ICAO EUR/NAT Workshop on Aviation Training and Workforce Planning, Almaty, Kazakhstan - 5 and 6 November 2025
From 5 to 6 November 2025, the ICAO EUR/NAT Regional Office held a Regional Workshop on Aviation Training and Workforce Planning, graciously hosted by the Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan and Kazaeronavigatsia, in Almaty. The event brought together more than 200 participants representing States, training organizations, academia, industry, and international organizations from across the EUR/NAT area.
The aim of this industry-focused workshop was to address workforce development challenges, share industry success stories and explore pan-regional and national strategies aligned with ICAO’s NGAP programme.
Building on the outcomes of the March 2025 workshop held in Paris and the discussions of the EUR/NAT Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Meeting, the Almaty workshop focused on four priority areas essential for the long-term workforce strategy:
developing a regional skills monitoring framework to better anticipate future staffing needs, and to bridge the gap between training and the industry’s needs.
fostering a culture of lifelong learning that encourages aviation professionals to stay updated and agile in response to industry shifts.
attracting diverse talents at an early stage into aviation professions through outreach programs, educational initiatives, and scholarship opportunities.
and building bridges within and beyond the aviation ecosystem for more effective training solutions.
Across two days of discussions, participants emphasized the need for industry-aligned training programmes supported by stronger cooperation between employers and training providers, ensuring that competencies evolve in step with technological and operational changes.
A key outcome was the call to strengthen data-driven workforce planning. States and organizations highlighted the importance of improved data collection, coordinated analysis, and the development of a regional skills monitoring approach that directly support ICAO’s global objective of achieving zero fatalities in aviation.
The workshop also reaffirmed the importance of embedding a culture of lifelong learning across aviation organizations. This includes leadership commitment, continuous reskilling, and expanding access to modern, flexible learning pathways to maintain a skilled and adaptable workforce.
Participants further stressed the importance of attracting diverse talent, including youth and women, through early outreach, educational partnerships, awareness initiatives, and efforts to reduce barriers to entry into aviation professions.
Finally, the workshop underscored the need to build stronger bridges across and beyond the aviation ecosystem, including cooperation with sectors such as digital technologies, environmental sciences, and education, to enrich training solutions and prepare the workforce for emerging competencies.
The next EUR/NAT workshop on aviation training and workforce planning will take place in Amsterdam in June 2026, organized in cooperation with JAA TO, with a focus on innovation & digitalization in aviation training and the evolution of job profiles.