the readiness of industry and education and training providers to adopt new training methods to improve work based training and accessibility.
What happens next when the investigation has finished?
The supply and demand data gathered and described above will be analysed. The results will be compiled with in a National and European level analysis to identify industry educations and training priorities. The available education and training supply can then be related to demand to establish the development priorities.
Ultimately, the output will inform a report and proposal for improvements to aquaculture education and training that will include:
- Additional aquaculture qualifications or modifications needed to address cage farming skills gaps identified in the BlueEDU countries.
- Improvements to the quality and accessibility of work based training through the application of learning technologies and a revitalised partnership with industry.
- Recognition of equivalent qualifications and the proposed harmonisation of qualification pathways.
- Recommended collaborative groupings of countries with compatible qualification systems and a will to work together to improve aquaculture education, training and qualifications.
The final report and proposal will be used to inform future bids for aquaculture education and training development projects. Opportunities for productive collaboration that have been identified and defined will be targeted.
Which European countries are involved?
There are 12 European countries to be investigated by BlueEDU.
The work will begin in Northern Europe, where salmon and rainbow trout farming dominate, including; Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Faroes, Iceland and Finland.
It will conclude in Southern Europe, where the Sea Bream and Sea Bass are the main species farmed, including; Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, France and Cyprus.
BlueEDU contribution to Erasmus+ Aims
- Modernising aquaculture Vocational Education and Training (VET) across Europe.
- Enhancing Vocational Education and Training (VET) as a first choice, which is Priority 3 for the New Skills Agenda for Europe.
- Deploying European Qualifications Framework (EQF) to enable different national qualifications in aquaculture.