The 2nd National Event organised by the Romanian National Hub took place in Constanța on 5 November 2024. Titled “From Skills to Action: A Blue Project Workshop,” the event is part of the “CMA in my country” series, focused on fostering collaboration among stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities within the blue economy, especially those pertaining to skills and the job market.
The event aimed to familiarize participants with funding opportunities like Erasmus+, analyse key competencies identified during the 1st National Event, and collaboratively develop strategies for successful project proposals. It gathered 25 stakeholders, including representatives from academia, educational institutions, NGOs, government authorities, regional institutions, research organizations, and private businesses, fostering a diverse exchange of perspectives.
Event speakers highlighted Romania's progress in implementing the Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) and its alignment with blue skills development and introduced the SHORE project as a tool to support CMA goals. The need was highlighted for adapting school curricula, promoting blue skills, and enhancing ocean literacy in education.
Participants collaborated in practical sessions to draft project proposals across different blue economy sectors. These sessions successfully generated five actionable project ideas spanning areas such as fishing and aquaculture, maritime transport, marine technology, and tourism, each emphasizing skills development, technological innovation, and sustainability. Participants outlined possible goals, objectives, and activities. A clear skills gap was identified in emerging technologies like AI, pointing to the urgent need to align educational programs with industry demands and workforce needs.
The workshop also strengthened collaboration among diverse stakeholders, laying the groundwork for continued partnerships to address shared challenges and seize opportunities within the blue economy. As a key next step, the Romanian National Hub committed to further refining and advancing these project ideas, aiming for submission under the 2025 Erasmus+ call, while encouraging stakeholders to pursue additional funding opportunities independently.
This event underscored the value of collaborative workshops in driving innovation and progress in the blue economy, setting the stage for impactful projects to address pressing challenges in the Black Sea region.
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