Under the Erasmus + Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills - one of the key initiatives of the 2016 Skills Agenda for Europe – stakeholders work together in sector-specific partnerships, called alliances for sectoral cooperation for skills, which develop and implement strategies to address skills gaps in these sectors. Within the Pact for Skills of the Updated Skills Agenda 2020, Blueprints were expanded and opened to more sectors.
CHARTER is the Cultural Heritage sector-specific partnership: this alliance will develop and implement European sector-wide strategies and vocational training solutions to address skills gaps in the field. Although there is broad agreement that cultural heritage is intrinsically related to personal wellbeing and human identity, it remains an underrated and under-resourced social and economical good.
The project started in January 2021 and will last until December 2024. CHARTER seeks to create a lasting, comprehensive sectoral skills strategy to guarantee Europe has the necessary cultural heritage skills to support sustainable societies and economies, including transversal competences such as digital/technological and green/blue economy skills. The consortium unites 47 members that represent some of the top education and training, organisations, networks and employers of the European cultural heritage sector.
The project uses strategic collaboration and innovative methodologies to bridge the gaps between educational and occupational systems and employer needs, reduce skills shortages, and overcome the paucity of cultural heritage statistical data. The project collected data on six knowledge areas to identify core and transversal competences, including digital, technological and green adaptation skills.
Moreover, CHARTER will create a comprehensive sectoral skills strategy and build a lasting cultural heritage skills alliance in Europe.
Five of ERRIN’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Working Group members are playing a key role in the regional roll-out of the initiative: Alentejo, the Basque Country, the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Tuscany Region and Västra Gotäland. The Lombardy Region is an affiliate member, and supported a case study on the Milan Duomo. The member organisations are committed to reinforcing the regional dimension of the Sectoral Skills Strategy on Cultural Heritage.
In addition, ERRIN is co-leading the work on ‘Alliances, Sustainable Strategies, and Policy Recommendations,’ together with the Romanian National Institute of Heritage. This is the place to reflect on how to reinforce the regional roll-out of all Blueprints for Sectoral Skills Strategy funded by the European Commission and how to better coordinate actions at regional and national level in the respective Member States, securing a stronger voice for the regional activities.
The regional roll-out of the sectoral skills alliance is a key component of the Blueprint actions: building on their achievements, the Blueprints are expected to be rolled out at regional and national level. This will be done in cooperation with national and regional authorities, and key stakeholders, including from the ERRIN membership. There will also be synergies with other policy frameworks, such as regional smart specialisation strategies.
CHARTER, the European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance funded by Erasmus+, has released its twelve recommendations to strengthen the heritage sector by addressing skills gaps, promoting lifelong learning and fostering professional mobility. Discover the full recommendations to understand how CHARTER is shaping a resilient and forward-thinking heritage ecosystem.
After four years of collaboration under the Erasmus+ funded CHARTER project, in which ERRIN has spearheaded efforts to explore place-based cultural heritage ecosystems across the Basque Country, Sibiu County, Bremen, Alentejo, Tuscany and Västra Göteland, CHARTER presented its results at the final conference in Barcelona. Learn more about the CHARTER's recommendations, main outcomes about emerging curricula, upskills strategies and regional cultural heritage skills ecosystems.
What lies ahead for cultural heritage? CHARTER’s new report unveils future scenarios and outlines challenges, opportunities, implications for skills and future jobs, and education and training needs, aiming to address and anticipate the impacts of geostrategic dynamics, climate change, circular economy, and digital technologies on cultural heritage.
CHARTER, the European Skills Alliance for Cultural Heritage, presents eight innovative and emerging training pathways for the future of the cultural heritage sector. The full report contains information for Education and Training providers, ranging from EQF level 3 to 8, to innovate their Education and Training offer. It highlights examples of emerging occupations and professional profiles, learning outcomes, and recommended curricula outlines.
CHARTER, the European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance funded by Erasmus+, has released a new report showcasing findings and conclusions from six regional case studies conducted by ERRIN members in the Basque Country (Spain), Sibiu (Romania), Bremen (Germany), Alentejo (Portugal), Tuscany (Italy), and Västra Götaland (Sweden) in 2021-2023. The report synthesises how skills for cultural heritage are integrated into regional development policies and strategies, examining sector-integrated dynamics within these regional ecosystems. The report provides recommendations for developing long-term regional skills policies, enhancing skills governance and strengthening skills intelligence at the regional level through data-driven policies.
In its new report, "Forecast to fill gaps in Heritage Education and Training", the CHARTER EU Alliance delves into the gaps and needs of Cultural Heritage professionals in Europe. This report maps the main challenges for professional development in heritage, encompassing technology, sustainable development, professional collaboration, public administration, diversity, funding, social uses, knowledge transfer, occupation coding, and skills description.