Preventing the Early School Leaving phenomenon in the EU through practical and innovative solutions Erasmus Project

Project Title

Preventing the Early School Leaving phenomenon in the EU through practical and innovative solutions

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Open and distance learning; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

CONTEXT
Early leaving from education and training (ELET) is a serious issue in many EU countries and has attracted the attention of many researchers, policy-makers and educators. Although the situation varies between countries and the underlying reasons for leaving early differ from student to student, the process leading up to it has a number of common elements.
According to the report of Eurycide and Cedefop, “Tackling Early Leaving from Education and Training in Europe: Strategies, Policies and Measures” (2014), one out of seven young Europeans leaves the education system presenting a lack of skills and qualifications necessary to prepare them for the labor market. Currently, more than 4 million young people in Europe are classified as early school leavers, only 40% of whom are employed.
In the last two years, due to the pandemic, this problem has been emphasized, especially as regards Italy, one of the worst countries in Europe.
Research shows that leaving education early leads to reduced opportunities in the labor market and an increased likelihood of unemployment, socio-economic disadvantage, health problems, as well as reduced participation in political, social, and cultural activities.
On the other hand, abundant research indicates that a higher level ofn education can lead to a series of positive outcomes for the individual as well as for society. The benefits of young people staying longer in school are improved employment prospects, higher salaries, better health, less crime, improved social cohesion, lower public and social costs, and higher productivity and growth.
Dealing with the underlying causes of early leaving and developing ways to overcome them has become a central issue in Europe.

OBJECTIVES
The overall goal of motivatEyoUth is to develop a multi-intervention program for youth and youth workers and focus on the early school leaving phenomenon, to reduce the factors that create it and draw direct and indirect actions towards the target groups.
MotivatEyoUth is based on two key pillars: Early School Leaving (ESL) Prevention and Intervention; through the project, prevention actions for youth prone to present high-risk behaviors was developed, as well as intervention measures and actions for youth classified as Early Leavers from Education and Training” (ELET), to prevent, remedy and reduce Early School Leaving.

TARGET GROUP
The main target groups of the project have been young people between 14 -18 years old and youth 18-24, classified as Early Leavers from Education and Training & experts; teachers, educators, youth workers, trainers, social workers, healthcare professionals, coaches, social workers etc.
It is estimated that more than 1200 youth and experts have been involved, directly and indirectly within the project activities, and around 90.000 have been achieved, through dissemination activities, during the three years of the project.

ACTIVITIES
Four main Intellectual Outputs are been designed and developed:
O1: Experts Programme Toolkit
O2: Online game “Journey to your Future”
O3: ICT Tool for Competence Assessment
O4: Online educational platform

The project results are available in English, Italian, Greek, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish languages. They are developed in such a way and method so as to have the availability to be transferred and adjusted appropriately to other EU countries in the future.

RESULTS AND IMPACT
Youth involved in the project have been developing digital skills; they have been motivated and encouraged to continue on education and training through innovative material, tools, and activities; they have been developing their interest in Educational opportunities and other opportunities in entering the labor market

Experts and other stakeholders have increased their awareness of ESL, the factors that create it, and the risks that derive from it; they have new educational tools and methods that will be applicable in their daily work and will support them in addressing the risks and issues raised by ESL/ELET (both for prevention as well as intervention purposes); they have been the development of their digital skills and opportunity to make better use of digital technology.

Partner organizations have updated, improve & widen their educational and training offer, putting their competitiveness ahead; they have new tools that will be applicable to their daily work; they have exchanged know-how and define the best practices in the field of ESL/ELET so as to incorporate them into the project products; they have participated in an international network across diverse professional fields and gain expertise in a demanding and important field.

Project Website

http://www.motivateyouth.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 158131,82 Eur

Project Coordinator

Petit Pas aps & Country: IT

Project Partners

• C.F.C.D.C. CENTRE FOR COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT CYPRUS
• UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
• Polska Fundacja Osrodkow Wspomagania Rozwoju Gospodarczego OIC POLAND z siedziba w Lublinie
• Associacio Programes Educatius Open Europe