Access to battery expertise will be crucial for the establishment of large-scale ventures in the battery industry in Norway, according to a new report from the Confederation of Norwegian Industry, LO and Prosess21. Haugalandet has plenty of relevant expertise, and the close and good collaboration between the industry and educational institutions in the region helps to ensure that the industry has continuous access to up-to-date expertise.
Over the past 50 years, Haugalandet has developed into one of the country's most industry-intensive regions, with the process industry, energy, refrigeration and technology automation as some of the core areas.
- Many of the oil-related companies in the region consist primarily of people with industrial expertise. This is an important reason why Haugalandet fared far better during the oil crisis than Stavanger, for example. Most of the oil-related companies in Haugalandet had expertise that meant they were already well established in the renewables segment and had several legs to stand on. "Industry in Haugalandet has always shown a great willingness to adapt - and many have shown great ability to develop their products in new directions," says Elisabeth Lie Nilsen, head of NAV Market Nord-Rogaland.
Industry collaboration with educational institutions
Close cooperation between industry and educational institutions is also central to Haugalandet. To ensure that the industry in the region always has the right and up-to-date expertise, Hydro took the initiative to establish the "Working Life Council for Industrial Trades", where they collaborate with Aibel, Dupont Norge, Eramet, Equinor, SYSCO, OPTEK, HSO- elfag, Haugaland Vekst, Fagopplæring Rogaland fylkeskommune, NHO Rogaland, LO Rogaland, the upper secondary schools and NAV Nord Rogaland on the development and strengthening of industrial trades within vocational training on Haugalandet, so that they best meet the needs of the industry.
- "The working life council for industrial trades will ensure recruitment of the right skills at the right time, and it's about ensuring recruitment from secondary schools, but also retraining and further education of adult skilled workers," says Åse Bratthammer, principal at Åkrehamn upper secondary school. The school works closely with the other vocational schools in Karmsund and Haugaland.
- Naturally, we are very familiar with the Hydro model and have all the relevant subjects at vocational certificate level at our schools. And should there be a need to bring it up to vocational school level, we can easily do that too. We can adapt quickly here," Bratthammer emphasizes.
Chemical and process expertise is particularly strong. With major players such as Hydro, Equinor, Dupont, Eramet Sauda and the smelting plant in Odda, professionals have been trained for many years. The principal of Karmsund Upper Secondary School, Bente Romseland Døsen, is used to adapting to the needs of the industry.
Vocational schools are adapting
- When Hydro has notified us of a growing need for process operators, we have quickly been able to start new classes - both for young people and increasingly also for adults, who thus quickly and efficiently have the opportunity to acquire a new vocational certificate based on the skills they already have. And when there is a need for more skilled operators with a technical college, we bring in AOF and Fagskolen Rogaland. Together, we have created the first vocational school in this sector, where the administration is based in Stavanger, while the vocational training is provided by us in Karmsund," says Døsen.
Upper secondary vocational schools can establish new classes for recruitment purposes at a few months' notice.
- We have an adaptable business community in the region, and we support them by retraining our teaching staff as well as bringing in new and updated expertise. We are able to turn things around quickly, both among ourselves and in collaboration with the industry. The way we see it, our mission is to constantly serve the industry with what they need. To do this, we need to build expertise based on the needs of the industry. We are in the process of strengthening adult education based on the guidelines from the government," says Bratthammer.
The basic industrial skills, including how chemical processes work, are acquired in VG1 and VG2.
- On the basis of this, we enter into a dialog with the industry to ensure the right expertise - together with them. We have an adaptable business community in the region, and we are supporting them in this and retraining our teaching staff in addition to bringing in new and updated expertise," she says.
Teaming up with the university college
As a former HR manager at Hydro Karmøy Metallverk and a participant in the Working Life Council for industrial trades, Torbjørn Heyerdahl knows the industry's skills needs well. He is currently Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, based in Haugesund. He explains that HVL works actively with the industries to ensure that educational pathways are relevant, and that the industries both contribute to and benefit from the university's research-based knowledge development.
- Higher education is all about research-based knowledge development and the capacity to meet the needs of working life. When new skills needs arise, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences has many ways in which we can turn around. This may involve offering stand-alone individual courses equivalent to 10-15 credits within already approved programs in the short term. We should be able to put year-long studies in place within six months, while new accredited bachelor's programs can be up and running in a year and a half if all the prerequisites are in place. In general, we are keen to maintain a good dialogue with the business community and we can adapt quickly," explains Heyerdahl.
- "One of HVL's strengths is that we are both flexible and energetic, and we can also draw on expertise from the entire organization and our five campuses. In this way, we can also help to ensure that the industry gets the knowledge and expertise it needs," he says, referring to how the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences have a number of programs and courses aimed at the new green industrial establishments.
HVL is now in the process of applying for status as a working life and profession-oriented university.
- This is something that underpins our commitment to ensuring that practice in the industries will characterize the research and education we offer," says Heyerdahl.
Adaptable industrial region
Haugalandet is one of the country's most industry-intensive regions, and within a 15-minute radius of Haugaland Business Park are Hydro Karmøy Metallverk, Equinor Kårstø Process Plant and Aibel's shipyard in Haugesund. Westcon in Ølen and Aker Kværner in Leirvik are also less than an hour away. Together with a large undergrowth of suppliers, these major players make up a close-knit and forward-looking industrial cluster that together possesses unique and broad expertise.
- Industry is one of the largest industries in Northern Rogaland, and 12.6% of those employed in Haugalandet work in industry. In addition, there is hired labor from staffing agencies," says Elisabeth Lie Nilsen, head of NAV Marked Nord-Rogaland.
She also points out that the many oil-related companies in Haugalandet primarily consist of people with industrial expertise.
- This industrial background was an important reason why Haugalandet fared far better during the oil crisis than Stavanger, for example. Most of the oil-related companies in Haugalandet had expertise that meant they were already well established in the renewables segment and had several legs to stand on. "Industry in Haugalandet has always shown a great willingness to adapt - and many have shown great ability to develop their products in new directions," says Lie Nilsen.