Pathways In Europe

The aim of the PIE project was to research, explore, discuss and address the core issues that impact young people accessing the European labour market with a view to creating a wide range of resources, lessons and activities to enhance school curricula which will endure beyond the duration of the project. This includes the areas of skills development, careers education, work experience, entrepreneurship as well as the key competences of ICT, mathematics and literacy. The concept for the project was born out of the realisation that our school systems are quite insular and fail to prepare our young people for education and employment beyond their national boundaries. The key objectives realised by the project were: • Opportunities for participating students to develop a range of skills required by today's European labour market • Young people engaged in the production of sustainable educational resources which enhance school curricula and which are beneficial and attractive to their peers • Students have experienced the recruitment and selection process • Students have developed and practised basic and transversal skills including entrepreneurial skills. • Students have identified alternative European pathways for both education and employment • Students have identified alternative ways for personal development and self improvement within a wider European context, e.g. through work experience, gap years, volunteering, social entrepreneurship • The creation of an effective European collaborative partnership which gave all participating schools equal input into the development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the project while respecting different cultures and systems • Students have fostered the European values of tolerance, respect for intercultural diversity and solidarity • Students have had opportunities to cooperate innovatively and to exchange good practice • Students have had opportunities to experience a variety of learning contexts to benefit their personal development and future employment opportunities Over the duration of the project the following key results were realised: -Over 400 students were selected to participate directly in the project activities -the management of each school have agreed to adopt the project in a variety of curricular ways -students within each institution experienced teaching and learning activities generated by the project Note: the number of students benefiting from the project will be further extended to all students when the materials have been infused into the curriculum for each institution -materials will be disseminated to other schools thus extending the impact of the project. The project methodology involved active collaboration between the partners and included a series of structured SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) activities. A contract of work, incorporating a schedule of activities was instrumental in ensuring that project activities and achievement indicators were realistic and appropriate for delivering the project objectives. The activities were distributed over the three years of the project and there was a different focus for each year: YEAR 1 – LABOUR MARKET - local education systems, employability education, pathways to further education and employment, structure of the labour market, qualifications/skills required to get a job, attitudes to and knowledge of working abroad YEAR 2 – WORK PLACEMENTS/EXPERIENCE – CV preparation, recruitment and selection procedures and simulation, cultural awareness of working abroad, development opportunities, skills surveys. YEAR 3 – ENTREPRENEURSHIP - small business start-up, sources of support for small businesses, social entrepreneurship/volunteering, entrepreneurs and their skills, business planning and presentation Local, national and European impacts include: -enhanced curricula in participating schools in keeping with objectives of the Pathways in Europe project -increased variety of resources and methodologies available to schools -improved levels of interest among the student populations of the participating institutions -increased student retention rates especially among those who are most at risk of leaving school early -increased levels of basic and transversal skills among 16-19 year olds and among those participating directly in project activities -improved uptake and interest in European qualifications particularly the Youthpass -enhanced appreciation and understanding of the concept of Europe and their European identity -increased number of students with broadened horizons including appreciation of the value of pathways in Europe -local education systems that are better aligned to the needs of the labour market, and closer links to business and the community Potential longer term benefits include: -increased quality of education in Europe combining higher levels of excellence and attractiveness with increased opportunities for all, including the disadvantaged