Page 3 - euroguidance-insight-newsletter-2014-spring

Show the way! – European networks for youth employment

Joint conference in Hungary

The topics were discussed in the framework
of presentations, panel discussions and meth-
odology workshops based on the good prac-
tices available from the contributing networks.
The organisers also integrated the methodology of graph-
ic facilitation so the results became also visual (see picture).

Show the way! – European Networks for Youth Employment
was the title of a conference organised by Eurodesk, EURES,
Euroguidance and Europass networks which took place in
Budapest, 28 November 2013. The idea of organising a joint
conference of the Hungarian Eurodesk, EURES, Euroguidance
and Europass networks arose during the Learning by Leav-
ing II conference in Uppsala in 2012. The event linked the
theory and practice from the fields of employment, youth
and education with the primary objective of sharing those
supporting and development tools, methods, programmes
and information already available at the EU networks. During the discussions the participants seemed to agree that
young job-seekers need to change their approach. In order to
Around 180 people, from both the public and the private sec- find a good workplace they have to be well aware of their own
tors, participated, most of them professionals assisting young competences and strengths and they also have to set up aims
people who intend and plan to enter the labour market. for themselves. Top-down initiatives are still necessary because
The opening speech was held by Róbert Komáromi, the these can support a youngster in finding a job. However, young
General Director of the National Labour Office, who em- people need to be aware of their opportunities and be firm
phasised the importance of the conference as it provided and creative in order to find their way in the labour market.
an opportunity for the experts of the four networks to dis-
cuss common topics and also to find ways of future cooper- In the spring of 2014 the four networks appeared with a com-
ation. Common work and constructive partnerships would mon stand as ‘European Networks for Youth Employment’ at
be necessary, particularly during the implementation of the the biggest job fairs in Hungary and managed to reach the
Youth Guarantee Programme in the convergence regions(*). youth target group with a more comprehensive approach.
László Andor, the European Commissioner for Employ-
ment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, expressed that the Summary and more information about
youth unemployment situation in Europe was a crucial is- the conference can be found here.
sue and had been a top priority for the EU for a number of
years. The Youth Guarantee schemes come at a price but the
cost of doing nothing would be far higher. The discussion part
of the conference dealt with target groups of youngsters en-
tering the labour market in the near future, youngsters stud-
ying in secondary and tertiary education and unemployed youngsters.
Topics such as career orientation and guidance
for the youngsters, national and European-lev
el measures on the fields of youth employment and young entre-
preneurs and start-ups were very prominent in the programme.

(*) Regions where the GDP is less than 75%
of the average GDP of EU-25).