Summary Many young people experience the transition from education to professional practice as problematic. Vocational education is not realistic and authentic and does not adequately prepare students for work in an internship company or on the labour market. Students lack the necessary skills to work in a company. This mainly concerns entrepreneurship and 21st-century skills (such as cooperation, information skills, problem solving skills and communication). This can lead to demotivation and insecurity among students and even lead to early school leaving. It is proven that the Practice enterprise methodology is a solution to demotivation, early school leaving and negative experiences with education leading to large numbers of ESL or Neets. A Practice Enterprise (also known as a practice firm or virtual enterprise) is a virtual company that runs like a real business, silhouetting real business procedures in companies, products and services. A practice enterprise resembles a real company in its form, organization and function. Each Practice Enterprise trades with other Practice Enterprises worldwide, in accordance with commercial business procedures in the Practice Enterprise environment. The project Practice enterprise Network contributes to two goals: 1. Reducing and preventing ESL in vocational education and to reduce the number of NEETs by using the Practice Enterprise methodology in all countries where this methodology is used. and 2. Develop a model of innovative measures in order to ensure that the methodology remains future proof. It is necessary to adapt the PE concept to the new business realities. The project is a partnership of organisations in Europe engaged in VET education. Two National offices of the worldwide Practice Enterprise network (Fundacio Inform and Connectief) and two Dutch VET schools (Gilde opleidingen and Roc Nijmegen). The world-wide organised network Europen International is also part of the consortium and also Stichting Praktijkleren as applicant of the project. Stichting Praktijkleren provides practical learning in VET schools in the Netherlands in economic and commercial education. In the project we exchange good practices, including good practice learning and coaching in Practice Enterprises, by developing educational resources, develop manuals and a model for implementing PEs and also establishing a National Central Office in the Netherlands. We investigate necessary measures to adapt the methodology of Practice Enterprises to future innovations and changes in businesses. We expect that through these activities the network of partners and network members will grow substantially and improve the knowledge and competences of future professionals in the field of practical education in the economic sector and in this way contribute to preventing ESL and give support to Neets in order to increase the number of Neets. '1 ESL: Early School Leavers '2 NEET: (Youth Not in Employment, Education or Training) '3 Practice Enterprise; further abbreviated as PE '4 SBB: Dutch organisation for accreditation of internships References to relevant reports *1) T. Eimers, E. Keppels, S.L. van der Woude; (2016) Perspectief 23-plus; Onderzoek naar de kansen voor 23-plussers * 2) European Commission:(November 2013) Reducing early school leaving: Key messages and policy support; Final Report of the Thematic Working Group; on Early School Leaving * 3) Education at a glance 2017 (OECD report)
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