The forum was held in a critical period for our profession. In recent months, all leading professionals from various industries have been directly involved in the debate on the recognition of professional qualifications.
In December 2013, Directive 2013/55 / EU of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2005/36 / EC on the recognition of professional qualifications was published. One of the expected results of the aforementioned Directive is the introduction of a European Professional Card (EPC), which should be seen as a tool to increase the mobility of workers, in particular, European youth. In 2013, EFG approved its strategic goals, mission, prospects, and values, setting priorities for the next 5 years. These priorities involving education issues, promotion of professional titles, were addressed at the seminar.
In addition, the global downturn and the financial crisis of recent years are pushing for innovative approaches, especially in adapting the youngest colleagues to the needs of the labor market.
Representatives of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists participated in the seminar. P. Zagorodniuk and V. Bezvinny delivered their report titled "Ukrainian Geology: The Hard Way from Planned to Market Economics".
The conference was held in the palace of the Norman kings of Sicily.
The conference included a geological excursion to underground galleries that were used for water supply in ancient Roman and Arabian times and continue to function now for watering citrus plantations.
On June 1-2, Palermo hosted the Council of the European Federation of Geologists (EFG), where the Ukrainian Association of Geologists has been a member since January this year. The representatives of the Association were informed by the Council about current activities and presented a joint experimental educational project of the Ukrainian Association of Geologists and the Tutkovsky Institute for teaching geology (Fundamentals of Geology) at secondary school (project coordinator H. Liventseva, author of the academic discipline M. Krochak).
The presentation aroused great interest from the members of the Council in connection with the start of EFG's European initiative to increase the interest of children and young people in geology.
The Council has decided to accept public associations of Polish and Czech geologists to EFG. Parties reached an agreement on EFG's visit to Ukraine.
