The project, COCO+, is a direct result of the Training “Youth+VET= Employability” organized by the Czech National Agency (DZS) from 1st to 4th November 2015. "Unemployment and drop out" is a topic real problem affecting our countries in E.U. We must be aware of what can happen with our students in the future. We want the students to be aware of what they can expect from labor in the future. Knowledge of the subject is involved in developing their student’s skill to learn, and seek qualification to work. With this project, we want to prepare our young learners for the future of the labor market and develop their knowledge of important and current position in the regional market. The strategic project is to make them aware of the economic and social reality in different ways and prepare them for working life they expect. The participants represent both, the YOUTH and the VET sector. The project contains cross-sectoral parts but focuses on VET. It is also a cooperation between YOUTH, VET and companies in the regions. In total, it will be among 700 participants from different levels and sectors. About 700 pupils/students in Primary, secondary and upper secondary school will participate in the competitions, 52 VET-students will be used as role models, 28 VET-teachers will participate as mentors for the role models and several professionals from different companies will be used as counselors. We want this project to develop a methodology for recruitment of students in primary and secondary school to be aware and familiar with the professions and needed education in the region they represent. The main intellectual output will be a Gudiance book including the methodology which will be completed from collecting partner´s material, knowleges, experience and best practice during the activities in the project. There will also be intellectual output connected to the events in Germany and Czech Republic. Main objectives in this project will be: • Strengthen the cooperation between schools and regional economy and business • Preventing early school leaving, “dropout”. • Entrepreneurial way of learning - be creative and innovative. • Evaluate the quality of arrangements and propose modifications • Share the experience of the testing across sectors within countries, transnationally, and within sectors across Europe. We consider this project innovative in the sense that we intend to work with different crosscutting themes, including the partnership culture, different ways of working and a multitude of activities. The work among peers will give us new knowledge and experiences. Activities related to this will be: • Practice training and discussion on the thematic "unemployment and drop out". • Get access to skills in new technology through competitions and activities, conducted with role models (students from vocational school) who knows the art and profession of good angles this positively. • Invite the managers of employment centers in every city represented in this project. Teachers and students will talk about vocational education and make discussions about future prospects for employment. • Research on different perspectives themes: -Economic, sociological, historical, geographical, regional and cultural rights. As a part of testing and dissemination activities, there will be organized 2 multiplier events including Intellectual Output: 1. Multiplier event in Czech Republic February 2019 a. There will be organized regional level of competition for VET students as a testing example of part methodology. The aim is verify best practice, testing innovative elements and complete the methodology. 2. Multiplier event in Germany May 2020 a. There will be organized regional level of competition for VET students as a dissemination activity. The multiplier events will ensure that interested teachers, educators and representatives of relevant organizations and initiatives will see the benefits of our intellectual output. They will all learn how to use the Brochure in their particular area. The potential long term benefits and aim will be to reduce “drop-out” in vocational school and encouraging job mobility, and to ensure companies in the region the labor needed.
Background. "Unemployment and drop out" is a topic real problem affecting our countries in EU. We must be aware of what can happen with our students in the future. We want the students to be aware of what they can expect from labor in the future. Knowledge of the subject is involved in developing their student’s skill to learn, and seek qualification to work. In this project, we have prepared our young learners for the future of the labor market and develop their knowledge of important and current position in the regional market. The strategic project is to make them aware of the economic and social reality in different ways and prepare them for working life they expect. Partners and participants. The participants represented both, the YOUTH and the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. The project contains cross-sectoral parts but focuses on VET. It is also a cooperation between YOUTH, VET and companies in the regions. In total, we had among 700 participants from different levels and sectors. About 700 pupils in secondary/primary school participated in the competitions, 52 VET-students used as role models, 28 VET-teachers participated as mentors for the role models and about 20 professionals from different companies used as counselors. Project goals. - Strengthen the cooperation between schools and regional economy and business - Preventing early school leaving, “dropout”. - Entrepreneurial way of learning - be creative and innovative. - Evaluate the quality of arrangements and propose modifications - Share the experience of the testing across sectors within countries, transnationally, and within sectors across Europe. During our project we did various activities to share best practice, increase visibility and attractiveness of technical and scientific education. Sharing good practice, visiting and taking part in the partner initiatives are the most valuable activities for each organisation, teachers or youth workers. This project enabled to take into action international level of: - "Solar car" competition (Germany, Chemnitz) - "Talents for Companies" competition (Czech Republic, České Budějovice) - "Best Young Chemist" competition (Czech Republic, Pardubice) - and other inspiring initiatives that were shared by partners during the project Our partners have organised multiplier events - career days, fairs and meetings with regional decision makers. Outcomes: - Students recognized their interests, personal characteristics and strengths - Students are more prepared and confident in the decision to continue their education in scientific or technical professions - Management of the development of key competences Identified and linked occupations and competences needed to perform a certain task - Students were able to recognize the differences between high school and labor market and prepare for a transition to a new environment and a new role - They saw the importance of lifelong learning and the continuous development of professional competences for achieving success in work