Acquiring competencies for mastering tools that process big data - the case of AI usage skills gaps

This paper delves into the critical role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the 21st century, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize various sectors including medicine and education, while also posing significant societal and economic challenges. Amidst the backdrop of the EU's lag in AI adoption compared to the USA and Asia, this study underscroed the acute skills gap as a pivotal hindrance.It introduces the AI4VET4AI project aimed at briding this gap through a transnational European platform of Vocational Education Training (VET) excellence. The project seeks to integrate AI-related content into VET curricula, fostering trust in AI, and alligning skills development with the Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027). By highlighting the importance of a collaborative knowledge triangle- Business, education, and research - the paper advocates for a comprehensive approach to harness AI's potential, ensuring sustainable growth and competetiveness within the EU.