The EU-DualS project is based on the idea to arise Europe from the job crises, starting from the educational system. Europe is facing a complicated situation because manufacturing companies need specialized workers, but they don't have the time to teach them, and it's difficult to find them. At the same time, youth unemployment rate in Europe, especially in the southern regions, is increasing. The EU-DualS project create a bridge path between schools and the job market, introducing students gradually and practically in the work enviroment. The scope is to create stable and strategic alliances for VET education. In this context, the actual German dual system for VET schools(students aged 14-18) represents a best practice in Europe. It is able to introduce youth in the job market, applying learned competences during school time, bridging the lack between first job experience and school environment. The scope is to introduce the German dual system in an innovative way, targeted on member states needs, respecting cultural and job environement. EU-DualS project has scheduled a novelty pilot session, with 50% of school time implementing lessons, and the other 50% at work(apprenticeship), applied on real school contexts: one session will be implemented in Italy, and the other one in Spain EU-DualS introduces a new school methodology standard profile, a European Standard Curricula, able to be applied in all member states. The idea is to encourage students to discover the EU-DualS curricula, which is able to lead them in the job market in a direct and protected way(under schools and national law control ), ready to achieve the job market and its real needs, developing transversal skills ( such as communication, technical and logical capacities, interpersonal skills, adaptation spirit, other languages and culture open mind etc). With its activities, the project will be able to: - bridge the gap between VET educational world and companies, reducing the unemployment rate among youth(aged 18-25) - create sustainable relationships, links and collaborations among relevant key stakeholders and schools in Europe, and among them, exploiting other Member States best practices - (ET2020 strategy) contributes to decrease the early school leaving in Europe, with particular regards to Soutern countries - (ET2020 strategy) contributes to achieve an high quality of efficiency for the education sector, boosting mobility activities as part of the a European complete school curriculum EU-DualS target group is focused on students ( aged 14-18), VET teachers, entrepreneurs/manufacturing companies. Project activities will be implemented in different phases: 1) project management: along the project lifetime, the lead partner will take care to coordinate project activities 2) preparation: it will be implemented with: 2 technical workshop(1 for the curriculum draft definition, and 1 to train teachers and company tutors to implement the new methodology), finding agreement between companies, trade unions and national law to protect students with an apprenticeship contract, select classes to be involved (1 in Italy and 1 in Spain, total 50 people). 3) PILOT:It will be implemented in Italy and Spain with 25 people per each. It wil follow the regular school year. Students will try 50% of school lessons, and 50% at work(regular appreticeship).In order to boost transvers skill, they will participate to a mobility activity in Germany, in a work environment.To be prepared on that, they will attend a regular German language course. 4) e-learning:technical workshops and mentoring for schools will be recorded, adapted as lessons, and uploaded on a dedicated project webplatform. It will be useful to increase awareness about project results, to boost the model curricula replication and for spreading project excellence. It will be linked with a YouTube channel and always free of charge 5)Evaluation and curricula development: Finally the model methodology is ready to be definitively defined and spreaded around Europe. To achieve a wide interested audience, consortium partners will develop: final methodology guidelines, a detailed Hand Book to make easier the replication in shools and universities 6)dissemination and exploitation: the strategy is defined since the project start to achieve the wider audience as possible. Many dissemination tools are scheduled like the website, the webplatform, the social media 2.0. tools, printed brochures, press release etc. In particular, the consortium partners have planned several national dissemination events (Italy, Spain, Germany) and a final comprehensive conference in Brussels. Concerning exploitation, the webplatform and the link with YouTube/Vimeo always free of charge, will guarantee a good exploitation level.In addition, partners commits to involve "follower schools"to attend e-learining session and national events, to inform their own network about project results.
The EU-DualS project was based on the idea to alleviate Europe's job crises as well as - on the other hand side - lack of skilled workers, starting from professional training and educational systems in different EU-Member States. Youth unemployment rates in Europe, especially in the southern countries, are still extremely high. The EU-DualS project intended to create a bridge between schools and the job market, introducing students gradually and practically into the work enviroment. In this context, the actual German Dual System for VET represents a best practice in Europe. It is able to introduce youth into the job market, applying learned competences during practical work in companies, and only the necessary theoretical teaching at schools (1-1,5 days/week). The purpose of the project EU-DualS was to elaborate a fast-track approach to adopt the German Dual System in an innovative way in other member states, like Italy and Spain. EU-DualS project has for this planned a pilot school class period in professional training schools, where less time is dedicated to school lessons, and more at work in companies, plus a 1 month mobility abroad to work in companies in another country. EU-DualS introduced this new methodology for school and company cooperation and elabrated an approach to adapt the 6 most important principles of the German Dual System to other countries like Italy and Spain. In order to do that, a school or a regional school office can use the 2 Intellectual Outputs of EU-DualS, one Guideline (O1) to prepare for such experimental teaching/training, and a European Model Curriculum (O4) that describes the approaches implemented by the project partners in collaboration with 3 pilot schools, 1 in Lombardy (I) and 2 in Basque County (E). These tools allow now to be applied also in other member states, piloting a step twoards the Dual System, introducing key elements in line with national school and training requirements. The idea is to encourage students, schools and entrepreneurs to discover the advantages of the Dual System, and thanks to the positive results get more engaged in establishing step-by-step a complete - also institutional - system, adapted to national needs and specificities. With the 1-month work experience mobility abroad for 21 students from Italy and Spain in German SMEs, with tasks in their field of professional training (mechatronics), the students made an important experience. They understood which skills they learned are key competences, as well as getting in touch with the job markets and economic realities and culture of another country. This resulted in an additional motivation push for the learners for the last year of school. With all its activities, the project was be able to: - bridge the gap between VET professional schools' world and companies, contributing to reduce the unemployment rate among youth: all students of the 3 pilot classes found a job right after the end of their school final exams! - create sustainable relationships and collaboration among enterprises and schools: the cooperation on local levels will allow to repeat similar experiences in the upcoming years with other students. - (ET2020 strategy) contribute to decrease the rate of early school leaving: none of the students left the school before the end of the school curriculum. - (ET2020 strategy) contribute to achieve an high quality of efficiency for the education sector, boosting mobility activities as part of the a European school curriculum: the 1 month mobility to Germany the quality of the training of the 21 learners involved into the pilot activities of the project was definitely increased. EU-DualS target groups were students (aged 17-19), VET teachers, entrepreneurs as well as students' parents, which were regulating invited to events organised at the pilot schools about the project. Thre project activities implemented in different phases have been: 1) project management: along the project lifetime, coordinating all actions in a collaborative manner among partners 2) preparation of the pilot phase: 3 technical workshops (1 in Germany, 1 in Italy and 1 in Spain, in total 30 people) in 2016. 3) PILOT ACTION with 15 students in Italy and 30 in Spain in 3 schools. It followed a regular school year. Students had between 50 and 80% of school lessons, and 20-50% work experience. Moreover 21 of the 45 students participated to a 1-month work experience mobility in Germany. In order to be prepared, they have attended German language classes. 4) E-learning: all IO's and 5 examplary videos have been uploaded to the project website www.europeandualsystem.eu available for other schools, companies and students. 5) Evaluation: eventually, all students found a job after their school, and enterprises in the areas ask for even more learners/apprentices. 6) Dissemination: 4 multiplier events in Italy, Spain, Germany and Belgium (Brussels) have been organised in 2018, with more than 250 participants in total.