The EE-SKILLS 2019 project aimed to contribute to the development of employability and entrepreneurship skills of VET students, as well as the ability of VET teachers to influence the development of these skills and competences, by offering an opportunity to acquire experience abroad, improve intercultural communication and language skills, as well as strengthen the self-confidence and independence of students and pedagogical competences of teachers. Businesses look for persons with capacity for innovation, creativity, teamwork, out of the box thinking, independence, decision-making capacity, etc., i.e. skills considered to be typical for entrepreneurs. Gaining these type of skills is just equally important for those who opt for a professional career in a company instead of setting up their own business. Through the learning mobilities, VET students increase their opportunities and employability, and teachers improve their capacity to transfer knowledge and encourage entrepreneurial thinking of their students. The project therefore helps reduce the distance between the world of education and training and the world of work. The internationalisation of the partner organisations is influenced in a positive way as well.
The average youth unemployment rates in the Eurozone were between 19 and 25% (in some countries over 40%) in the last few years before the start of the EE-SKILLS 2019 project. According to psychologists, the consequences of unemployment to young people include deprivation of their identity in the society, lack of fulfillment, loss of confidence, depression, social and economic problems. More and more young people consider emigration as the only way to find a job. A number of local and European initiatives have addressed the issue of high youth unemployment in Cyprus. Some of them have provided incentives for hiring young people, others encouraged young people to start own business ventures. However, many young people do not possess the necessary entrepreneurial drive and skills to fully benefit from such opportunities. The EE-SKILLS 2019 project addressed the issues of youth unemployment and skills mismatch, and offered solutions through the development of entrepreneurial mindset, transversal skills and new opportunities that open due to the experience of international mobility.