The “Skills 4 post-COVID-19 for Science and Higher Education” initiative, promoted by the Collaborative Laboratory for Work, Employment and Social Protection (CoLABOR), in cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, took place on July 3rd.
This session began at 3 pm at the CoLABOR headquarters and was attended by the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, the CoLAB research team and associated university institutions, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and highly specialized professionals from companies associated with this Laboratory, such as Mota-Engil, SONAE and Delta Cafés.
During the session, reflections and observations were shared from various experiences, contributing to an analysis around three essential aspects that support the consolidation of teaching, learning, work, and research practices and approaches to prepare for the transition to the post-COVID-19 period. The main themes addressed were, firstly, the megatrends and vulnerabilities that characterize current society and the search for strategic responses, resulting from the qualitative contributions of CoLABOR, Mota-Engil, Delta-Cafés, and the ILO. Secondly, collaborative missions in emergency responses were discussed, based on reflections from CoLABOR, CNIS, and SCML, concluding with the sharing of observations and reflections by CoLABOR/CES, SONAE, IEFP, and INA regarding training opportunities and the role of science, technology, and higher education in post-COVID-19 times.
In a working note during the session, the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education underlined the centrality of CoLABOR for the conception of qualitative contributions and for deepening the reflections that were presented around the challenges that are particularly timely for Portugal and globally, namely, "the issue of the adoption of teleworking, both in the business sector and in public administration". The Minister also considered that there is "much to learn and adapt" in adapting to new working conditions.
During the closing session, the Minister challenged CoLABOR to contribute ideas that support the design of job creation strategies in the current context, posing the following question: “Given the impact of the pandemic on employment and the situation that Europe is planning to face in its economic recovery plan, what are the best strategies for creating jobs, especially in the context in which we find ourselves today?” He concluded by reinforcing the idea that it is “urgent to create jobs and diversify the economy,” leaving a “positive message of valuing the national labor and business framework, which in the European context is classified as highly innovative, opening up space for the existing capacity to create new jobs.”.
The Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, highlighted the upcoming challenges: i) capacity building from a technological standpoint, in terms of mechanisms and response tools; ii) a greater focus on substance will lead to a greater capacity to provide personalized responses to people, rather than standard responses. To this end, she warns of a paradigm shift; iii) guaranteeing universal social protection systems; iv) a strong focus on income and regulation in managing balances, to promote guarantees of equality in these times of fragility; v) the need to accelerate a real digital transition in its various dimensions, including skills development and the provision of universal means so that this digital transition is truly for everyone and not just a few; and vi) a strong focus on job creation.
He also highlighted the importance of initiatives such as Skills 4 post-COVID-19 for Science and Higher Education, which can "contribute to the design of measures within the scope of the Economic and Social Stabilization Program to be implemented," and it is essential that companies and academia speak up and help "to bridge the gap, to say what needs to be focused on, so that there is this rapid absorption by companies and also of the resources they need.".
Manuel Carvalho da Silva, coordinator of CoLABOR, emphasized that the outcome of the debate presented confirms, once again, the reason for the existence of a collaborative laboratory with the characteristics of CoLABOR in terms of agenda and research areas.
This Laboratory has committed to continuing with coordinated and complementary work that creates space and contributes to concrete proposals that are useful, in particular, for public policies.
This session was streamed live on CoLABOR's social media channels and had over 60 participants.
See the program here.