Luxembourg: Skillsbridges – a new format for upskilling and reskilling adults

These programmes allow adults to adapt to new technologies and the constantly changing job market (upskilling) and to retrain in a different profession (reskilling). They target a diverse audience in terms of qualification levels, industry sectors, language skills, or employment status. What makes the Skillsbridge programmes special is their short duration. 

An initiative of the Recovery and Resilience plan

Skillsbridges address the shortage of qualified labour and support the necessary professional transitions for a sustainable and innovative economy. The initiative is part of Luxembourg's Recovery and Resilience Plan and is co-financed by the European Union. The policy development is supported by the OECD Skills Strategy Luxembourg, which was commissioned in 2020 by the inter-ministerial and tripartite Skillsdësch (‘round table on skills’). The latter brought together key players in the CVET and economic sectors in Luxembourg. The focus was placed on continuing professional training, to overcome labour market disruptions and cope with the technological and social transformations of the current decade. The Skillsbridge programmes also aim to promote digital inclusion, making digital technology accessible to everyone. The subjects of the training programmes were selected based on recent labour market analyses that identified growth sectors and labour market shortages. Existing Skillsbridges will also be regularly updated and new ones developed to ensure that these education programmes are always up to date with employer needs and new trends in the labour market.

Three training programmes starting from September 2024, 20 more to follow 

Three Skillsbridge programmes have been available since September 2024: 

• Artificial Intelligence for administrative teams; 
• Green space maintenance worker; and 
• Low-carbon construction and the use of bio-based building materials.

Around 20 additional training programmes, focusing on digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the green transition and renewable energies, construction, process management, hospitality and soft skills will gradually be introduced from spring 2024/25, increasing the capacity of the programme to up to 800 participants per year. 

Short duration, in-person or blended learning

The programmes are designed to develop targeted skills that can be immediately applied in practice. Brief in duration, they vary from 40 to 240 hours. Courses are provided by the National Centres for Continuing Vocational Education and Training (CNFPC), either in person or through blended learning. Certification is issued upon successful completion, by the VET department  of the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth  and the CNFPC.

Read more
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth: Dossier de presse : Skillsbridges – un nouveau format de formation professionnelle continue [Press kit: Skillsbridges – a new format for continuing professional development].