EROVET is a group of VET stakeholders united to foster youth employability. Currently EROVET is financed by the Erasmus+ programme through the Key Action 2: Cooperation of innovation and exchange of good practices, but aims to become a sustainable network in the near future.

Why EROVET?

According to Eurostat data, in September 2017, the youth unemployment rate in the EU28 was 16.6%. In the same period, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (6.4%), and the highest were recorded in Greece (42.8%), Spain (37.2%) and Italy (35.7%).

The latest studies conducted by the OCDE show a very similar situation, being Greece (47.4%), Spain (44.5%) and Italy (37.8%)he countries with the highest youth unemployment in the UE28, followed by Portugal. Lithuania and Turkey hold a middle position. On the other end, we find Germany with only 7% of its youth population being unemployed.

Researchers agree that there are a number of reasons for this situation. Some believe that the lack of professional experience is one of the obstacles that prevent young people finding a job. Others state that the mismatch between the skills and the positions offered on the job market is one of the key issues. We agree on this last statement, as we do believe that there is a lack of strong connection between training, the demands of the companies and the economic reality of the territories.

The Declaration of Ministers in Riga 2015, stated the importance of investing in VET and skills’ policies in order to raise employability, help reduce skills’ mismatches and allow for smoother transitions into employment. Among the medium-term deliverables, they suggested that work-based learning should be promoted, involving social partners, companies, chambers and VET providers as well as stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship. But, according to CEDEFOP, only 34% of students in initial training are trained in the EU under work-based modalities (dual system), being Latvia, Denmark, Hungary and Germany the countries holding the highest positions. Again, the countries with the highest unemployment rates have poorly introduced this training modality in their system. The score on VET indicators in Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Turkey and Italy show that work-based training has timidly been introduced. This undoubtedly shows that there is still a great way to go.

And as for entrepreneurship, we do believe that the approach given to this issue in most VET training centres over Europe is mainly theoretical, being mostly centered into entrepreneurial management rather than into the product. We also believe that efforts should be devoted to improve the abilities of our trainees in the creation of sustainable entrepreneurial projects, as according to our own data the lifespan of most of them does not exceed the period of three years.

Finally, European mobility of our students, together with the implementation of the ECVET recommendation would undoubtedly contribute to increase employability opportunities. In fact, according to the EC, five years after graduation, the unemployment rate of young people having studied or trained abroad is 23% lower than that of their nonmobile peers. So far, some of the countries in the EROVET project present a very low rate of students on work placement periods abroad, being Lithuania, Greece and Portugal the ones with the lowest rate of mobile students.

According to all this information, we believe something should be done with the view of:

We do believe that this big goal can be accomplished in the framework of EROVET, a group made up of European VET representatives and relevant stakeholders, such as VET training centres, economical institutions and local administrative institutions.

What are the EROVET goals?

EROVET aims to increase youth employability opportunities, through the following working lines:

3. Fostering the entrepreneurship initiative, by improving the quality of resources related to entrepreneurship and orientation.