The Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) is driving forward its involvement in the three-year, EU-funded TALENT4S3 project, focused on improving regional policy instruments to retain and attract talent in line with Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3). The project aims to bolster the region’s innovation capacity and economic resilience by ensuring a supply of skilled professionals.
International Learning and Exchange
A central component of the SRA’s work has been participation in interregional learning events across Europe. The Assembly has sent representatives and stakeholders to study visits in regions such as Extremadura (Spain), Maribor (Slovenia), Oradea (Romania), and Vilnius (Lithuania). These exchanges have been crucial for benchmarking regional strategies and importing effective policies, notably in diaspora engagement. For example, the experience in Lithuania provided valuable insight into mobilising diaspora networks. During a workshop in Romania, the SRA contributed by detailing the local housing crisis and its negative effect on retaining and attracting skilled individuals.
Fostering Regional Collaboration
The SRA has hosted multiple Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) meetings, bringing together key figures from enterprise, higher education, skills bodies, and local authorities.
Topics addressed have been wide-ranging and practical, including:
- Strategies to mitigate severe skills shortages, with 83% of Irish employers reporting recruitment difficulties.
- Aligning educational provisions with regional S3 priorities, specifically in high-growth sectors such as digital technology, health innovation, and the creative industries.
- Developing a coordinated regional approach to diaspora engagement, moving the conversation from “brain drain” to “brain circulation,” which emphasises mutual benefit and knowledge transfer.
- Proposing a strategic framework to enhance the transfer of skills and knowledge into the region and exploring initiatives like a “Skills Observatory” to provide real-time labour market intelligence.
In addition to these meetings, the SRA has actively disseminated the project’s findings at external events, including a presentation at the OECD’s European Week of Regions and Cities.
The SRA’s ongoing commitment to the TALENT4S3 project will ensure that policies are continually refined, allowing the Southern Region to effectively retain and attract the talent necessary for a prosperous future.
