The “Single European Railway Area of Skills Alliance” came together at the University of Genoa for the Kick-Off meeting of the SERAS European project

The “Single European Railway Area of Skills Alliance” came together at the University of Genoa (Italy) to discuss how to reach the ambitious goal of building a single European railway area of skills and a large-scale skills partnership for the sector within the Pact for Skills framework.

Partners of the 4-year ERASMUS+ project “Single European Railway Area of Skills Alliance” (SERAS) came together on the 29 th and 30 th of January at the University of Genoa (Italy) for the project kick-off meeting.

On the occasion of the SERAS kick-off meeting, coordinated by Professor Angela Di Febbraro from the University of Genoa, Department of Mechanical, Energy, Management and Transportation Engineering, over 40 participants, from the consortium and from the Advisory Board members, met to share the project structure and plan activities across work packages.
 

Speakers included representatives industry, education and training institutions, professional associations, consultants, and infrastructure managers and operators, and officers from the European Commission.

Which are the main goals of the SERAS project?

The European railway sector is experiencing a critical workforce shortage, driven by an ageing workforce, skill gaps, and difficulties in attracting young talent.
The role of the SERAS project is to implement a Blueprint by establishing a Pact for Skills in the Rail Sector, ensuring long-term impact in alignment with EU policies, instruments, and objectives of the European Green Deal and climate neutrality by 2050.

Building on the long-term strategy and action plan and policy recommendations of the STAFFER Blueprint, the key objectives of SERAS include sustaining and expanding the Alliance by strengthening cooperation among the different stakeholders by a Rail Sector Pact for Skills, tackling workforce shortages and skills gaps, and improving employability attractiveness, fostering diversity and promoting railway careers. It also provides skills intelligence and forecasting by implementing a comprehensive approach and methodology to anticipate workforce and skills needs, creates innovation in railway education and training by modular, micro-credential-based curricula aligned with European policy standards and tools. In addition, the project is aimed at establishing a European Rail Skills Academy and at promoting the mobility of initial learners, trainees, students, trainers and professional staff.

SERAS gathers 22 partners covering 10 countries from across the European rail community in a stakeholder partnership to create a sustainable and integrated European ecosystem for railway enhancement for the sector, ensuring a resilient, skilled and mobile workforce across the EU.

The project started in December 2025, and is followed by EACEA (European Education and Culture Executive Agency) of the European Commission, together with DG MOVE, EMPLOY, GROWTH. It will last until November 2029.