SpaceSUITE project team, family photo

SpaceSUITE project: EfVET at the edge of the future of skills

SpaceSUITE project (Space downstream Skills development and User uptake through Innovative curricula in Training and Education) completed last week its first Progress meeting in Tallinn, where EfVET was present with its Director Paolo Nardi. This event gave the consortium also the opportunity to organize its first dissemination event, focused on skills intelligence in the European space downstream sector, facilitating an interesting dialogue among experts on the existing skills and skills gaps in this sector.

SpaceSUITE is an ERASMUS+ Blueprint project, launched at the end of 2023, for the development of innovative resources for education and training to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of skills in the ever growing space downstream sector. By “space downstream sector” it is usually considered a set of activities including: 

  • Earth Observation: satellite data is critical for monitoring environmental changes, managing natural resources, and responding to disasters. Skills in processing and interpreting this data have direct and impactful applications. 
  • Navigation and Communication: the downstream sector supports essential services like GPS navigation and global communications, integral to daily life and various industries. 
  • Disaster Management: satellites provide vital information for disaster prediction, monitoring, and response, helping to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and improve public safety. 
  • Security Applications: the sector supports national security through satellite-based surveillance, reconnaissance, and secure communications. 

SpaceSUITE is grounded on the SPACE4GEO Large-scale Skills Partnership on Space Data, Services and Application under the Pact for Skills and builds on the success and experience of the Erasmus+ Sector Skills Alliance EO4GEO. 

Why is this topic so increasingly relevant for a vocational training center? 

First of all, the space downstream sector, which includes the use and application of satellite data and services, is rapidly growing. This expansion creates numerous job opportunities in fields like geospatial analysis, satellite communications, and remote sensing. 

This implies that the sector is already offering a wide range of career opportunities, from technical roles such as satellite technicians and data analysts to business-oriented positions in project management and marketing of space-based services. Skills are mainly related to cutting-edge technology: training in the space downstream sector involves learning about the latest technologies in satellite communications, data analysis, and geospatial technologies. This exposure helps students stay ahead in a technology-driven world. 

Also interdisciplinary skills: working in this sector requires a blend of skills across various disciplines, including IT, engineering, and environmental science, fostering well-rounded technological expertise. 

EfVET strongly believes in the importance of this project as a forward-looking initiative to inspire and guide its members in the “next-level” set of skills: by providing training in this field, vocational training centers can equip individuals with the skills needed to thrive in a dynamic and impactful industry, contributing to technological innovation, economic growth, and societal advancement.

Follow the project on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

EfVET Newsletter

If you want to be informed about our latest news, please subscribe in the following form.