Problem:
Serbia is currently affected by high unemployment (14.8%). Young people up to the age of 24 are disproportionately affected by unemployment (33.3%). At the same time, Serbian companies are unable to fill vacant jobs as the offer does not meet demand. To counteract this, Serbia is currently carrying out a reform of technical and vocational education and training. One of the statutes deals specifically with career counselling in the context of dual training profiles and calls for the formation of career guidance and counselling teams (CGC teams) in vocational schools. Measures in this department will be coordinated by the NGO "Praxis" in 2019. The aim is to raise awareness and support the inclusion of disadvantaged sections in secondary technical and vocational education and training.
Schleswig-Holstein is known beyond Germany's borders for its minority policy and has implemented many projects and measures to support minorities in recent decades. In addition, Schleswig-Holstein has a number of youth employment agencies (JBA) that provide young people with one-stop advice on career guidance and choice.
Project objective:
Advisors and those responsible in the department of career guidance and counselling in Serbia are familiar with the processes and methods used in career counselling at the youth employment agencies in Schleswig-Holstein and transfer these to their work in Serbia. A practical guide to
Vocational guidance and counselling at vocational schools in Serbia with a special focus on Roma is available for educational counsellors.
Measures/methodological implementation:
To achieve the project objective, workshops on the experiences in Schleswig-Holstein (SH) and on the adaptation of individual measures to the conditions in Serbia are organised with the local partners. The counselling of the participants is primarily carried out
by practitioners from the SH administration and employees of the youth employment agencies. The specific knowledge and experience of the State Association of German Sinti and Roma, including from the mentoring programme at Schleswig-Holstein schools, is also used
Schools. During implementation, attention is paid to a balanced inclusion of men and women. In addition, there is the practice-orientated, scientific logistics guide for the measures by a Schleswig-Holstein scientific institute, which prepares the learning content in such a way that it can be used for the realities of life in the Western Balkans. The programme will also focus on measures that specifically target young women in order to guide them into long-term training. A study trip to Schleswig-Holstein is being organised in order to present the practical experiences in Schleswig-Holstein to relevant target groups in Serbia as concretely as possible.
In close cooperation with the Serbian partners and a scientific institute in Schleswig-Holstein, a practical guide to vocational guidance and counselling at vocational schools in Serbia will be developed, paying particular attention to the special situation of Roma.
Target groups:
The direct target group of the project are staff members of the NGO "Praxis", which will take over the coordination of vocational counselling in 8th grades from 2019, as well as representatives of technical and vocational education and training colleges and other people involved in vocational guidance and counselling for young people in Serbia. Young people who take advantage of career counselling services will benefit indirectly from the measure, especially young people from disadvantaged population groups such as Roma. Measures aimed specifically at young women are also being considered.
Partner structure:
The main partner in Serbia is the NGO "Praxis", which will take over the coordination and implementation of the counselling services for young people in schools in 2019. On the Schleswig-Holstein side, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is providing content-related contributions. The youth employment agencies and the State Association of Sinti and Roma are also involved in the project. The project is being supported by a scientific institute in Schleswig-Holstein, which is responsible for developing the practical guide.