The ENGAGE project aimed to adapt the traditional Practice Enterprise (Übungsfirma) program into a traineeship model to offer an alternative solution of work-based placements that closely match a real-world company in cases where VET students are unable to secure an internship that includes work-based components. ENGAGE Practice Enterprise traineeships improve access to internships for VET students from disadvantaged backgrounds as educational institutions can prioritise marginalised and disadvantaged students. This includes overcoming any geographical or economic barriers for young people from remote areas for participation in traineeship activities. Development of an inclusive traineeship model for trainees coming from different economic and social environments offers the possibility of individualised traineeship pathways, as the traineeship takes place directly in the VET institution and is closely followed up by in-class trainers. Development of a traineeship certification and recognition system, based on the actual needs and requirements of employers, offers an employment tool that trainees can directly add to their CV and present to potential employers as a work experience.
The Job Ready - Traineeships with Practice Enterprise project came out of a need to respond to an increasing demand of work-integrated/work-based placements from VET students due a lack of possibilities for in-company internships in the real job market brought about by the challenges of the 2020/2021 school years when almost no students had the opportunity to participate in an internship or not at the scheduled time. ENGAGE aimed to offer a flexible, innovative and inclusive Practice Enterprise Traineeship that’s adaptable to the future needs and requirements of the labour market. Combined school- and work-based programmes where a majority of the curriculum is organised as work-based learning in enterprises, were particularly affected as companies closed or reduced their operations. The challenges in education in the past couple years have made the need for accessible internships even more pressing and some groups of students find it increasingly hard to find good internship placements. The objective of the project was not to create a substitute for in-company internships, rather it aimed to provide a complementary alternative traineeship opportunity offering an inclusive and flexible work-based learning option for VET trainees.