The Future of Education

With diverse, globalized services, the Business Services Sector (BSS) demands rapidly evolving skills and competencies, often exceeding traditional classifications in force in Europe, reflecting dynamic labor market transformations.

The “Training Registry of the Modern Business Services Sector” project, co-funded by the European Union, aims to enhance access to high-quality, labor market-aligned training opportunities by developing an international registry of validated training offers, emphasizing the use of innovative technologies such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR). Led by Syntea S.A. with partners from Poland, Cyprus, and Italy, the initiative targets the creation of a user-friendly, interoperable digital platform that aggregates formal and non-formal training services—including microcredentials—from participating countries, enabling their recognition across borders via alignment with the European Qualifications Framework. This solution addresses skills shortages and the fragmentation of training offers in the BSS sector, which includes fields like finance, human resources, marketing, IT, and consulting, by improving stakeholder access to up-to-date and personalized learning paths. The project also promotes the use of immersive VR/AR training to enhance learner engagement and accelerate practical skills acquisition, particularly for remote or time-constrained workers. A pilot VR/AR course was developed as a demonstration of the platform’s potential. Key features of the registry include integration with national databases and the Europass platform, employer-led identification of skills demands, and support for the recognition and sharing of digital credentials via Open Badge 3.0. The project also involves extensive consultations with stakeholders and aims to create a sustainable, scalable tool that bridges education and labor market needs, facilitates cross-border mobility, and fosters the creation of a “skills ecosystem” responsive to the evolving demands of the Economy 4.0. The registry will serve multiple user groups—learners, training providers, and employers—by simplifying the search for relevant training, increasing transparency, and supporting informed career development and workforce planning decisions across the European BSS landscape.