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BackThis week, the European Commission published a Green Paper on “Promoting the learning mobility of young people”. The aim of the Paper is to increase the mobility of young people by a stay abroad to learn new skills and to acquire new competences. Today, a stay abroad is one of the fundamental opportunities by which in particular young people can improve their chances on the labour market.
Particularly in times of economic crises it is vital to invest in training and further education
As the European Commission already pointed out in its 2008 Economic Recovery Plan, the temptation of investing less in training and further education in view of the economic crisis must be great. However, investments in knowledge and skills should be guaranteed in particular in times of economic difficulties. According to the Commission, following that argument would make it possible to tackle the paradox that some countries and economic sectors have vacant jobs because of a lack of skilled workers even in times of serious crises. By publishing this Green Paper, the Commission followed a request of the Council, which asked both the Member States and the Commission to develop the concept of mobility for all young people – during their studies or their apprenticeship, in form of a work placement or in the context of voluntary activities.
The Green Paper tries to involve all young people
According to the EU Commission, the Green Paper is broad in scope. At the centre is the situation of all young people in a wide range of learning contexts: in bachelor and master courses, promotional studies, internships, apprenticeships, in youth exchange, in voluntary work or vocational training within our outside the European Union. The Green Paper invites to examine the question how the existing and new mechanisms and instruments can be stronger activated to promote the mobility of young people and how the various authority levels (European, national, regional and local) could be mobilised in cooperation with other stakeholders (companies, civil society, private persons).
Structure of the Green Paper
The Green Paper has been divided in three sections. The first section is in respect of questions concerning the preparation of mobility phases, i.e. information, motivation, linguistic preparation etc. The second section deals with the actual stay abroad (incl. questions of accommodation and mentoring) and examines the follow-up check of mobility phases such as crediting and recognizing the experience. The third section introduces proposals on a new partnership for the mobility of young people. The EU Commission invites all stakeholders until 15.12.2009 to give answers to the open questions which are posed in the text, as well as to provide further consideration and examples of tried and tested procedures. In addition, the public will be able to access and complete an online multiple choice questionnaire.
Press release of the EU Commission
Green Paper: Promoting the learning mobility of young people
Multiple choice questionnaire (available from 15.07.2009)
As the European Commission already pointed out in its 2008 Economic Recovery Plan, the temptation of investing less in training and further education in view of the economic crisis must be great. However, investments in knowledge and skills should be guaranteed in particular in times of economic difficulties. According to the Commission, following that argument would make it possible to tackle the paradox that some countries and economic sectors have vacant jobs because of a lack of skilled workers even in times of serious crises. By publishing this Green Paper, the Commission followed a request of the Council, which asked both the Member States and the Commission to develop the concept of mobility for all young people – during their studies or their apprenticeship, in form of a work placement or in the context of voluntary activities.
The Green Paper tries to involve all young people
According to the EU Commission, the Green Paper is broad in scope. At the centre is the situation of all young people in a wide range of learning contexts: in bachelor and master courses, promotional studies, internships, apprenticeships, in youth exchange, in voluntary work or vocational training within our outside the European Union. The Green Paper invites to examine the question how the existing and new mechanisms and instruments can be stronger activated to promote the mobility of young people and how the various authority levels (European, national, regional and local) could be mobilised in cooperation with other stakeholders (companies, civil society, private persons).
Structure of the Green Paper
The Green Paper has been divided in three sections. The first section is in respect of questions concerning the preparation of mobility phases, i.e. information, motivation, linguistic preparation etc. The second section deals with the actual stay abroad (incl. questions of accommodation and mentoring) and examines the follow-up check of mobility phases such as crediting and recognizing the experience. The third section introduces proposals on a new partnership for the mobility of young people. The EU Commission invites all stakeholders until 15.12.2009 to give answers to the open questions which are posed in the text, as well as to provide further consideration and examples of tried and tested procedures. In addition, the public will be able to access and complete an online multiple choice questionnaire.
Press release of the EU Commission
Green Paper: Promoting the learning mobility of young people
Multiple choice questionnaire (available from 15.07.2009)