The coalition agreement set the tone last November. Far from reducing the war for talent (and often the shortage of talent) to the single front of new technologies and AI, the text set out a comprehensive roadmap for training, with around a hundred references in some 209 pages. A few months later, the government is getting to the heart of the matter.

The first meeting of the high committee for the attraction and retention of talent was held on 20 June with economy minister Lex Delles (DP) (who was also appointed chairman). This new body--made up of ministers as well as the heads of the chambers of commerce, crafts and employees--has set six priorities for reflection and action.

One of these is training. The committee has set itself the objective of finding “talent development opportunities to attract and retain talented people who want to progress in their careers.”

Minister calls for “upskilling”

A month later, on Monday 22 July, it was education minister Claude Meisch (DP) who made his contribution to the project by announcing the launch of Skillsbridges, presented as “a new format” for continuing vocational training. What makes them special is their duration, which is intended to be tight. The first modules to be unveiled involve between 152 and 184 hours of teaching and practical experience, spread over two or three months. Shorter courses of around forty hours will also be offered. Some courses will culminate in a final test or the completion of a project, and certificates will be issued on completion.

“People have skills, but these skills are not unlimited in time. To guarantee your employability, you have to upskill yourself,” said Meisch. Skillsbridges are not aimed at a single audience: they’re for both working employees and jobseekers.

Proximity and flexibility

A common feature of the training programme to be delivered by the Centre national de formation professionnelle continue (CNFPC) is that it should respond as closely as possible and--above all--as quickly as possible to the needs identified in the marketplace.

“We are flexible. We work in collaboration with [national employment agency] Adem on the one hand, and the companies that have expressed their needs to us on the other. This proximity between the job market and the CNFPC enables us to move quickly.”

“Learners will be operational in a short space of time. We try, with a certain pragmatism, to meet the needs of employers,” added Vincent Hieff, CNFPC’s executive manager.

Around twenty training courses

The first three courses will take place in September, with a variety of training sessions on offer. Priority has been given to IT (“Artificial intelligence for administrative teams”, 152 hours, 25 participants), forestry (“Green area maintenance agent,” 184 hours, 4 to 8 participants), and construction (“Low-carbon construction and use of bio-sourced construction materials,” 166 hours, up to 15 participants).

The rest of the courses will be rolled out gradually from the second half of 2024-2025. The catalogue includes the following courses:

- Digitalisation: “Business analyst--to facilitate digital transformation;” “Data analyst--to facilitate decision-making on data;” “Cloud computing: learn cloud fundamentals and best practices;” “E-marketing;” “Introduction to additive manufacturing in the medical and healthcare sector;” “Introduction to additive manufacturing for industry.”

- Process management: “Comply with technical standardisation, security and legal aspects;” “Introduction to operational excellence: process improvement with Lean six sigma.”

- Artificial intelligence: “Artificial intelligence for operational excellence;” “Green IT & AI: methods and solutions to improve sustainability.”

- Green transition: “Expert in sustainability, resilience and environmental management.”

- Green and energy transition: “Integrating biodiversity into architecture.”

- Energy transition: “Advanced training in the installation and maintenance of solar panels.”

- Horeca: “Reception for the Horeca sector;” “Service for the Horeca sector.”

- Construction: “Building for health: indoor air quality;” “Formwork welding.”

- Softskills: “Learning how to make the most of them.”

CNFPC sets its sights on the centre

Registration procedures are the same as for the 145 other training courses offered by the CNFPC. Through its two sites in Ettelbruck and Esch, the structure benefited 3,200 learners in 2023, a figure up 23% year-on-year (and that does not take into account attendance by schoolchildren).

The coalition agreement provided for the construction of two additional centres. Questioned by Paperjam, Meisch agreed that “there is a need for a CNFPC for the centre of the country. I hope that a suitable solution can be found to develop a project.” And “as for the Ettelbruck centre,” the minister concluded, “it will be renovated and extended to increase its capacity.”

This article was originally published in French.