Enhancing Professionals’ Skills towards a Sustainable Europe

Professionals working in the field of polysaccharides face a wide range of requirements. Proficiency in technological aspects of engineering and natural sciences is crucial to their skill set.

However, Europe now demands professionals who can go beyond these fundamentals and effectively incorporate sustainability and life cycle analyses into their decision-making processes. This implies proficiency in areas such as sustainability, life cycle analysis, data handling, and even artificial intelligence.

In order to drive innovations forward in a timely manner, professionals must possess an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to translate scientific knowledge into practical technology. With this purpose in mind, effective dissemination skills play a pivotal role in their professional lives. More importantly, professionals must possess the skills to adapt their message to suit diverse audiences.

However, this poses challenges due to, for example, the ever-changing communication platforms.

EPNOE works continuously to upskill future professionals, focusing on the following key areas of skills development:

Knowledge & skills within EPNOE’s research domains (EPNOE Research Roadmap);
Sustainability & life cycle analysis;
Data management & digitalisation;
Entrepreneurship & value creation;
Effective dissemination.

EPNOE Skills Roadmap

The EPNOE Skills Roadmap – Upskilling of Professionals for a Sustainable Europe – will be presented on 18 September 2023 from 17:30 to 18:30, in the framework of the 8th International Polysaccharide Conference, at the TU Graz Campus “Neue Technik”, Petersgasse 16, Room HS P1.

For more information about the 8th International Polysaccharide Conference read here.

Agenda

”Upskilling of professionals for a sustainable Europe”

Moderator: Anton Huber, University of Graz

17.30 – EPNOE Roadmaps 2040 – vision and goals

Pedro Fardim, KU Leuven

17.35 – Towards recognising and filling skills gaps – EPNOE Skills Roadmap 2040

Tiina Nypelö, Chalmers University of Technology

17.50 – Communication to non-expert audiences: tips and tricks

Miriam Topo, EPNOE Association

18:00 – Quantification of sustainability by means of Life Cycle Assessment

Claudia Mair-Bauernfeind, University of Graz

18:20 – Discussion

Key messages of the EPNOE Skills Roadmap

Mastery of framework skills. Professionals must possess a solid foundation in key framework skills.
Framework Skills should include sustainability analysis, life cycle analysis, data handling, digitalisation, entrepreneurship, value creation, and dissemination.
Integration into degree programmes. it is crucial to embed training in framework skills within degree programs.