Presentation of the Big Data Professional Training project

Use and application of Big Data and AI in a public-private collaboration project

New data analysis tools derived from Big Data and Artificial Intelligence models have demonstrated their great value in assisting in decision-making and also in improving efficiency and transparency.; opening up enormous possibilities in management, both in the business world and in the field of public policies. These tools, along with other qualitative analyses, facilitate planning, coordination between different public bodies and the adaptation of public intervention to the identified problems.

On the other hand, The world of work is under innovative pressure towards new technologies that makes it difficult to forecast and plan the future training needs of a complex and changing society where jobs will be greatly altered by the emergence of new digital, sensor, robotics and industry 4.0 technologies in general. Given the perception of a lack of a good fit between the vocational training ecosystem and the labor market, the question arose of whether Big Data and Artificial IntelligenceThey could help with a social challenge such as forecasting and planning future training needs.

The pilot project

Within the framework of the pilot project “Big Data Professional Training” Big Data technologies have been used and advanced Data Science techniques have been applied in the field of Vocational Training for the analysis of Initial Vocational Training (Technician and Higher Technician Qualifications) as well as Vocational Training for Employment (Professional Certificates), providing a holistic view of this public intervention.

The project emphasizes the sharing of different data sources and the application of these innovative data analysis technologies, and has been possible thanks to the necessary collaboration between the public administrations competent in the matter, as well as other public and private entities aware of improving Vocational Training, which have selflessly participated in the project and have shared knowledge, established dialogues, agreed on definitions, provided data and applied technology for a common challenge.

Programme

Presentation of the event:

Dr. Marc Torrent, Director of the Big Data & Data Science unit of Eurecat and CIDAI.

Institutional welcome:

Daniel Marco, Director General of Innovation and Digital Economy, Department of Digital Policies and Public Administrations.
Joan Lluís Espinós, Director General of Vocational Training and Special Regime Education.
Ariadna Rectoret, Director of the Public Employment Service of Catalonia.

Explanation of the project and results obtained:

Daniel Gonzalez, Senior Researcher and Project Director of the Big Data & Data Science unit of Eurecat.

Round table (I): The challenge of training professionals in the sectors with the highest demand in Catalonia

The number of students enrolled is very stable over time and not very elastic with respect to market needs. In the case of ICTs or Industry 4.0, for example, the number of registrations has remained the same over the years despite the fact that the number of available jobs has increased. In this scenario, the demand from companies is higher than the supply of people from vocational training in most cases.

QUESTIONS FOR DEBATE:

• Can the data contribute to the process of guiding potential VET students and their environment to expand the career options to consider?
• What role could SMEs and dual vocational training play in addressing this situation?

Participants in the round table:

Department of Education, Sonia Mora.
BCN Professional Training Foundation, Angel Tarrino, coordinator of the Vocational Training Observatory
BERTELSMANN Foundation, Guillem Salvans
UAB/GIPE, Pilar Pineda

Round table (II): How can Artificial Intelligence help balance supply and demand in the labor market?

The project has found that there is a demand for hybrid profiles that mix technical skills that are found in different studies. On the other hand, the labor market demands ICT, language and transversal skills that should be strengthened for most profiles. These are the so-called soft skills such as analytical thinking, autonomy, communication, teamwork, etc.

QUESTIONS FOR DEBATE:
How can the application of BigData and AI help in the design and planning of training provision by the public administration?

Participants in the round table:

SOC – Public Employment Service of Catalonia, Josep Márquez and Laura Comellas, Head of the Specialized Knowledge Management Area
Barcelona Active, Lourdes Sugranyes, Director of Orientation and Training SAU SPM

Round table (III): Importance of data in decision-making within the civil service

Any organization, but especially public administration, must be able to make decisions based on evidence. AI is a tool that can be a great ally in this sense. But for it to be truly useful, a large amount of data is needed. Hence the importance of data transparency and public-private collaboration to offer better public services and address social and economic challenges.

QUESTIONS FOR DEBATE:

How to overcome barriers? What actions should be promoted?
What lessons have we learned from the Big Data for VET project that could be transferred to address other challenges and needs?

Participants in the round table:

Department of Digital Policies and Public Administration, Richard Faura
ESADE, Josep Lluis Cano
Everis, Albert Mayol Borque