Collaboration between industry and academia is a powerful mechanism for driving both economic growth and educational advancement. By combining the theoretical knowledge and research capabilities of higher education institutions (HEIs) with the practical expertise and market-oriented perspective of industry partners, this cooperation can foster innovation and provide professionals with the skills needed to navigate the current evolving economic scenario. The logistics and maritime transport sector have been increasingly adopting sustainable practices and replacing many of its manual processes with digital ones. Companies require a workforce that can adapt to new technological advancements and environmental regulations, while academic institutions benefit from aligning their educational offerings with real-world industry demands. Lifelong learning serves as a critical bridge in this process, ensuring that professionals continuously acquire the necessary competencies to meet emerging challenges.

The Nexus project exemplifies this synergy by fostering the green and digital transformation of its associates through the development of highly innovative products and services. This transformation relies on the intersection of theoretical knowledge, provided by higher education institutions (HEIs), and market-driven expertise contributed by industry partners. This work presents the case study of one of the objectives of the Nexus project, which is the design and implementation of a training academy created from scratch to deliver short, intensive, and fully online training courses tailored to the maritime logistics industry needs. The development of this academy followed a structured approach. First, a skill gap analysis was conducted to assess the specific needs of companies involved in the project. Next, existing lifelong learning training units within the consortium HEIs were identified. Finally, new training programs were designed to address unmet demands. Upon approval, the course became an official part of the university’s training offer, available both to a private group of lifelong learners within the consortium and to the general public. Financial sustainability was ensured through the project budget for private groups and an individual fee for public enrolments. The Nexus Academy, a fully online training platform dedicated to lifelong learning in the context of digital and green transitions in ports and maritime transport, encompasses three types of training programs provided by two HEIs: 10 micro-modules (each <12 ECTS), a postgraduate program in Maritime and Port Logistics (40 ECTS), and a series of online webinars covering key topics in logistics transformation. Within approximately nine months, the academy has successfully engaged 230 participants in 11 webinars, 67 learners in various micromodules, and 20 learners in the postgraduate program. While the post-graduation and the micro-modules are ongoing, the first series of webinars have demonstrated high relevance and quality for participants, with approximately 80% rating the topics as “Very Relevant”, and over 90% finding the speakers to be “Very Clear”. These results highlight the significant role of tailored lifelong learning in facilitating digital and green transformation in the industry, ensuring that professionals remain equipped to navigate and lead change in an evolving market.

Keywords: Lifelong learning, industry, education, continuous education, digital transition.