Introduction to the project
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.
Project in Action
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.
ERRIN's role
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.
Benefit for members and links with ERRIN's WGs and priorities
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.
Latest Updates
- By Astrid Hannes
How is cultural heritage integrated into regional development? CHARTER Alliance publishes new report on six regional case studies conducted by ERRIN
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.
- By Astrid Hannes
New CHARTER Report: Forecast to fill gap in Heritage Education and Training
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.
- By Admin Admin
CHARTER call for good practices of policies and initiatives in pilot cases in cultural heritage education, training and occupation
The European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance CHARTER is looking for good practices of policies and initiatives in pilot cases in Education & Training and Employment to fill gaps and improve: mobility, virtuous learning circles, career development, upskilling and reskilling, quality certifications standards, transformation to a circular economy, or policy and initiatives to tackle challenges of digital transformation and climate change in the sector of Cultural Heritage. The deadline for submission is 9 February 2023.
- By Astrid Hannes
CHARTER Alliance releases a new report on cultural heritage stakeholders’ roles and dynamics
CHARTER Alliance publishes a new report mapping cultural heritage stakeholders, looking at cultural heritage as an economic sector and labour market with interacting stakeholders in anticipated roles, whose dynamics, skills and competencies will affect the quality of heritage as a resource and common good.
- By Astrid Hannes
New CHARTER Alliance Report: benchmarking innovative and emerging curricula
The European Cultural Heritage Skills Alliance CHARTER, Erasmus+ funded project, presents its new report on the field of education: “Benchmarking analysis of innovative/emerging curricula”.
- By Ewa Chomicz
2023 announced as the European Year of Skills
In her 2022 State of the Union Address, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the upcoming year as the European Year of Skills. ERRIN welcomes this announcement, as skills are among the priority areas where potential new activities are currently under discussion in the ERRIN Management Board.