Gloucestershire First

1. Gloucestershire First Comenius Regio Project EUR-EMSET 25 March 2011

2. Europe 2020is the EU's growth strategy for the coming decade. It aims to make the EU: • Smart • Sustainable • Inclusive • and deliver high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion.It has set 5 ambitious objectives - on employment, innovation, education, social inclusion and climate/energy - to be reached by 2020. Each Member State will adopt its own national targets in each of these areas.

3. The Targets • 1. Employment • 75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed • 2. R&D / innovation • 3% of the EU's GDP (public and private combined) to be invested in • R&D/innovation • 3. Climate change / energy • greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if the conditions are right) lower • than 1990 • 20% of energy from renewables • 20% increase in energy efficiency • 4. Education • Reducing school drop-out rates below 10% at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds • completing third level education • 5. Poverty / social exclusion • at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion

4. The Tools • The objectives are addressed by 7 flagship initiatives: • Smart growth • Digital agenda for Europe • Innovation Union • Youth on the move • Sustainable growth • Resource efficient Europe • An industrial policy for the globalisation era • Inclusive growth • An agenda for new skills and jobs • European platform against poverty

5. Youth on the Move aims to increase the chances of young people finding a job by enhancing student and trainee mobility and improving the quality and attractiveness of education and training in Europe. It will do this through: • a dedicated Youth on the Move web site • validation of non formal/informal education • production of a Mobility scorecard for nation states and individual cards for young people • international volunteering programmes for young people • development of the EURES intranet to promote jobs abroad • mainstreaming Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme • promotion of apprenticeships • enabling all young people to access work based learning • reform and increased take up of HE • fostering international exchange and co-operation.

6. Leonardo da Vinci Sponsors work experience in an EU country for: • Initial Vocational Training(IVT) 2 – 29 weeks • apprentices or full or part time students up to N/SVQ level 3 • People in the Labour market (PLM) 2 – 26 weeks • Employed, self employed, work based learning • Vocational Education and Training Professionals (VETPRO) 1 – 6 weeks • Employees in business or training environment delivering training, professional development or career advice Grants contribute to project management, travel and living costs, also preparation with language and cultural awareness

7. The Gloucestershire JET(Job Employment Training) Project Aim: to develop a strategic approach to international work placement to match other ‘employability’ initiatives and share with partners: • Business intelligence and contacts • Language and cultural awareness training • Publicity and promotion • Evaluation and follow on work.

8. The Project To involve thirty 2nd and 3rd year engineering, construction and business/public administration students from 3 Gloucestershire FE colleges in 3 week work placements with companies in Hannover in Germany and Vasteras in Sweden over a 2 year period. Using Preparatory Visits, contacts have already been established with: • VW and the City Municipality in Hanover • ABB and an IT subsidiary in Vasteras • Gloucester Cathedral and the Stroud Canals Project.

9. UK Partners A group of stakeholders has been established to progress the project made up of: • GFirst – the County’s Economic Partnership • Gloucester College • Stroud College • Forest of Dean College • University of Gloucestershire • International Education Office • Educational Business Partnerships. In addition to the JET project, the group is working on general ‘employability’ issues.

10. International Partners Hannover – Germany • Ministry of Education Lower Saxony • Hannah-Arendt School (specialised admin training) • Berufsbildende Schulen Neustadt (Mechanics, Construction, Bakery, Catering, Care) • Hannover Chamber of Commerce Vasteras - Sweden • Hahrska Gymnasiet(Construction) Also developing links through a Jules Verne scholar at Stroud College who will be Head of a Technical Department in Bayonne, France next year.

11. Outline Time Line of JET 2011 Jan – Vasteras Preparatory visit to Glos Feb – Submission of bid June – Hannover Preparatory visit to Glos Oct/Nov –Hannover students to Glos 2012 Feb/Mar –Vasteras students to Glos June – Glos students to Hannover Sept – Glos students to Vasteras May – End of project

12. Expected outcomes • Greater awareness of programme amongst students, colleges, businesses • Increased language competency • Greater cultural awareness and understanding amongst students • Promotional material/advocates for future programmes • Increased business engagement • Development of work placement certification • Foster an appetite for other mobility programmes e.g. VET, Enterprise Experience • Develop a programme for participation in the Erasmus Young Entrepreneurs programme • Integration of international work within a wider ‘employability’ pilot.