Project information:
Official name of the project: BattEdu – Education network for battery value chain skills
Duration of the project: 1.4.2025 - 31.3.2027
Project coordinator: Univeristy of Vaasa
Project partners: VAMK, University of Oulu, City of Vaasa (VAMIA), Central Ostrobothnia Education Consortium (KPEDU), SAMK, SeAMK, Centria
Funding: ESF+, Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre
Budget: 49 000 €
Contact person in VAMK:
Mirja Andersson, Senior Lecturer (School of Technology)
tel. +358 207 663 686, mirja.andersson@vamk.fi
Project description
According to the national battery strategy, the success of the battery sector depends on expertise and the availability of a skilled workforce. Finland’s competitiveness is strengthened by ensuring that education meets the rapidly changing needs of the sector and that sufficient experts are available. The BattEdu project addresses this need by bringing together educational institutions across all levels and formats, research organizations, and companies to develop battery sector education and lifelong learning.
The project builds a collaborative network that strengthens the link between education and working life, designing learning pathways that support both current and future labor market requirements. The goal is for education to meet the skill needs across different stages of the battery value chain — from raw material production to battery manufacturing, use, and recycling. The project operates nationally, with impacts extending broadly across regions and stakeholders.
The project is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) under the “Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021–2027” program.
Goals
The primary objective of the project is to create, strengthen, and diversify connections between educational institutions and companies operating in the battery value chain so that education better aligns with labor market demands and future skill requirements. To support this goal, the project establishes a robust education network for the benefit of industry, leveraging existing networks and projects.
Specific goals include:
- Establish and consolidate an education network connecting educational institutions and companies across the battery value chain.
- Strengthen and diversify links between education and working life to ensure that training better meets current and future labor market needs.
- Develop new methods and models to promote lifelong learning and enhance student engagement.
- Build a permanent collaborative network and shared educational platform that brings together battery sector training and learning pathways.
- Support Finland’s battery strategy and the green transition by ensuring a sufficient skilled workforce for the battery sector.
Results
The education network will make visible the various training pathways and specialized continuing education opportunities across the entire battery value chain. The project will develop new methods to better engage lifelong learners in studies while also supporting the objectives of employers and industry regarding continuing education. Through the network, the project aims to ensure that educational pathways meet both current and future labor market needs.
This integrated approach strengthens collaboration between educational institutions and working life, reinforcing Finland’s position as a leader in innovation and sustainable development.
