North Sea Port Talent has, for the first time, brought together higher education institutions from Ghent and Zeeland with companies from the cross-border port region. During company visits and working sessions, educational institutions and businesses explored how they could collaborate to strengthen the talents and skills of tomorrow.
On Wednesday 25 August, representatives from institutions including HOGENT, Ghent University (UGent), KU Leuven, Artevelde University College, Odisee, HZ University of Applied Sciences and Scalda met with companies from North Sea Port. They focused on one key question: what knowledge and skills do employees need to be ready for a port undergoing major transformation?
The meeting was a first for the region. For the first time, education decision-makers and business leaders from both sides of the border came together. The participants toured the port area, visited companies, and, during working sessions on board the Jacob van Artevelde, discussed aligning educational programmes with the labour market. Participating companies included Anglo Belgian Corporation, Dow, ArcelorMittal Belgium and Damen Naval.
The port as a knowledge region
North Sea Port spans 60 kilometres, stretching from Vlissingen and Terneuzen in Zeeland to Ghent in Flanders. More than 550 companies operate in the area, accounting for 106,000 direct and indirect jobs and generating an annual added value of 12.7 billion euros. At the same time, the wider knowledge region around Ghent and Zeeland is home to more than 110,000 students in higher and university education.
According to the organisers, this is precisely where major opportunities lie. The port is not only a maritime, logistical and industrial powerhouse, but also an environment in which knowledge, innovation and talent development are increasingly important. Digitalisation, the energy transition, sustainability, safety and agility are reshaping the skills employees need.
The port is a fascinating community with a significant economic impact. This is still not widely recognised in the region, even though there are enormous opportunities here to bring our students into contact with the real world,” says Koen Goethals, Managing Director of HOGENT.
A cross-border talent ecosystem
Through the education summit, North Sea Port Talent aims to streamline cooperation between education, business and government. The aim is to develop an integrated talent ecosystem that looks beyond existing boundaries: between countries, between education and industry, and between the institutions themselves. In doing so, the partners want to better prepare future employees for changing roles in a port area that continues to grow economically whilst becoming more sustainable.
“The future of this area lies in tackling the challenges surrounding strategic transitions in the areas of digitalisation, energy, sustainability and safety together,” says Silvie Lefebre, director of North Sea Port Talent. “In this way, we can strengthen the region’s economic ambitions, meet current and future labour market demand, and offer sustainable careers. You don’t do that by each working in your own little corner, but by working together.”
Images: North Sea Port Talent
