Brussels, 02/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has said it time without number: youth unemployment is reaching tragic heights in Europe - and it has called for immediate action from member states. One of the priorities for action is to ensure a smooth school-to-work transition. The Commission has just published two reports one on apprenticeships and the other on traineeships in all EU member states. These reports recommend that these schemes should be more responsive to labour market requirements, better adapted to business needs and offer more guarantees in terms of quality and perspectives for young people. The results of the studies on which the reports are based will provide input to the preparation of two Commission initiatives by the end of 2012: a draft Council Recommendation on Youth Guarantees, to ensure that young people are either in employment, education or training within four months of leaving school, and the definition of a Quality Framework for Traineeships. “These new studies shed more light onto these schemes and help us to prepare our upcoming initiatives on improving the transition from school to work. … But such apprenticeships and traineeships must ensure that youngsters are given the best possible chance of getting a sustainable job afterwards. We also support this through more targeted use of the European Social Fund”, said European Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner Laszlo Andor.
The study on apprenticeships recommends that there should be homogeneous quality standards for apprenticeship-type studies; balance between specific occupational skills and general skills and expertise; the involvement of the social partners in the design and organisation of apprenticeships, as this is an essential factor for their success; and initiatives taken with students to improve the general image of the vocational education system. The study on traineeships indicates that there is a need for a clear definition of traineeships at EU level; where possible, traineeships should take place as a part of the study curriculum rather than after students leave education; a concerted effort should be made at both EU and national levels to increase the supply of traineeships, especially in SMEs; there is a need for some financial support to trainees, especially those from less privileged backgrounds; and steps should be taken to encourage open and transparent recruitment processes for traineeships. (IL/transl.rt)