Description of the Project "Synergy of NEETs and apprentiship"

The near future of the Europe depends on the 94 millions of Europeans, who are now between 15-29 years of age. In addition to the challenges faced by all youth generations, when starting an adult life, this generation of young people will face with new challenges, as it will live in the era of globalization, and it will have to take responsibility for an aging society. Therefore of great concern is the fact that these young people are experiencing a great hit of economic crisis. In year 2011, only 34% of young people had job, this is the lowest percent, which was ever registered by Eurostat. Unemployment figures also show that the labour market for young people has become much more difficult to obtain; from the beginning of the economic downturn the number of unemployed youth increased by 1.5 million and in 2011 it reached 5.5 million (or 21 percent).
In 2013 January-May, the public institution ESTEP conducted a study on educational opportunities, encouraging young people in citizenship, social inclusion and integration into the labour market. The study was focused on increase of social inclusion and employment promotion of unemployed, not studying and not involved in training young people (NEET). According to Eurostat data for 2012, Lithuania’s NEET indicator was 11.1 percent of the total 15-24 aged youth.
The assesment of the indicator of 14-29 age group suggests that the number of unemployed, out of education and not involved in training young people in Lithuania could reach up to 84 thousand.
The main objectives of the project are: to develop favourable conditions for youth to get engaged into the educational activities and labor market, to provide a stimulating environment to participate in the activities matching their needs, to develop and promote an enterpreneurial  and labor market skills through the apprenticeship as one of the skilled work force training forms. Based on the experience analysis of apprenticeship developement in the European Union countries, particularly in Estonia, Poland and Lithuania; during the project implementation the metodology to reintroduce the unemployed, out of education and not involved in training youth into the learning process would be developed. The project will be quided by an important document – Council Declaration on the the European Alliance for Apprenticeships- spreading the key message that high quality apprenticeships are effective instruments to improve sustainable transitions from school to work, notably by fostering skills that are relevant to the labour market and improving skill matches. As evidenced by the experience of some countries, youth unemployment rate is significantly lower where the apprenticeship schemes, work- based learning schemes, are succesfully implemented and enabling youth from the very beginning  of their studies to work and learn gaining practical professional skills. This has a very positive impact on the youth employment and social inclusion and coherence of labor market supply and demand.
Aims and objectives of the Project:
1. Analyze the best EU practices when reducing social exclusion through effective vocational training; in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland particularly.
2. Investigate the peculiarities of apprenticeship, as a form of vocational training, in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. 
3. Develop methodology for social inclusion, training and integration into labor market through the apprenticeship as a vocational training organization form for unemployed, out of education and not involved in training youth.

Project summary

The main objectives of the project are: to develop favourable conditions for youth to get engaged into the educational activities and labor market, to provide a stimulating environment to participate in the activities matching their needs, to develop and promote an enterpreneurial  and labor market skills through the apprenticeship as one of the skilled work force training forms. Based on the experience analysis of apprenticeship developement in the European Union countries, particularly in Estonia, Poland and Lithuania; during the project implementation the metodology to reintroduce the unemployed, out of education and not involved in training youth into the learning process would be developed. The project will be quided by an important document – Council Declaration on the the European Alliance for Apprenticeships- spreading the key message that high quality apprenticeships are effective instruments to improve sustainable transitions from school to work, notably by fostering skills that are relevant to the labour market and improving skill matches. As evidenced by the experience of some countries, youth unemployment rate is significantly lower where the apprenticeship schemes, work- based learning schemes, are succesfully implemented and enabling youth from the very beginning  of their studies to work and learn gaining practical professional skills. This has a very positive impact on the youth employment and social inclusion and coherence of labor market supply and demand.
Aims and objectives of the Project:
1. Analyze the best EU practices when reducing social exclusion through effective vocational training; in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland particularly.
2. Investigate the peculiarities of apprenticeship, as a form of vocational training, in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. 
3. Develop methodology for social inclusion, training and integration into labor market through the apprenticeship as a vocational training organization form for unemployed, out of education and not involved in training youth.
Outcomes during the project implementation:
1. Best practice from Estonia, Lithuania and Poland case study in reducing social exclusion through effective training (1 piece).
2. Analysis of apprenticeship, as a method of training, in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland (1 piece). 
3. Methodology for social inclusion, training and integration into the labour market unemployed, out of education and not involved in training youth when using apprenticeship as means for organising vocational training (1 piece). 
4. Updated training programs (10 pieces). 
5. Number of pupils participated in methodology testing (45). 
6. Number of trained project participants (21).
The project partners are Powiatowy Zespol Obslugi Szkol i Placowek Oswiatowych (Poland) and ITT Group (Estonia).