Rogaland County Council

In recent years, the maritime technology and shipbuilding industry, including yachts and pleasure crafts as well as marine structures, have faced significant challenges, such as technological advancements, environmental sustainability, and global competitiveness. This article presents a comprehensive investigation conducted within the European project LeaderSHIP, focusing on the current state of training programs for workers in the sector and specifically identifying emerging and urgent skills necessary for future success. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys distributed to industry professionals, educational institution representatives, and companies. The results highlight a disparity between the skills demanded by employers and those provided by training programs. Notably, the investigation reveals critical gaps in essential areas such as sustainable design, technological innovation, and resource management, underscoring the need for immediate action. The analysis emphasizes the importance of continuous updating and a closer alignment between academia and industry. It suggests that collaboration between educational institutions and businesses could significantly enhance training quality. Implementing practical learning programs and internships, along with creating flexible curricula that can adapt to the sector’s dynamic needs, is proposed as a vital strategy to address these gaps. Finally, the article discusses future perspectives for training in maritime technology, stressing the necessity to invest in advanced skills and foster a culture of innovation. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs, highlighting the critical need for an integrated approach to effectively tackle the challenges posed by emerging and urgent skills in the shipbuilding industry.

This study aims to examine sex-based age differences in the Norwegian top soccer league, the relationship between age and performance level, and the presence of the relative age effect (RAE) in the same population of players. Players’ birthdates were obtained from publicly available databases, and the total sample comprised 663 players (231 women, 432 men) from 26 teams (10 women’s teams and 16 men’s teams). For the RAE analyses, birth months were categorised in birth quartiles: Q1: January–March, Q2: April–June, Q3: July–September, Q4: October–December. The median age of the players was significantly lower for women than for men [22.1 (15.0–38.2) vs. 24.5 (15.5–38.4) p < .001]. A very large correlation between the median age of the team and the team performance was found in the women’s league (rs(10) = -0.72, p = .019), while no correlation was found in the men’s league (rs(16) = 0.22, p = .405). Chi-square analysis showed a difference between the observed and expected birth quartile distributions for the total sample, male players, and female players (p < .05). The lower age observed for the women than for the men indicates the need to prolong female players’ careers through greater support, allowing them to reach their performance potential.