European AI Skills Alliance
The Artificial Intelligence Skills Alliance (ARISA) supports the implementation of the Pact for Skills by developing a sectoral skills strategy on AI. This strategy aims to lead to a systemic and structural impact on reducing skills shortages, gaps, and mismatches, as well as ensuring appropriate quality and levels of skills in the AI sector.
In 2017, more than half of European enterprises that recruited (or tried to recruit) ICT specialists had difficulties filling their vacancies and the situation was particularly acute when it came to advanced digital skills required for specialist ICT positions related to Artificial Intelligence (AI).
According to a special report on how AI and automation will transform our world of work, a major shift in economies and all related activities is currently taking place. Digitalisation created 2 million new jobs in the EU in the last decade and 7.75 million new jobs are expected in ICT by 2030; most importantly, from 14% to 47% of current jobs are at risk of automation via AI technology. Worker transitions, adaptations and skills requirements will be significant challenges to face when adapting to the coming age of AI. To manage the transitions brought about by automation and AI, the role of education systems will be paramount.
The overarching goal of the project is to develop local ecosystems to support the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce with direct engagement of local communities in order to build a human-centered and socially driven AI.
Objectives
- Develop AI skills intelligence and analyse the AI skills mismatches at the EU level.
- Develop a European strategic approach to sectoral cooperation on AI skills.
- Define EU-wide occupational skills requirements for AI-relevant occupational profiles.
- Design a European AI sector-wide ‘core’ curriculum, with different training modules for emerging AI occupational profiles.
- Pilot the training programme (incl. the certification scheme) in different countries.
- Establish a permanent cooperation network of stakeholders in the AI field, to systematically monitor the labour market and AI-related skills and keep the European Artificial Intelligence Skills Strategy up-to-date and relevant.
- Ensure widespread dissemination and uptake of the project outputs and results during the project’s lifetime.
- Roll-out project results at the national level, ensuring broad involvement of key stakeholders and wide adoption.
The ARISA project is funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Programme.
