On Monday, the 26^th of June, the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport organised a Closing Ceremony to celebrate the completion of the YEP MED project in Barcelona (Spain). During the event the 8 port-communities involved in the project gathered to showcase their accomplishments and announce project highlights, and discussed challenges that YEP MED faced as well as any initiatives that were in the running for the future work that the project started.

The YEP MED project (Youth Employment in Ports of the Mediterranean) has focused on the promotion of youth employment in Mediterranean ports since it began in September of 2020.  The Closing Ceremony was held in a hybrid format, with some project partners connecting telematically to present their ports’ efforts throughout the project’s lifetime. The Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport – lead partner of the project and the Port of Barcelona were the hosts of the event that was attended by teachers and coordinators from different training centres that took part in the project through courses and training activities.

The President of the Port of Barcelona, Lluís Salvadó, welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance "of the collaboration shown in YEP MED", a development that has demonstrated "the power of cooperation in the development of projects that contribute to the growth of the Mediterranean region."

In his speech, Eduard Rodés, the Director of the Escola Europea - Intermodal Transport, highlighted the project’s various objectives, including the collaboration of 160 companies across the seven countries involved in the initiative. The Director of the Escola also highlighted the role of digitalisation in the development of the YEP MED project which has crystallised into the Port Virtual Lab. For her part, Marta Miquel, the Chief Business Officer at the Escola Europea - Intermodal Transport, highlighted the benefits of multiculturalism within the initiative. To close the Ceremony, the Chief of Innovation at the Port of Barcelona Carles Rúa, explained that this initiative "does not end here and that the intention is to continue working on the generation of jobs in the port community."

'According to Lluís Salvadó, Barcelona plays a "vital" role in the economic and social development of the participating ports, "generating development opportunities for all of them". Furthermore, the President of the Port of Barcelona added that YEP MED brought the Catalan port closer to fulfilling its commitments to "vulnerable groups such as young people and women. "The Minister of Enterprise and Employment of the Generalitat de Catalunya Roger Torrent was also invited to speak, and supported Mr. Salvadó’s statements, emphasizing that "the project connects with all the challenges currently facing Catalan society." Mr. Torrent reviewed the "major elements" that are helping this transformation process, including the generation of Talent and the reinforcement of the strategic position of the Port of Barcelona. In this sense, Torrent has identified the two great challenges that are on the horizon; Updating the infrastructures that support the strategic position of the Catalan port, especially in terms of the digital and ecological sector; as well as and guaranteeing the necessary offer to be competitive in the current "changing environment," placing special emphasis on the potential of the Blue Economy. 

In March 2021 different actors involved in the development of activities of the Port Community in Barcelona and social agents linked to the education and occupation entities gathered to sign the strategic agreement for the Promotion of Vocational Training within the framework of the Port, Maritime, Logistics, Transport, International Trade and Maritime Economy sector. Over the course of three years YEP MED achieved significant milestones in this area, including the adaptation of 17 T-VET (Technical Vocational and Education Training) curricula and the training of more than 3.000 NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) and women. The project also established collaborations with more than 160 companies in the seven countries represented in the initiative. 

Focusing on Barcelona, using data collected from the start of 2021 until June 20^th 2023, we can see:  

• Nº of programmes developed:  8 types of courses where developed, including Occupational Trainings, Vocational Trainings, Training of Trainers and the final YEP MED Talent course. 
• Total Nº of students trained in Barcelona: 918 students. 
• Nº of courses completed: 40 courses were completed. 

• Women participation: More than 50% .
• Average age: 30.  
• Nº of teachers trained (Training of Trainers): 72 teachers.
• Nº of companies involved: 96 companies from within the Barcelona Port Community. 
• Job placement in companies:  

• Vocational Training Students: more than 90% of the students that successfully finished their studies throughout 2023 got an internship. 
• Occupational Training Students: from the surveyed participants, more than 95% reported to have found a job. 

FOCUS ON YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN PORTS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

The main objective of this community is to strengthen ties between academia and the business sectors to promote the talent of young people and give them a head start in their professional careers in the logistics-port community. The project has developed eight different types of training; three of them focused on vocational training, four were linked to administrative occupations and one was aimed at promoting sustainability in the transport sector. In total, in Barcelona, YEP MED has had 42 trainers who have taught 918 students in collaboration with 96 companies.

The project has established the foundation for future actions by fostering ongoing collaboration among partners. By engaging with the MEDports Association, it proactively searches for the collaboration between new port communities. With this impetus behind them, the project partners have given birth to a new organisation that will bring together training centres, institutions, and companies to continue the work of YEP MED well beyond its completion. The Port Logistics Knowledge Academy (PLIKA) will continue in the footsteps of YEP MED, welcoming any institution who wants to join and nurturing Talent within port areas in the 8 participating countries and beyond.