ROP ESF+ 2021-2027 is the regional investment programme for growth, employment, education and training.

Under Priority 2 (Education & Training), SO (e) aims "to improve the quality, inclusiveness, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems”. SO(e) supports measures to integrate education and training systems into the labour market, such as:
- strengthening the governance of higher technical education (e.g. VET Poles, ITS) in a logic of integration and continuity with basic vocational education and training and in close connection with needs expressed by the productive fabric.
- strengthening and qualifying the training offer of technical and VET systems.
- enhancing opportunities for the activation of dual apprenticeship contracts.

In order to link VET systems to the labour market, systemic and capacity-building actions will be carried out on:
- qualification of the training system by: a) simplification of the processes of accreditation of training agencies, b) management, maintenance and monitoring of the “Regional Directory of Professional Figures“, c) interventions on the training information system.
- actions to strengthen socio-economic partnerships (laboratories, workshops, information).
ESF+ 2021-27 is pending approval by the European Commission. Following approval by the Regional Government (6/4/22), the programme was submitted to the EC, which may comment on it within three months. Launch is expected in autumn 2022.

The programme European Funds for Podlaskie 2021-2027 (FEdP) is one of the tools for the implementation of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Development Strategy 2030 adopted on 27/4/20 by the Podlaskie Regional Assembly. The FEdP is an instrument to implement the Partnership Agreement for implementation of Cohesion Policy 2021-27 in Poland. It defines the intervention strategy of European funds under the EU Cohesion Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy in Poland in 2021-27.

It is a two-fund programme, co-financed by the ERDF and the ESF+. It implements the 5 Cohesion Policy objectives set out in the 2021-27 legislative package.

Specific objectives within FEdP of relevance to the SKYLA objectives are:
- Reaping the benefits of digitisation for citizens, enterprises, research organizations and public institutions (Measure 1.2)
- Develop skills for smart specialisation, industrial transformation and entrepreneurship (Measure 1.4)
- Support equal access to and completion of good quality, inclusive education and training, in particular for disadvantaged groups, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training to higher education, and adult education and learning, including facilitating learning mobility for all and accessibility for people with disabilities (Measure 6.3).

On 15/3/22, the draft FEdP was submitted to the European Commission and formal approval is pending. It is expected to be adopted in 3rd - 4th quarter of 2022.

Region Skåne’s innovation strategy for sustainable growth is the region’s Smart Specialisation Strategy. The current version was adopted in September 2019 by the Research and Innovation Council of Skåne.

The strategy designates 6 priority areas around which the region should mobilise: 1) Advanced materials and manufacturing, 2) Big Science facilities ESS, MAX IV and the innovation system Science Village located in Lund, Skåne, 3) Food, 4) Life science and health, 5) Smart sustainable cities and 6) Tech (ICT). The strategy also describes how the region should strive to achieve impact through collaboration in development of 1) regional leadership, 2) attractive innovation ecosystems, 3) strong innovation support systems and 4) analysis and communication.
The impact of skills in the S3 is valid in all six designated areas.

The Skåne initiatives that are brought into SKYLA all share the characteristics that they put skill needs of SMEs as a starting point of action. This demand drive approach is, until now, underdeveloped in Skåne. By shifting the balance point of supply-demand in the ecosystem, the skills agenda and VET will gain attention and the VET providers will be able to fine tune their supply in reference to SMEs. Together, they will gain access to the decision making process of S3 (that will become S4). This new approach towards skills and VET in reference to S3 in Skåne will make our SKYLA contribution the possibility to be a real lighthouse project.

In Lithuania’s recovery and resilience plan “New Generation Lithuania” (RRP) one objective of the 4th component “Quality and accessible lifelong learning for the population” is to increase coherence between the education system and the labour market, by strengthening the vocational training system and lifelong guidance services.

The policy uses an integrated approach to respond to labour market trends with the skills provided by the VET system, increase attractiveness of work based learning and readiness of the VET system for the twin transition.

Reform 4 “Competences for Green and Digital Transformation Acquired in VET” invests in upgrading vocational training programmes, resources, equipment and more flexible access to the profession in the workplace. For apprenticeships, at least 40 % of the programmes should be oriented towards development of digital skills. It is also planned to improve competencies of vocational teachers and create conditions for all students of vocational education institutions to acquire practical, digital and green skills in sectoral practical training centres using latest equipment.

The policy foresees the following impacts:
- Laboratories adapted to provide new skills;
- VET responding to new labour market needs;
- Attractiveness of vocational training increased.

The timing is the policy (2021-26) is perfectly in line with SKYLA, as the policy is running and with investments possible until the end of 2026 (end of SKYLA follow up phase).

Sofia Strategy for Young People (SSYP) is part of the National Youth Strategy and correlates with Sofia S3 priorities on ICT (incl. Industry 4.0), creative industries and horizontal objectives on Human Resources. Sofia S3 further focuses on mechatronics and robotics as part of digitalisation and sustainability goals.

SSYP aims to foster innovative VET programmes for young people, to meet growing needs for skilled and proactive employees by the high-tech industries in Sofia’s S3 priority areas.

Partners will focus on operational goal 2.1. “Stimulating continued education and youth entrepreneurship” and its measures for smooth school-to-work transition by bridging gaps in stages in VET training of young people to better match industry needs. This includes:
• Measure (M) 2.1.2 “Continuity between stages and levels of education” aims to provide more opportunities for internships such as real-life professional assignments.
• M 2.1.3 “Implementation of activities and programs in support of non-formal education and entrepreneurship; Relationship between education institutions and business representatives” that includes design of professional qualification and retraining programmes to address new jobs profiles for in the region.
• M 2.1.4 “Providing modern educational and social infrastructure for quality education and development of young people” that will enhance dialogue and synergies among education providers and employers as key players in the regional innovation ecosystem.

The Fingal Skills Strategy was developed as a part of the council’s Local Economic and Community Plan.

To implement strategy aims, an implementation group was established in early 2021, composed of 20 stakeholders from different interest groups. They included state agencies, universities, education and training boards, as well as employers from key industries such as transport/logistics, construction, and pharma.

The group is independently chaired and holds quarterly meetings. Fingal County Council acts as secretariat and facilitates actions arising from the meetings.

An aim of the Skills Strategy was to set up a Skills Hub Information resource, and this was launched in April 2022 on the Fingal Co. Council website. The hub provides a range of information on skills development opportunities for those employed and seeking work, as well as guidance for employers.

To address skills gaps and awareness deficits regarding provision, the council have formed industry subgroups in transport/logistics and construction. These groups meet quarterly and have allowed the strategy to focus on particular measures for these sectors. For example, surveys were carried out within both on in-demand skills. The data was shared with education stakeholders who are planning for further course provision in light of the results.

To raise awareness of career paths for students, we have also facilitated contact between subgroup members and schools in Fingal to enable career information sessions.

The policy instrument is the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) of the Region of Attica (RoA).

Its general objective is to foster R&D and support development and commercialisation of innovative solutions in the regional priority domains. RIS3 should help accelerate growth and increase impact of high added value, knowledge and high-skilled economic activities on the Regional GDP.

RIS3 applies a continuous execution of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP), typically one full EDP round each year. EDP is by nature participatory, bottom-up and it requires variety of skillsets, engagement and commitment of the stakeholders – representatives of the 4ple helix.

Attica’s S3 makes reference to and includes provision for interventions targeting VET, reskilling and upskilling, aligned with the priorities of the industrial transition. It includes an updated Governance Model, in which stakeholders responsible for R&I, digital transformation and skills acquisition will participate.

Priorities domains for the Region, are the Blue Economy, the Creative Economy and the Sustainable Economy of the needs (e.g. pharma, smart transport/buildings, RES, green tech, materials/construction, agrofood). Those domains will be further validated and elaborated in upcoming rounds of EDP. In parallel, a prioritised roadmap of targeted interventions for funding through several instruments (EU, National & Regional), aligned with EDP results of the EDP will emerge.

PÔLE EMPLOI Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur operates as a "competent organisation responsible for developing and/or implementing regional development policies for employment", concerning the “Expertise for the future” programme.

Expertise for the future supports mobilisation around 12 employment-generating sectors: Agriculture – Agrifood; Building public works; Trade; Energies; Industry; Maritime; Catering trades; Digital; Health - Personal services; Security – Defence; Hospitality – Catering – Tourism; Logistic transport.
These are the regional sectors of the future of Carif-Oref (regional resource centre for public policies on employment and training) and the Operations of Regional Interest (priority regional value chains) identified by the Region SUD. The cover nearly 70% of companies in the territory and 65% of the job offers registered by Pôle Emploi.

The programme organises a network for each sector, with Pôle Emploi PACA experts and other players in the sector (federations, competitiveness clusters, influential companies, job campuses, etc.) from regional to local level. The network, to meet recruitment difficulties of companies, seeks to capture their needs accurately, translate them into training purchases and respond by proposing suitable job seeker profiles. It also monitors the transformations of professions and skills, to anticipate changes in the sectors and contribute to a long-term economic dynamic.