Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Piraeus is a pioneer in modern experiential education

Another first for the business world of Piraeus and the University community of the city is the cooperation “bridge” of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry-PCCI with the University of Piraeus, which aims to improve the skills that workers must possess at this time, where digital technologies, as well as the handling of modern machines, dominate all productive sectors of the economy and logistics.

The fact that, on the occasion of the conference, which they co-organised the PCCI and the Laboratory of Quantitative Analysis in Shipping of the University of Piraeus on the topic “Ports, Transport and Logistics – New Skills and Modern Experiential Education”, more than 100 companies expressed interest, with most of them signing, after the end of the conference, the relevant document to use the equipment of the simulators available at the E.P.A.N. and are installed in the Chamber’s premises for the training of their staff.

In his greeting, the president of the PCCI, Vassilis Korkidis, among other things, emphasized the issue of employment and, above all, the skills that workers must possess, and it concerns the vast majority of sectors of the economy, among which , of course, the port “industry” and logistics. In fact, he recalled that UNCTAD’s report on maritime transport, which is also a consideration of the overview for the current year, focuses on the investments that must be made so that the logistics sector is better prepared to respond to future global challenges by advancing in this field and the issue of training the soul potential.

Emphasis on digital skills

Addressing a greeting, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kostis Hatzidakis, characterized the initiative of the PCCI as particularly important, noting, among other things, the special importance of the proper training of business personnel in achieving the goals of productivity, but, above all, of their competitiveness, noting that the ministry has invested in training as a driver of economic development. Mr. Hatzidakis emphasized digital skills, recalling that it was the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis that created a favorable field for digital skills, which prompted digital technology giants to come and set up their centers in Greece.

For his part, the Minister of Development and Investments, Adonis Georgiadis, in his message, emphasized the importance of giving young people the opportunity to acquire exactly those skills that the market is looking for and needs today. Also, in his message, the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Yiannis Plakiotakis, among others, noted that, in a world that is constantly changing with technology galloping rapidly, the challenges facing not only shipping, but also
overall the transport sector is large. Mr. Plakiotakis also referred to the steps that have been taken regarding the implementation of policies in the shipping field, as well as the
ports.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Kostas Katsafados, described the efforts of PCCI and the University as important  in forming basic parameters of the new labor market, to note that Piraeus is the second port in the E.U. which has simulators suitable to train executives needed by industry, commerce, ports and, of course, logistics in its entire range. We must be competitive, stressed Mr. Katsafados, who wished that this initiative would find imitators in other sectors of the economy. In his intervention, the Member of Parliament for Piraeus, N.D., Yiannis Melas, focused on the dimension of competitiveness and the role of good training that young people must have today in a labor market that is distinguished by demands and particularities, with the member of the Hellenic Parliament, Yannis Tragakis, to appeal to young people and the business world to embrace the initiative
of the two entities.

The rector of Piraeus University, Michalis Sfakianakis, referred to the new knowledge and skills as a driver of economic development, who focused on the triptych
education, training and innovation, in the synergies that must be developed in the field of education, with the general director for Labor Relations of the Ministry of Labour, Kostantinos Agrapidas, noting that the digital transition also requires the appropriate “digital literacy”. Also, the Chamber’s special advisor, Sotiris Theofanis, referred to the simulators and their importance for the acquisition of skills, which today are necessary for the personnel covering a wide range of port operations, functions and more.

The professor of the department of maritime studies of the University of Piraeus – Director of the Laboratory of Quantitative Analysis in Shipping, Maria Boilé, in her address referred to the new skills agenda in the European area and the trends taking shape in the working environment.

Finally, regarding innovation as an element that is at the service of the Greek business, a presentation was made by Messrs. Dimitris Mathios (MATHIOS PYRIMACHA S.A.), Nikolaos Mavrikos (IMPORTED MAVRIKOS S.A.), Kostantinos Koronakis (D. KORONAKIS S.A.V.E.) and Mrs. Kalliopi Lyrintzi (QMS MARITIME TRAINING CENTER – K.C.LYRINTZIS GROUP).