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Message from EARLALL President


Dear Friends,

With the end of the OSA project in sight, I wanted to thank all those involved. In terms of the research undertaken throughout this project into youth VET and lifelong learning this project has been vast but far reaching in its achievements. It is important during this economic climate that we focus on research and innovation to ensure that lifelong learning policies within our regions are effective and reflective of the contexts and situations facing our regions today.
With news released this month that EU unemployment for people below the age of 25 has hit 24.4%, it is ever critical that we continue with projects such as these, and also with our commitment to the Soft Open Method of Coordination that has enabled the transfer of policy processes throughout our mutual regions.
By prioritising Youth VET and lifelong learning policies, we are prioritising young people and their futures, and through OSA we have reinforced our commitment to these priorities through cooperation, a commitment to mutual learning, and the encouragement of common interventions.
It is with this in mind that I invite you to the Conference “A Guarantee System for Youth Policies - One Step Ahead towards Employment and Autonomy” taking place in Florence the 21st and 22nd of February. The first half day (21st February, Afternoon Session) will be dedicated to presenting best practices and models of success, whereas the second day (22nd February, Morning Session) will be dedicated to discussing policy and presenting a document which systematises methods, operational proposals, and initiatives of various European regions. The document should represent a shared (and in progress) instrument as well as being a useful suggestion for the Commission and other European institutions.

Kind regards,
Gianfranco Simoncini

Conference A Guarantee System for Youth Policies - One Step Ahead towards Employment and Autonomy and GA
On the 21st and 22nd of February Earlal members will gather in Florence for the General Assembly. The General Assembly will be accompanied by the conference “A Guarantee System for Youth Policies - One Step Ahead towards Employment and Autonomy”. Readers are very welcome to join the Earlall General Assembly and Conference. For further information and to register please email Earlall Secretariat at earlall@earlall.eu by the 10th February.



GUIDANCE


New Guidance Network for Lifelong Learning in Baden-Württemberg
A common guidance and consultancy network for the sector of lifelong learning will be established in Baden-Württemberg. Whereas German guidance structures with regard to vocational training are well developed for young people who are still at school there is a gap for those who have finished their training and are looking for further education options.
In a new project, the Volkshochschulverband Baden-Württemberg and the University of Heidelberg develop strategies for the establishment of a common guidance network on behalf of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for education, culture, youth and sports. Outcomes of the OSA project will influence the development of the new guidance network. In the framework of OSA, delegations from Baden-Württemberg have visited and will visit guidance systems in the regions of OSA partner institutions. Especially guidance structures in Jämtland/Swedenand the Steiermark/Austria serve as best practice for the new guidance network in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg

Guidance - Jamtland’s lessons learnt from the OSA project
In the Jamtland region guidance is focused on the individuals. There are career councilors at secondary schools, both giving general information to groups of pupils, but also providing individual counseling for the transition into upper secondary vocational or theoretical schooling. For adult education career guidance is also given at an individual basis. The councilors use different questionnaires and tools to help the individual make decision about their future and can also help them find work experience placements, apprenticeships or courses, education or vocational training to create an individual combination of measures to achieve a goal.
Through the OSA project we have also been inspired by Styria where there are active career councilors who put on different activities for youths in order for them to find out more about themselves. In addition to information on various educational paths the pupils get to know themselves and their strengths, which make their choices easier. This is an inspiration and something we take back home to see if we can use in the future.
Jamtland

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES OF STUDY VISITS


Last year international study visits organised in the framework of OSA project proved successful in terms of seeing how different regional governments manage similar priorities of Youth Vet and lifelong learning ; Below are a few examples of visits undertook by Basque Country in Baden Wurttemberg and by Wales in Basque Country.

Main Learning Outcomes of the visit of Tknika (Basque Country) to Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg
The visit to Baden Wurttemberg was focused on the concept of training in alternance, which is already an emblem of the region after many years of development. I want to highlight the learning outcomes gleaned from the study visit to Stuttgart, in which we met representatives of the regional government, the company Shuller, a teachers academy and multiple Chambers of Commerce.
What I took note of specifically was that in Baden-Württemberg they have been able, over time, to start a training initiative and keep it going for years, with the conviction that it must be constantly renewed, introducing new features and changes in order to keep the experience alive.
I think this is the best lesson we could learn from the visit to BW and, of course, the most difficult one. Because you can take the Dual System and introduce some new aspects in it, adapting it to each region, diversifying in the mechanisms, in the ways of managing or financing it and so on, but what you’ll find difficult to transfer is the idea that the bottom line of it all is the spirit of consensus, that agreement and collaboration culture without which, projects of this magnitude could hardly succeed and last over time.
It could be particularly difficult for those regions where the socio-political situation is turbulent or unstable. So, in addition to the necessary improvement in the management of resources, the renewal of technology and equipment or the impulse of youth-oriented projects, there is urgency for an evolution in the ways of working and interacting on society, an evolution in principles and values.
Basque Country

One Step Ahead – Wales learns about the Basque Region
On 8th and 9th May 2012, a senior official from the Department for Education and Skills in the Welsh Government took part in a peer-learning and policy transfer visit to the Basque Region hosted by the Basque Government’s Department for Lifelong Learning and organised by Tknika, as part of EARLALL’s One Step Ahead project.
The Basque Region is an interesting comparator for the Wales, given factors such as the level of competence devolved in each region/nation, population and region size, linguistic characteristics and economy. Evidence provided via reports for the One Step Ahead project showed the Basque Region delivering positive outcomes in many policy areas as compared to Spanish averages.
The visit allowed the Welsh official to take part in in-depth discussion with senior officials from the Basque Government, including the Director of Youth, the Director of Lifelong Learning, senior officials from the Department for Lifelong Learning and managers from Tknika.
The prioritisation of youth policy in the Basque Region was noted, with a Directorate of Youth and the Youth Plan III. In Wales, which has similar concerns over youth unemployment and progression, the Welsh Government has recently established a new Division for Youth Employment and Engagement and is currently developing the successor to its Youth Employment and Engagement Action Plan. The measures implemented by the Basque Region to reduce the number who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), including the Programs de Cualificaciou Profesional Inicial (PCPI) were also noted.
Following the visit, the Department for Education and Skills has disseminated the findings, producing a policy report, newsletter and intranet articles. A seminar was held to specifically discuss the findings with senior representation from across the Department. This activity has further raised understanding of the Basque Region and its policies within the Welsh Government, developing networks of contacts between the two regions, and provided policy information on alternative approaches for ongoing consideration by policy makers in Wales.
Welsh Government

 

WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE EU

Youth Guarantee

On the 16/1/13 MEP’s in Parliament voted strongly in favour of Youth Guarantee schemes to be introduced. The Youth Guarantee schemes will ensure that no one within the EU member states under the age of 25 goes without a job, education or training for four months. February will see the Council of Ministers meet to decide upon implementing a recommendation that all member states implement these schemes.
For more information please click here : http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2013-0016+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN

Multiannual Financial Framework

A Brussels summit on the 7-8th February will belatedly decide how to distribute funding from the 1tn Eur budget for 2014-20. Some, including the European Parliament President Martin Schulz remain sceptical that an agreement will be compromised upon, as member states failed to make an agreement on whether to prioritise growth or budget cuts in November.
For more information, please click here : http://ec.europa.eu/budget/mff/index_en.cfm
CONTACTS
For any question or information regarding this newsletter, please contact Earlall Business Manager, Miss Flavia Buiarelli at earlall@earlall.eu  
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. 
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