Plan your future- bridging the gap between youth and entrepreneurs Erasmus Project

Project Title

Plan your future- bridging the gap between youth and entrepreneurs

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 youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cooperation between educational institutions and business; Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

<< Background >>

We have applied for this project as there is a real need to bridge the gap, between education and career world. By creating “PLAN YOUR FUTURE” platform and implementing meetings with professionals the project partners wanted to increase the knowledge of youth about existing career opportunities, encourage and empower them to take initiative and start thinking about their future. We have also applied for the project to get more expertise as organisations and create innovative solutions in the field of career-education.

The project “Plan Your Future- bridging the gap between youth and companies” also aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship among youth. By creating online platform partners developed a meeting point for professionals, youth, teachers and NGOs’.
The YOUTH needs addressed in the project:
-lack of knowledge about career paths,
-few after schools initiatives which support career decision making process
-lack of understanding of different development paths eg. study abroad, gap year
-lack of networking opportunities with professionals
Other stakeholders’ needs:
-low collaboration between schools, NGOs and youth and companies
-low awareness of gap between education and job market

<< Objectives >>

When planning the project, the project partners have set up following objectives:

a) By creating an online platform partners wanted to develop a meeting point for professionals from local and international companies, youth, teachers and NGOs’.
b) at least 60% of the participants of the meetings would decide on their future career and education choice,
c) at least 25% of the participants of the meetings would take an internship in the companies they are interested in,
d) the Intellectual Output “Youth-Professionals Platform” will be used by at least 10 organizations a year,
e) have a prove of concept of at leas 4 sessions and the long-lasting sustainability plan: it was expected that youth, schools, and other nonprofit organisations would use platform

<< Implementation >>

The activities implemented:
1. Two physical international meeting, three online meetings.
2. Intellectual Output has been implemented in form of a Role Model Platform on My Future website (https://www.my-future.info/planyourfuture/) as well as on the partnering organization website Edu Plus (https://www.eduplus.biz/role-models-and-partners) additionally partners decided to make research and created an e-guide in form of an e-book. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I7Jo3uHSLLNRrprKNdzfKn6bVlKSE3l_/view)
3. Recruitment strategy has been implemented and adjusted to the COVID 19 circumstances
4. Three sessions with professionals has been implemented in real life with students in groups of 20, additionally, due to the increased online activities during COVID 19 My Future implemented additional 52 sessions between professionals and youth online, Edu Plus also implemented 10 online sessions between students and professionals in Portugal
5. During the project timeline feedback from the students has been gathered and analyzed in the e-guide
6. Two dissemination events have been implemented in Poland and Portugal. It has been done in small groups to met COVID restrictions
7. Online marketing activities were and are still running

<< Results >>

The project produced the “ROLE MODEL PLATFORM” in both Polish and Portuguese language:
Role Model Platform PL: https://www.my-future.info/planyourfuture/
Role Model Platform PT: https://www.eduplus.biz/role-models-and-partners

It has been build over time during the project and it assures now project sustainability and dissemination. The platform includes various fields and proffesionals representing it who can share experience with youth (eg. brand manager, programmer, project manager, gap year, study abroad, CV and internship etc.). There is a call to action for three stakeholders involved: for student who wants to met professional, for professional / company who wants to get involved and for schools which want to collaborate with NGO.

Additionally to the ROLE MODEL PLATFORM the following outputs has been produced:
– Research and Plan Your Future programme e-guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I7Jo3uHSLLNRrprKNdzfKn6bVlKSE3l_/view
– 65 sessions with professionals and youth (My Future: 3 in real life, 52 online; Edu Plus: 10 sessions online)
– marketing materials for all stakeholders (professionals, schools, youth)
– long lasting sustainability strategy

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 59831 Eur

Project Coordinator

My Future & Country: PL

Project Partners

• EduPlus – European Centre for Education and Skills Development, Lda