“Learning to be”
Building Resilience in the Event Industry Labour Market in Europe
Online event from 10:00 to 16:00 CEST on Thursday, April 29th, 2021
The industry associated with organising and running events is suffering particularly from the restrictions of the Corona pandemic. For a year now, it has been impossible to host events: there is a lack of income and the future prospects are uncertain. This has far-reaching consequences! Even after the lockdowns, the crisis will not be over for the industry; professional staff is leaving the industry rapidly. When events can finally take place again: Who will then build the stage, mix the sound or control the lighting?
The current labour market situation in the event industry highlights the need for more flexible education and training models to enable faster exit or re-entry into the labour market. The event industry inherits many traits which make it especially promising to roll out new means of education and certification. Rapid internationalisation and digitalisation lead to extensive amounts of informal and non-formal learning in the industry, as technologies and venues change rapidly. In consequence, these processes lead to little transparency about what a worker actually knows and can, making it difficult for both employees and employers to find a suitable employment relation. This problem aggravates when a position is sought in the foreign or in another sector.
What can be done? This question shall be answered in the online event. With Keynote speaker Prof. Mark Brown, who is an expert on remote teaching and micro-credentials, possibilities of new ways of learning in VET will be explored. Alongside of presentations of ongoing initiatives in the sector, learners, employers, educators and regulators from national and European level from the industry will discuss and share their opinion with the audience! After all, as a truly international sector, European solutions might provide the answers needed for the event industry!
The presentations and recordings from the event are available here.
Schedule:
1. 10:00 – 10:15
Opening Remarks – 15 minutes
Stefanie Steuer – Host (Austria)
2. 10:15 – 10:30
A European Perspective
Skills + Competences and the Event Labour Market (ESCO)
Chris van Goethem · STEPP vzw· Erasmus University College Brussels (Belgium)
3. 10:30 – 11:00
Keynote: – 30 minutes – 20 minutes + 10 minutes Q&A
The State of Play of Microcredentials in the EU
Prof. Mark Brown, Dublin City University – National Institute for Digital Learning
Prof. Brown is one of the leading specialists of the topic Micro–Credentials in Europe and even worldwide. He was involved in the EU–Commission/DG–Education’s analytic report: “Towards a European approach to micro–credentials: a study of practices and commonalities in offering micro–credentials in European higher education”. (Ireland)
4. 11:00 – 11:15
Break – 15 minutes
5. 11:15 – 11:30
Introduction – European Initiatives to Promote the Event Industry
Randell Greenlee · VPLT (Germany)
6. 11:30 – 12:10
Project Presentation: Erasmus+ Project TeBeVAT + Q&A
Chris van Goethem · STEPP vzw (Belgium)
For information see: www.tebevat.eu
7. 12:10 – 12:30
Project Presentation: Erasmus+ Project ready4future + Q&A
Tommy Neumann · Neumann+Ritter (Germany)
8. 12:30 – 13:15
Lunch Break – 45 Minutes
Roundtables
9. 13:15 – 14:00
Roundtable 1
Certification Systems – Needs and Requirements from an Industry Perspective + Q&A
One of the challenges for the industry is describing the exact requirements of a certification system for the sector. Certification of non–formal and informal learning outcomes appears to make sense, since many workers within the industry still have no formal qualifications. For those who do have formal qualifications, the quickly changing technological, cultural and social aspects of job specifications implies the need for LifeLongLearning opportunities. How can certification systems help employers and employees build resilience in the industry?
Roundtable Members
Alicja Gluszek – F.O.H. Foundation – Coordinator of the R+S Rigging Conference in Krakow (Poland)
Randell Greenlee – VPLT – The German Entertainment Technology Association – Director of Commerce and International Affairs
Christian Patzer – Head of Personnel at Lleyendecker, a full-service technical service provider for the event industry (Germany)
Tina Rapp – VALIKOM – German Confederation of Skilled Crafts: VALIKOM enables vocational skills to be identified, documented, assessed and certified. (Germany)
Willem Westermann – VVEM – Vereniging Van EvenementenMakers – Knowledge Center Events. (The Netherlands)
10. 14:00 – 14:45
Roundtable 2
LifeLongLearning and Microcredentials + Mobility in the Event Industry + Q&A
Some EU–Member States have certification systems for global qualifications in place. The Europass “EventTechnician” and “Senior Event Technician” are examples. However, The event industry, has always required “niche” qualifications for functions and roles that, in general, are very sector specific and minimal in numbers within the labour force. How does formal certification of competences meet industry needs and does it further worker mobility? Or does the sector need a broader vocational educational approach? What role could microcredentials play?
Roundtable Members
Janne Auvinen – Lighting and Sound Designer – Event Director of the Turku Cultural Center Logomo (Finland)
Jens Bjornavold – Cedefop – European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training – Senior expert, project manager – Changing nature and role of vocational education and training (VET) in Europe – (EU)
Randell Greenlee – VPLT – The German Entertainment Technology Association – Director of Commerce and International Affairs
Sacha Ritter – IGVW – Community of Interest for the Event Industry (Germany)
Dr. Steffi Robak – Institute of Vocational Education and Adult Education at the Leibniz University in Hanover (Germany)
11. 14:45 – 15:00
Break – 15 minutes
12. 15:00 – 15:45
Roundtable 3
From Theory to Practice –Steps towards a European Certification System + Q&A
If existing certification structures cannot or will not meet the needs of the industry –for whatever reason may be –should stakeholders strive for a “European” solution? What benefits and disadvantages might a European Certification System have for employers and employees and for the current nationally–based certification systems in place? What role could Europass play?
Roundtable Members
Zelda Azzara – Policy Officer of Transparency and Recognition of Skills and Qualifications at European Commission (EU)
Umberto Bellodi – Writer of the TALQ-Research Paper, International Officer of the “Accademia Teatro alla Scala” (Italy)
Enrico Bressan – Head of Training Department, Expert on certification processes – Fondazione Centro Produttività Veneto in Vicenza (Italy)
Anita Debaere – Managing Director – PEARLE* – Live Performance Europe (Belgium/EU)
Bastiaan Schoof – Co-Founder of ETTEC: The European Council for Qualification and Certification of Stage and Event Technicians (The Netherlands)
13. 15:45 – 16:00
Wrap-Up / Send-Off
Stefanie Steuer – Host (Austria)
