Seminar on Employability: Is it really something new?

Why? The unemployment situation of young people in Europe is getting more serious, the percentage of unemployed young people is rising. Further social exclusion seems inevitable, there is a feeling that the formal education system doesn´t always prepare youngsters for their future carrier. Some measures are being implemented, yet other ways to support young people need to be found. An actual, much discussed and sometimes controversial topic. For some, the increasing focus on the topic of employability creates fear and misunderstanding. Do we have to change the way we do our youth work, do we have to redesign our way of thinking? Others point out that youth work has always been contributing to employability of young people in their later professional life, and we just have to be more aware of this. In any case, it is clear that this is an important topic. With this seminar we want to take away the fear of youth workers and trainers, and show exactly how employability links to the work they are doing. We want to analyse existing methods, and create awareness on what we already do and how we can improve. We want to support participants to understand in a deeper, more meaningful way “youth employability” and how it connects in the wider Erasmus+ picture. What? A 3-day seminar where the connection of employability and youth work will be analysed and discussed. This will be done by focusing on existing youth work practices, sharing of experience and connecting to Erasmus+ priorities. Specific aims and objectives: - Support participants to understand in a deeper, more meaningful way “youth employability” - Understand the wider picture of “youth employability” and the potential of Erasmus+:Youth in Action - Analyse youth employability in existing practice to take away the fear that employability changes youth work - Identify the good practices and challenges with regards to the topic For Whom? The participants will be trainers, youth workers and representatives of EVS organisations with experience in youth work/activities in general from Erasmus+ program countries. Target group : - Experienced youth workers, trainers, EVS project coordinators (those responsible for EVS projects) - Be motivated and interested in the challenges and opportunities on the topic of employability in youth work - Implement the learning of this seminar in youth work - Be open to prepare and share your existing practices and realities - Be willing, prior to the seminar, to consult youth sector and young people to summarize your local reality - Intended for experienced trainers, youth workers and/or EVS organisations - Applicants must be 18+ Methods : As this event is a seminar, not a training course, the trainers´ role will be primarily to bring together the experience and expertise of participants and facilitate their process. To make the process smoother, we will use a variety of different non-formal educational methods, such as analysing and discussing, sharing best practices, both from a trainer’s/youth worker’s perspective as well as from regional and/or national structures etc.