25 April 2025
Bridging the skills gap for wind energy – EVP Mînzatu joins WindEurope 2025 Student Programme
Over 900 international students participated in a three-day student programme at the WindEurope Annual Event 2025 in Copenhagen. A selected group of students met with European Commission Executive Vice President for Social Rights and Skills Roxana Mînzatu.
The European wind industry is set to grow to over 600,000 jobs by 2030. But a shortage of skilled workers is one of the biggest challenges facing the wind industry today. Without a strong talent pipeline, the expansion of wind energy —and ultimately, the EU’s energy and climate goals—could be at risk.
Raising awareness of wind industry jobs
The student programme at WindEurope 2025 was designed to inform on the diverse career paths available in wind energy. It provided young talents with first-hand exposure to career opportunities, cutting-edge innovations, and key industry professionals in the wind energy sector. Whether studying engineering, business, IT, environmental sustainability, or technical fields, participants explored how their skills can contribute to a more competitive Europe. The programme highlighted opportunities from marine biology and project planning to offshore diving, steel structure design, and software management.
With networking events, industry panels, and guided exhibition tours, they engaged directly with professionals. They gained insights into job roles, industry demands, and future trends.
The wind sector is not limited to university graduates; it also offers career pathways for those with technical training and vocational education.
EVP Mînzatu met students and training centre representatives
As a highlight of the student programme Executive Vice President for Social Rights and Skills Roxana Mînzatu met with a group of students. During the meetup Roxana Mînzatu talked to them about their career aspirations, labour access and mobility.
Executive Vice President Mînzatu also met with training centre representatives to discuss their approaches on education and reskilling. They discussed the importance of certifications and vocational education as well as training and mentoring initiatives for the next generation of STEM professionals. They also addressed the various challenges faced by training centers.
Roxana Mînzatu, EVP for Social Rights and Skills said on her LinkedIn account: “I could not miss the opportunity to visit the Annual WindEurope event during my country visit in DK. Wind energy already covers 20% of electricity demand and it’s set to be the backbone of our energy system. But to power the clean transition, we also need a strong talent base. Today, I met with students, businesses, public and private partners to talk about how we can work together to close the skills gap in the clean energy sector. Through the Union of Skills, the EC is building a new governance model, bringing together education, training providers, industry, and society representatives to deliver the skills we need for a just and green transition.”
WindEurope’s Deputy CEO Malgosia Bartosik said: “In less than 6 years we will need to create more than 200,000 new jobs, and we need to find new talents to fill these positions. Students are the future of our workforce, and they will drive our sector. With the student programme we’re bridging the gap between companies and universities. We’re helping industry to showcase their projects and inspire young people to consider a career in wind. Supporting training centres is also essential to build the skilled workforce Europe need. We look forward to continuing the dialogue with the European Commission and EVP Roxana Mînzatu. Together we can get the talents we need to reach the energy and climate targets.“
