The necessity of the college degree is beginning to be questioned. With youth unemployment in Europe at 24 % in 2013 and thousands of graduates coming out of university every year without jobs to go into, there is an increasing feeling that there is a missing link somewhere between education and employment.
Almost a quarter of all apprenticeship contracts are terminated before completion - a rate that alarms all affected parties. This is exactly what the Berufsbildungswerk Südhessen (bbw - Vocational Training Centre South Hessen) innovative service provision addresses.
iMOVE emphasized the relevance of initial and further vocational education and training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at an Omani-German Workshop beginning of June in Berlin. Further, iMOVE promoted the roll-out of vocational education and training jointly with German partners in the Sultanate of Oman.
More and more companies recognise benefits of an international workforce and provide training for young apprentices from southern Europe. In this way, businesses offer young people from countries with high youth unemployment sustainable employment opportunities.
The number of first time students increases, but about a third drop out of university after only a few semesters. For many, this was a difficult, but ultimately right decision.
With its "Dialog Schule/Wirtschaft" (Dialogue School/Industry), the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce attempts to establish early contact between businesses and young talent.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi intends to attract foreign investors with the "Make in India" lion campaign. India is to become a global production site. To achieve this goal, it urgently needs more and better qualified skilled professionals.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD warns that bad education policy has the same effect on the economy as a permanent financial crisis. It criticises the fact that every sixth young adult is lacking key qualifications.
