Global changes in technology, economics, demographics and ecological transition will generate 170 million new jobs by 2030, while another 92 million will be replaced.
According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Future of Jobs 2025 report, the most in-demand skills by 2030 will include both technological expertise and person-centered skills such as cognitive thinking and collaboration. To cover this skills gap, coordinated efforts by public, private and educational institutions are urgently needed. The widening skills gap, identified by 63% of employers as a critical barrier to business transformation, highlights the urgent need to equip today's youth with the right skills to succeed in the workforce. The development of tools for the assessment and certification of transversal skills through microcredits is a way forward.[1]
Addressing the current challenges of youth unemployment by promoting the essential transversal skills needed by economic operators and industry, the EMPASS project aims to give young people the tools and skills they need to thrive in today's dynamic job market and lead the way in offering young Europeans a new specific skills credential.
"Education must keep up with the accelerated pace of changes in the labor market. At Ascendia, we believe that digitization and innovative solutions are the key to developing the skills of the future. Microcredits, such as EmPass, represent an essential step in providing relevant and effective training for young people who will become the workforce of tomorrow", said Cosmin Mălureanu, CEO of Ascendia.
For the development of microcredit, the EMPASS consortium carried out a comprehensive skills needs analysis in Greece, Romania and Spain to identify the most in-demand transversal skills essential for employability. This analysis was carried out in collaboration with industry leaders, employability experts and the VET sector, identifying key transversal skills such as responsibility, problem solving, critical thinking, communication and others. The consortium collected and combined teachers' and students' views, which are aligned with real-world requirements, amplifying common strategies to reduce labor market mismatches. [2]
The results of this analysis led to the development of a standardized assessment for employability microcredits - the EmPass assessment. This 45-minute online exam measures transversal skills and provides a structured pathway for their development. Before the European expansion, EmPass will be tested on 1,500 students in Spain, Romania and Greece.
About the EMPAS project:
The EMPASS project is coordinated by JA Europe, the largest provider of educational programs for entrepreneurship, job training and financial health in Europe. The project, whose full title is "Employment Skills Pass, a Quality Standard for Faster Transition from Education to Employment", is funded by the European Union (EU) under the Erasmus+ Forward Looking program and aims to provide young people with the tools and qualifications needed to thrive in today's dynamic labor market. Its core product, the EmPass microcredit, targets young professionals and students in vocational education and training (VET), with the clear mission of increasing employability and promoting career readiness. This innovative program was developed through collaboration between leading institutions, educators and industry experts. The consortium consists of JA Spain, JA Romania, JA Greece, Zurich Insurance Group, IEDT, IME GSEVEE, IN.E, Ascendia, CEVM, IDS, Manpower Group, Accenture and Worldskills Romania.
About Ascendia
Ascendia develops innovative e-learning solutions for various fields such as education, corporate training, health and entertainment. Ascendia's products include LIVRESQ, an e-learning content creation tool, and CoffeeLMS, a learning management system (LMS) for businesses. Ascendia has been listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange since 2016 (symbol "ASC").