Kozminski University has become the leader of one of the projects under the EU - Horizon Europe program and has won a grant for three years of research activities in the area of social sciences. This is one of the largest grants and projects led by a Polish university, under the scientific leadership of Prof. Izabela Grabowska. The entire program is also the largest of its kind in the history of the Union, with a total of 95.5 billion euros allocated for cutting-edge research and innovative solutions until 2027.
Horizon Europe serves as a vital funding program for research and innovation within the EU, sporting an impressive budget of €95.5 billion. As the Union's 9th framework program in this domain, it is slated to run until 2027. The program tackles crucial issues such as climate change, the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals, and the bolstering of the Union's competitiveness and economic growth.
The Link4Skills project, which falls under the umbrella of Horizon Europe, will focus on the global flow of talent and skills between third countries and the EU over the course of three years. Prof. Izabela Grabowska, alongside a team from the Centre for Research on Social Change and Human Mobility (CRASH), will lead this interdisciplinary endeavor. The grant awarded to this project stands as one of the most substantial in the realm of social sciences.
Thirteen universities and institutions from around the world, including the International Institute for Systems Analysis (Austria), Ryerson University (Canada), Universität Osnabrück (Germany), Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (Netherlands), International Migration Association (Morocco), University of Ghana, Scalabrini Migration Center in the Philippines, Catholic University of Ukraine (Lviv), International Institute for Migration and Development (India), and the native Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology, are partnering with the Academy for this ambitious initiative. Additionally, two business companies, ITTI and SPIA, will provide their support to the consortium.
Project in response to Europe's challenges
Addressing Europe's challenges head-on, the project aims to tackle the European Union's aging and shrinking population, sluggish economic growth, inflationary crisis, fluctuations in education levels, inadequacies in lifelong learning programs, and the sudden influx of migrants with varying skill sets. These pressing issues have brought forth vital questions about the sustainability and resilience of the EU economy in terms of its human capital. Skill shortages frequently become a topic of public discourse whenever a particular sector experiences a "labor shortage." Prof. Grabowska, the leader of the Link4Skills project, emphasizes the need for expertise in addressing skill shortages while ensuring that existing skill gaps do not hinder growth.
The project seeks to equip individuals with the necessary skills to adapt to ongoing changes and modern technologies, while facilitating a smooth and equitable flow of skills between markets. We are extremely pleased that, as a Polish university, we have the opportunity to lead a project that will enable us to acquire invaluable scientific knowledge and develop practical recommendations for the European Union, Prof. Grabowska remarks.
Within the framework of the Link4Skills project, researchers will identify current and future "required skills" and chart the path the European Union should take in response to these skills shortages. They will explore methods to acquire essential competencies by utilizing existing human resources, modern technologies, and other markets. Notably, the researchers will endeavor to establish migratory skills corridors and create a navigator of desired skills. Over the course of three years, the project will introduce an innovative platform called Link4Skillsm portal, powered by artificial intelligence (AI-Assisted Skill Navigator). This portal aims to support policy makers, decision makers, and employers by providing them with global data-driven insights on actions, recruitments, programs, and partnerships that foster an equitable flow of talent and skills between third countries and the EU.
