Real Skills for Work and Entrepreneurship in the Agri-food Sector Erasmus Project

Project Title

Real Skills for Work and Entrepreneurship in the Agri-food Sector

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal); Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

In today’s highly competitive labour markets, the experience gained through VET programmes that combine a theoretical component with work-based learning (WBL) can open doors to later jobs. In countries with a strong tradition of WBL, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark. youth unemployment rates are lower than in countries with less developed WBL systems. In addition, graduates have shorter transition periods from education and/or training to employment. A recent CEDEFOP report on labour market outcomes, confirms this by demonstrating that VET is more successful than general education at getting individuals into work in the short and medium terms. Furthermore, tailor-made VET programmes coupled with WBL can be more effective in addressing the prevalence of skills mismatch and shortages, which can occur due to the discrepancy between young people’s education or skills and the level of education or skills required by potential jobs. In this context, the ReSkill project’s overarching objective is to address the interconnected issues of youth unemployment and skills mismatch by developing and delivering a comprehensive dual education programme with an innovative WBL component, on sector-specific work and entrepreneurial skills in the agri-food industry. The project’s target group will be young unemployed and NEETs who have completed their education (independently of education level) and are in the transition phase to seeking employment. The agri-food industry was chosen as the sector to test the dual training programme, as it dominates the EU manufacturing sector in terms of value added, employment, international trade and turnover as it employs around 4.5 million people and is composed of 300.000 businesses, mostly SMEs.ReSkill will follow a waterfall methodology which makes planning and designing clear and therefore progress is more easily measured. Needs analysis and current situation investigation will be followed by the design and development of the training modules, assessment and ECVET framework. At the same time, the ReSkill e-training platform will be designed and integrated followed by the creation and digitization of the learning material. Finally, the dual training programme will be delivered, inclusive of the WBL component. Overall, ReSkill will have the following general impact and outcomes:• Develop a truly unique, sector-specific and innovative dual training programme for agri-food skills that will be attractive for NEETs and young unemployed.• Mainstream and expand the use of WBL in countries with less developed dual-training environments• Improve the image of the AF industry as a workplace of choice and opportunity for younger people • Address skills shortages in the AF sector and promote future and forward-looking skills • Promote the employability of NEETs and young unemployed, notably through activities that foster the development of targeted and sector-specific skills and entrepreneurship. • Establish a valuable precedent about the role that WBL and dual training can play in reducing youth unemployment and equipping young people with the right skills for a successful career.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 425068 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASSOCIATION NATIONALE DES INDUSTRIES ALIMENTAIRES & Country: FR

Project Partners

• SYNDESMOS ELLINIKON VIOMICHANION TROFIMON SOMATEIO
• FEDERATIA PATRONALA ROMANA DIN INDUSTRIA ALIMENTARA – ROMALIMENTA
• CPIP-COMUNITATEA PENTRU INVATAREA PERMANENTA
• OPCALIM
• EUROTRAINING EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION
• AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS